Comments on: The Domain Name Matters for SEO http://www.elliotsblog.com/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo Domain blog featuring domain investing strategy, domain valuation, and domain development commentary from Elliot Silver, founder of Top Notch Domains, LLC. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:08:42 +0000 hourly 1 By: Domain Superstar http://www.elliotsblog.com/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo#comment-11670 Domain Superstar Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:40:06 +0000 http://www.elliotsblog.com/index.php/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo/#comment-11670 Very true, if you have an exact match keyword .com domain name then you have a competitive advantage for SEO that even your deepest pocketed competitor cannot duplicate (unless they buy your domain name). This is pretty awesome when you think about it because your competitors can easily outspend you and build more links, write more quality content, etc. etc. but lets say you want to rank for "vitamins" - if you own the domain name vitamins.com then you have a sustainable competitive advantage that even GNC or Vitamin World with all of their money cannot duplicate (no idea who owns vitamins.com - just an example). Here is a pretty cool tool that uses real time data from Google to find exact match keyword domain names: http://www.domainsuperstar.com/domain-finder-tools/type-in-traffic-finder Very true, if you have an exact match keyword .com domain name then you have a competitive advantage for SEO that even your deepest pocketed competitor cannot duplicate (unless they buy your domain name).

This is pretty awesome when you think about it because your competitors can easily outspend you and build more links, write more quality content, etc. etc. but lets say you want to rank for “vitamins” – if you own the domain name vitamins.com then you have a sustainable competitive advantage that even GNC or Vitamin World with all of their money cannot duplicate (no idea who owns vitamins.com – just an example).

Here is a pretty cool tool that uses real time data from Google to find exact match keyword domain names: http://www.domainsuperstar.com/domain-finder-tools/type-in-traffic-finder

]]> By: Chris Brooks http://www.elliotsblog.com/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo#comment-11655 Chris Brooks Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:25:41 +0000 http://www.elliotsblog.com/index.php/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo/#comment-11655 Here's my $.02: 1. Search Engines give a bump to sites that have content related to the generic terms in their domain name. I don't think they do this because it makes it easier for search engines to categorize the site -- I think it's because end users are more likely to trust the "brand". 2. If you're building a site, it's easier to get on the phone and explain to someone that you own "Laptops.com" than "Best-Laptops-Around.com". The person on the other end of the line is more likely to believe that you're serious with the former domain than with the latter, whether you're trying to get a link, become an affiliate, sell them something, etc. 3. The domain name -- along with your title tag and some text the search engine scraped from your site -- appears in the search results. End users trust good generic domain names, so all else held constant, they're more likely to click on your link. I think a good generic name can give you a 20% boost in non-competitive niches. And maybe a 5% boost in competitive niches. A good domain name is simply a tool that makes parts of building a business easier. And unlike most of the other elements of building an online business -- like developing good functionality and content, developing good links or optimizing a site -- you can simply throw cash at this problem to solve it. But, never make the mistake of thinking you're anywhere near half-way to success because you've acquired a good name. The name is only useful as a force multiplier -- If you apply 1x effort to an online business, a good domain might help you get 1.2x back. Here’s my $.02:
1. Search Engines give a bump to sites that have content related to the generic terms in their domain name. I don’t think they do this because it makes it easier for search engines to categorize the site — I think it’s because end users are more likely to trust the “brand”.
2. If you’re building a site, it’s easier to get on the phone and explain to someone that you own “Laptops.com” than “Best-Laptops-Around.com”. The person on the other end of the line is more likely to believe that you’re serious with the former domain than with the latter, whether you’re trying to get a link, become an affiliate, sell them something, etc.
3. The domain name — along with your title tag and some text the search engine scraped from your site — appears in the search results. End users trust good generic domain names, so all else held constant, they’re more likely to click on your link.

I think a good generic name can give you a 20% boost in non-competitive niches. And maybe a 5% boost in competitive niches. A good domain name is simply a tool that makes parts of building a business easier. And unlike most of the other elements of building an online business — like developing good functionality and content, developing good links or optimizing a site — you can simply throw cash at this problem to solve it.

But, never make the mistake of thinking you’re anywhere near half-way to success because you’ve acquired a good name. The name is only useful as a force multiplier — If you apply 1x effort to an online business, a good domain might help you get 1.2x back.

]]> By: Leonard Britt http://www.elliotsblog.com/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo#comment-11644 Leonard Britt Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:08:13 +0000 http://www.elliotsblog.com/index.php/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo/#comment-11644 I suppose noone knows but it would be interesting to know the weight of the domain name, the website/page title, backlinks, age of website, pages of content, refresh rate of content, etc. I suppose noone knows but it would be interesting to know the weight of the domain name, the website/page title, backlinks, age of website, pages of content, refresh rate of content, etc.

]]> By: wannadevelop.com http://www.elliotsblog.com/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo#comment-11642 wannadevelop.com Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:07:11 +0000 http://www.elliotsblog.com/index.php/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo/#comment-11642 The domain name itself takes care of something like 50% of the SEO work... If you do all of the basics, you will have no problem driving traffic to related keywords to your root keyword.com/net/org If you can't get the exact match keyword domain, get one that has at least one or two of your most wanted keywords. Cheers, Mike The domain name itself takes care of something like 50% of the SEO work… If you do all of the basics, you will have no problem driving traffic to related keywords to your root keyword.com/net/org

If you can’t get the exact match keyword domain, get one that has at least one or two of your most wanted keywords.

Cheers,

Mike

]]> By: Rod http://www.elliotsblog.com/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo#comment-11641 Rod Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:39:37 +0000 http://www.elliotsblog.com/index.php/the-domain-name-matters-for-seo/#comment-11641 Yes, a domain name can help with SEO but high quality backlinks matter even more. Just Google "SEO" ... www.SEO.com does not have the first ranking. Yes, a domain name can help with SEO but high quality backlinks matter even more.

Just Google “SEO” … http://www.SEO.com does not have the first ranking.

]]>