Traditional SEO practices like exclusivity, keyword-rich content, and yes, do build quality backlinks. Domain name isn’t the only factor in creating reliable search rankings today.
Have you ever thought about how the internet was in the early days?
Sometimes, it’s important to take a break from the digital world. You can still stay connected to people you love and keep your day interesting by chatting with them on AOL messenger and playing solitaire on Yahoo games.
In those days, there was a good chance that you would end up on a site with an exact match domain. If you were doing some shopping, for example while looking for dog collars,
The common practice of target keywords being incorporated into a domain URL is not enticing to the search engine because it will give users that are searching for your target keyword a better chance at finding your website.
There have been many instances of people taking advantage, grabbing these domains and then linking them to low-quality sites, which makes us very sad.
If you want search engines to find your website, the answer is yes. It’s true today, and it will continue to be true for the foreseeable future.
Let’s take a closer look at this debate.
Sometimes, as a business owner, you might wonder if your domain name plays a part in the search ranking for your clients. The answer is “not always.” Having a good domain name isn’t guaranteed to help with your business.
With early digital marketing, having an exact match domain was only a small part of the process.
In 2010, CarInsurance.com sold for $49.7 million: the most expensive domain name purchase of all time. Simply because they valued what they were buying, there are still people turning to this specific keyword today.
Search marketers were certainly on board with the idea of using EMDs. The claims around them usually being that they instantly generate credibility and a competitive edge for your business. In some cases, people still believe this is true.
Keyword-stuffing URLs aren’t the ideal approach for SEO success. As Google toughens its policies against spammy websites and their top offenders, many spamsters have switched tactics to lower-quality content with different anchor text.
The Impact of Domain Names on SEO
There is still much confusion about domain names and what impact they have on rankings.
There is no question that domain names played a role in ranking pages at one point.
In 2011, Matt Cutts, a software engineer on Google’s search quality group, acknowledged the role EMDs played in their search algorithm.
Yikes! Well, he also said:
“And so, we’ve been thinking about adjusting the algorithm’s approach to go from domain-based topicality scoring to keyword-based topicality scoring. So, given the same domain and a bunch of keywords, it’s possible that your site would see less of an improvement over time in how our algorithms would rank for those particular keywords.”
In 2012, after only a year of low-quality exact match domains being broadly banned, Google’s Matt Cutts tweeted that they would receive lower visibility in search results.
Another major element of content optimization is keyword placement on domain names. It’s been revealed by SEO expert John Mueller that keyword placement in domain names no longer plays a role in determining search engine results rankings.
The answer to “Does having a keyword in the top-level domain of my website improve rankings on search engines?” is a short, no. You don’t get special help like that from having a word buried in your top-level domain.
However, domain names shouldn’t be your only focus. They are not direct ranking factors in the search engine’s algorithm.
Though they are not an important factor in your overall search engine rankings, it should be said that domain names do generate a certain amount of interest with the public. For this reason, SEO professionals can still make use of them when using paid advertising strategies.
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There are plenty of articles available online through some online content creators.
- This can be done by putting multiple words together which sound similar to say one thing
- Putting a suffix like -ed or -ing on the word makes it sound like those words are past tenses or not a part of the current sentence
Choosing the right domain name is an important part of your business’ online image. Your domain should usually be the most recognizable aspect of your brand. It may not necessarily be your business name, but it could also be a trademark or another word closely associated with your product or service.
The best way to increase your online business is by establishing unique domains that are specific to each product. This will help customers find you more easily and enable you to focus on what you do well.
If you’re trying to rank on search engine results pages, don’t try to use a keyword in your domain name. When used incorrectly, it could actually make your website’s search rank drop.
Keywords can help customers understand what you’re about at a glance. They may also draw potential clients more likely to convert. Remember, use keywords that are relevant to what you’re selling.
If a keyword is at the heart of your branding, you should use it.
Your domain name is important. Without it, you can’t establish authority and build credibility. But your domain does not directly impact your Google ranking. Additionally, smart marketers can use those domains for branding purposes by reflecting their values and creating a positive user experience.
How do you choose the best possible domain name for your business? One person who knows where to start is Roger Montti. Check out his advice here.