Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain

circlesquare · 03-07-2011, 04:08 PM

Hey Warriors,

Quick question. Obviously we have all seen the power of an exact match domain in helping you get ranked for a domain. However, often they are not available... especially in .com.

If you need to add a prefix (mydogtraining.com) or a suffix (dogtraininghq.com)... do you think one of these is better than the other? I know for title tags they say it's good to have the keyword at the front so I'm wondering if this is the same for a domain name (meaning that you should avoid adding a prefix).

Thanks!

jamesrich1 · 03-07-2011, 04:19 PM

Avoid adding the prefix because its keyword first. The power of domain match is only if you have weak front page competition with at least 1000 searches monthly preferably more. That is not your keyword right?

pavionjsl · 03-07-2011, 04:32 PM

I would hyphen first.

Enfusia · 03-07-2011, 04:33 PM

Never ad the prefix only the suffix. You won't get the exact match bump but you will get credit for % in url ect...

Patrick

circlesquare · 03-07-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesrich1

Avoid adding the prefix because its keyword first. The power of domain match is only if you have weak front page competition with at least 1000 searches monthly preferably more. That is not your keyword right?

Hi James,

Ya I was just using that as an example. So you're anti-prefix. Cool thanks for your input!

Shane Natan · 03-07-2011, 04:35 PM

I would go with the hyphen first (i.e. Dog-Training.com) because this is just as good as the non-hyphenated version... And then I would go with the SUFFIX next. I would avoid the prefix for "exact match" type purposes.

Best,
Shane

Alexa Smith · 03-07-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane Natan

I would go with the hyphen first (i.e. Dog-Training.com) because this is just as good as the non-hyphenated version... And then I would go with the SUFFIX next. I would avoid the prefix for "exact match" type purposes.

I agree completely.

Steven Fullman · 03-07-2011, 04:45 PM

Can anyone provide proof?

In my experiments:

* mydogtraining.com
* my-dogtraining.com
* dogtraining-today.com
* dogtraining.com

[fake names]

All ranked similarly (regardless of the placement of the 'non' words)

Content + Backlinks seemed to be the deciding factor...

Cheers,
Steve

Mike McAleer · 03-07-2011, 04:52 PM

It should not matter a whole lot for SEO purposes unless your only hope is the exact match domain... try building backlinks and following a typical SEO strategy...

jrichy88 · 03-07-2011, 05:09 PM

Google have previously unfairly given weight to exact match domains and keyword in domain names, Matt Cutts has said it himself back in November 2010, and now the extra power they got is history as of the latest updates. Good riddance too it's about time. There are exceptions of course, but unless they are a .com and have age and size (obviously size made up of quality, original content, not a crappy scraper site), they have been pushed to the back of the pile.

I would avoid dashes in domain names too, it makes it harder for users to remember and you could be missing out on direct traffic as a result.

Thought I'd cause a bit of controversy to this thread

elrascal · 03-07-2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven Fullman

Can anyone provide proof?

In my experiments:

* mydogtraining.com
* my-dogtraining.com
* dogtraining-today.com
* dogtraining.com

[fake names]

All ranked similarly (regardless of the placement of the 'non' words)

Content + Backlinks seemed to be the deciding factor...

Cheers,
Steve

Hi Steven I'm with you on this one. There is no difference at all. Or if there is a difference it is so insignificant that its not worth worry about.

People should be more focused on building more and more quality content in conjunction with quality back links.

Tom Ryan · 03-07-2011, 07:30 PM

I've added both a prefix and suffix to exact match domains, and I've found that the suffix always seemed to rank better than the prefix. It wasn't a perfect test by any means, so it is probably best if you test it for yourself.

Darek · 03-07-2011, 07:59 PM

Exact domain name matches do rank higher, I tried one recently and it went got the number one spot on Google almost immediately. I also use a couple of names with suffixes in highly competitive markets it took longer but they are near the top of the first page.

03-07-2011, 04:08 PM	#1
circlesquare Active Warrior Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 35 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking	Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain Hey Warriors, Quick question. Obviously we have all seen the power of an exact match domain in helping you get ranked for a domain. However, often they are not available... especially in .com. If you need to add a prefix (mydogtraining.com) or a suffix (dogtraininghq.com)... do you think one of these is better than the other? I know for title tags they say it's good to have the keyword at the front so I'm wondering if this is the same for a domain name (meaning that you should avoid adding a prefix). Thanks!

03-07-2011, 04:19 PM	#2
jamesrich1 Build Tru$t Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 976 Thanks: 104 Thanked 261 Times in 197 Posts Contact Info	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain Avoid adding the prefix because its keyword first. The power of domain match is only if you have weak front page competition with at least 1000 searches monthly preferably more. That is not your keyword right?
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03-07-2011, 04:32 PM	#3
pavionjsl Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mechanicsburg Pa. Posts: 860 Thanks: 136 Thanked 116 Times in 100 Posts	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain I would hyphen first.
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03-07-2011, 04:33 PM	#4
Enfusia Advanced Warrior Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 696 Thanks: 61 Thanked 266 Times in 164 Posts	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain Never ad the prefix only the suffix. You won't get the exact match bump but you will get credit for % in url ect... Patrick

03-07-2011, 04:35 PM	#6
Shane Natan Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: East Coast, USA Posts: 2,661 Thanks: 1,101 Thanked 468 Times in 242 Posts Social Networking	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain I would go with the hyphen first (i.e. Dog-Training.com) because this is just as good as the non-hyphenated version... And then I would go with the SUFFIX next. I would avoid the prefix for "exact match" type purposes. Best, Shane
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03-07-2011, 04:45 PM	#8
Steven Fullman Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, England Posts: 3,798 Thanks: 1,014 Thanked 536 Times in 345 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain Can anyone provide proof? In my experiments: * mydogtraining.com * my-dogtraining.com * dogtraining-today.com * dogtraining.com [fake names] All ranked similarly (regardless of the placement of the 'non' words) Content + Backlinks seemed to be the deciding factor... Cheers, Steve
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03-07-2011, 04:52 PM	#9
Mike McAleer WSOCharity.com War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 2,215 Thanks: 58 Thanked 255 Times in 209 Posts	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain It should not matter a whole lot for SEO purposes unless your only hope is the exact match domain... try building backlinks and following a typical SEO strategy...
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03-07-2011, 05:09 PM	#10
jrichy88 Warrior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain Google have previously unfairly given weight to exact match domains and keyword in domain names, Matt Cutts has said it himself back in November 2010, and now the extra power they got is history as of the latest updates. Good riddance too it's about time. There are exceptions of course, but unless they are a .com and have age and size (obviously size made up of quality, original content, not a crappy scraper site), they have been pushed to the back of the pile. I would avoid dashes in domain names too, it makes it harder for users to remember and you could be missing out on direct traffic as a result. Thought I'd cause a bit of controversy to this thread

03-07-2011, 07:30 PM	#12
Tom Ryan Niche Market Analyzer War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 438 Thanks: 28 Thanked 61 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain I've added both a prefix and suffix to exact match domains, and I've found that the suffix always seemed to rank better than the prefix. It wasn't a perfect test by any means, so it is probably best if you test it for yourself.
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03-07-2011, 07:59 PM	#13
Darek HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Makati, Philippines Posts: 167 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Contact Info	Re: Adding a Prefix or Suffix to Exact Match Domain Exact domain name matches do rank higher, I tried one recently and it went got the number one spot on Google almost immediately. I also use a couple of names with suffixes in highly competitive markets it took longer but they are near the top of the first page.
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