SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain

tsgeric · 04-15-2011, 11:25 AM

Hi,
When the SEs consider the URL of page, what is the value of keywords in the pathfile vs keywords in the domain? Do you get equal value? little less? far less benefit? if you keyword is not in the domain itself vs in what comes after?

Here is an example of what I'm thinking about.

URL A - dogstore.com/leashes
URL B - dogleashes.com

Let's say you are trying to rank for "dog leashes".

do the words "dog" and "leashes" in URL A give you the same benefit as "dogleashes" in URL B. (besides issues of exact/broad match)?

Does it count not as much, but just a little less?

Or is it far inferior?

Because if the hit isn't there, or isn't very much, you could combine "dogstore.com" with many other names to get "dog + kw2"" combinations.

jettjeffries · 04-15-2011, 11:51 AM

You would get more juice for URL B. However, as I'm sure you're aware, if URL A had better, more in-depth and stickier, information than dogleashes.com, you could image that the better content would win out over all.

Kevin Kuriakose · 04-15-2011, 01:10 PM

Of course URL B would be a lot easier to rank. After all that's the huge success behind the sniper sites.

But you can also rank URL A if you optimize the pages and build quality backlinks.

Thanks.

scott g · 04-15-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsgeric

Hi,
When the SEs consider the URL of page, what is the value of keywords in the pathfile vs keywords in the domain? Do you get equal value? little less? far less benefit? if you keyword is not in the domain itself vs in what comes after?

Here is an example of what I'm thinking about.

URL A - dogstore.com/leashes
URL B - dogleashes.com

Let's say you are trying to rank for "dog leashes".

do the words "dog" and "leashes" in URL A give you the same benefit as "dogleashes" in URL B. (besides issues of exact/broad match)?

Does it count not as much, but just a little less?

Or is it far inferior?

Because if the hit isn't there, or isn't very much, you could combine "dogstore.com" with many other names to get "dog + kw2"" combinations.

Either will be easy to rank for. Just make sure you do you On-site optimization properly before you start rocking on the Off-site...

If the all the words you are trying to rank for are in the URL somewhere, then you're fine. Even if you wan to rank for say "dog collars" and your domain is "dogleashes.com" it's still pretty easy... On-site SEO + anchor text diversified backlinks.

CHEERS!

tsgeric · 04-18-2011, 01:41 PM

Thanks all!

So, if I dare say there is consensus, it seems to be that :
* simply on URL alone, URL B is more targeted for the keyword "dog leashes" that URL A. However, that advantage is small.
* The influence of proper on-page and off-page optimization still far outweighs the difference between URL A and URL B.

Shiva · 04-18-2011, 02:44 PM

URL B will be lot easier to rank.

As for option A you can go this way.

dogstores.com/dog leashes.

And create more pages like that on your domain! They can be ranked a little easier too.

But the Idea of dogstore.com/leashes is comparatively not as great a Idea in terms of SEO!

I hope this helps,

Regards,
Shiva

Promet_MKTG · 04-18-2011, 02:53 PM

agree with shiva. put the whole keyphrase after the "/" would be best given the option A situation

Deltia · 04-18-2011, 05:11 PM

On my site i am using URL type A where i have domain name . com / full key phrase
so i'm hoping that having the full key phrase in the url is as effective as having a keyphrase .com site
it just means that you will have to outperfom with other good on and off page optimization any benefit gained from the matching domain name

industrialstrength · 07-11-2011, 04:32 AM

A bit late to the party here but would your backlinks all go to the dogstore/leashes page?

Does this improve the SE rank of your overall domain?

what if tomorrow you want to build a /dogfood subdirectory -- will the back links from leashes page help in any way?

also can you optimize 2 keywords that are hugely popular: [dog leashes] [poodle leashes] by using the subdirectory as /dog and poodle leashes or is better to onl make dog leashes?

04-15-2011, 11:25 AM	#1
tsgeric HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 193 Thanks: 31 Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts	SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain Hi, When the SEs consider the URL of page, what is the value of keywords in the pathfile vs keywords in the domain? Do you get equal value? little less? far less benefit? if you keyword is not in the domain itself vs in what comes after? Here is an example of what I'm thinking about. URL A - dogstore.com/leashes URL B - dogleashes.com Let's say you are trying to rank for "dog leashes". do the words "dog" and "leashes" in URL A give you the same benefit as "dogleashes" in URL B. (besides issues of exact/broad match)? Does it count not as much, but just a little less? Or is it far inferior? Because if the hit isn't there, or isn't very much, you could combine "dogstore.com" with many other names to get "dog + kw2"" combinations.

04-15-2011, 11:51 AM	#2
jettjeffries Warrior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Phoenix Posts: 24 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain You would get more juice for URL B. However, as I'm sure you're aware, if URL A had better, more in-depth and stickier, information than dogleashes.com, you could image that the better content would win out over all.
	Early To Bed, Early To Rise, Work Like Hell & Advertise -Ted Turner

04-15-2011, 01:10 PM	#3
Kevin Kuriakose HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Top of Google SERP Posts: 155 Thanks: 165 Thanked 255 Times in 22 Posts Contact Info	Re: SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain Of course URL B would be a lot easier to rank. After all that's the huge success behind the sniper sites. But you can also rank URL A if you optimize the pages and build quality backlinks. Thanks.
	>>Google Engineers are NOT Allowed to Click<<

04-18-2011, 01:41 PM	#5
tsgeric HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 193 Thanks: 31 Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts	Re: SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain Thanks all! So, if I dare say there is consensus, it seems to be that : * simply on URL alone, URL B is more targeted for the keyword "dog leashes" that URL A. However, that advantage is small. * The influence of proper on-page and off-page optimization still far outweighs the difference between URL A and URL B.

04-18-2011, 02:44 PM	#6
Shiva The Badshah of SEO War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 215 Thanks: 58 Thanked 31 Times in 18 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain URL B will be lot easier to rank. As for option A you can go this way. dogstores.com/dog leashes. And create more pages like that on your domain! They can be ranked a little easier too. But the Idea of dogstore.com/leashes is comparatively not as great a Idea in terms of SEO! I hope this helps, Regards, Shiva
	If you want to learn some SEO and looking for a Personal SEO Coach, You are just at the right place. Feel free to contact me anytime. Get Freshly Squeezed .Edu Link Juice from our Awesome High PR Authority backlinks.

04-18-2011, 02:53 PM	#7
Promet_MKTG Active Warrior Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 59 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Social Networking Contact Info	Re: SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain agree with shiva. put the whole keyphrase after the "/" would be best given the option A situation
	Principal & Director of Promet Marketing. A Chicago Internet Marketing Company Chicago SEO Drupal Web Development Drupal SEO

04-18-2011, 05:11 PM	#8
Deltia HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 112 Thanks: 10 Thanked 11 Times in 9 Posts	Re: SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain On my site i am using URL type A where i have domain name . com / full key phrase so i'm hoping that having the full key phrase in the url is as effective as having a keyphrase .com site it just means that you will have to outperfom with other good on and off page optimization any benefit gained from the matching domain name

07-11-2011, 04:32 AM	#9
industrialstrength Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: SEO value of keywords in URL but not in domain A bit late to the party here but would your backlinks all go to the dogstore/leashes page? Does this improve the SE rank of your overall domain? what if tomorrow you want to build a /dogfood subdirectory -- will the back links from leashes page help in any way? also can you optimize 2 keywords that are hugely popular: [dog leashes] [poodle leashes] by using the subdirectory as /dog and poodle leashes or is better to onl make dog leashes?