Should I change my domain name?

Hooker · 01-25-2012, 10:32 AM

I've had a health blog for about two years, long before I new anything at all about SEO. My domain name is not one which anyone would ever search for, so I am considering changing domains, themes, and basically redoing everything.

Should I change domains to something more searchable. I could possible target a keyword that gets millions of searches with low competition. If so, would there be a problem with SEO if I were to transfer all my articles from one domain to another?

Is there an optimal way to do this in terms of SEO?

TBInternetMarketing · 01-25-2012, 11:03 AM

The domain name is very important, but it's not always the be all and end all. Take a look at this forum for example. It ranks for terms like 'internet marketing forum', but it doesnt have that in the url. So it's definitely possible to still rank a website that doesn't have the keywords in the domain.

mgreener · 01-25-2012, 11:28 AM

Hi,

Your 2 year old domain is more valuable than a new domain with certain keywords. You can rank any domain for any keyword and since you already have this one aged, stick with it!

webdevpro · 01-25-2012, 12:20 PM

Keep the old domain and you can use the proper anchor tags while promoting it.

UMS · 01-25-2012, 12:23 PM

People don't search for domains, they search for keywords.

There's no real reason for you to change your domain name unless you want to establish a brandable name.

Hooker · 01-25-2012, 12:26 PM

Well, thanks for the replies. I do have some subscribers already and a trickle of search engine traffic. I just want to make sure everything is optimized so was thinking of just starting over. It looks like it would be better to keep it, gut it, and move forward. I never knew about the importance of backlinks before so I can simply start from there.

Thanks a million for your advice!

bermuda · 01-25-2012, 01:56 PM

Links are truly doing wonders these days and as mentioned already, you can find lots of top-ranking websites online which have reached top of the search sites simply because of links which point at them. Naturally, having a keyword-rich domain can be a very smart move but simply take a look at some of the sites or blogs in your own niche or web market which have great web positions on Google, some of them will not even contain the main terms as parts of the domains.

When you enter the world of SEO, your mind should actually get filled with fresh ideas about contents and links, and temporarily forget about how your domain looks online because when people and net audience access the net and search Google to find information or products, they will not look at domain names structures and will click on the sites and listings appearing higher on search sites. A combination of contents plus links will help improving your web ranks and internet traffic shares.

outwest · 01-25-2012, 02:58 PM

Domain name is not that important,

Backlinks with your keyword in the anchor text , are 1000 times more important in ranking your site, than your domain name. Learn more about SEO

domain name? is not really a part of SEO, unless you are an EMD fan, and the board has a lot of those

dminorfmajor · 01-25-2012, 03:40 PM

Don't change anything. You have a 2 year old domain with good content. If you keep pumping out unique content, visitors WILL come. That's a fact. You'll have long-tail searches piling up until the day you find out you're on the first page for a top-10 health search.

I'd rather have a branded domain than an EMD if I could pick a finished product of one or the other.

01-25-2012, 10:32 AM	#1
Hooker Active Warrior Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 11 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Should I change my domain name? I've had a health blog for about two years, long before I new anything at all about SEO. My domain name is not one which anyone would ever search for, so I am considering changing domains, themes, and basically redoing everything. Should I change domains to something more searchable. I could possible target a keyword that gets millions of searches with low competition. If so, would there be a problem with SEO if I were to transfer all my articles from one domain to another? Is there an optimal way to do this in terms of SEO?
	My career is in the health field and I spent a year researching Type 2 Diabetes in order to find a natural cure. My 101 page eBook is available for affiliates at JVZoo. Affilates make 75% commission.

01-25-2012, 11:03 AM	#2
TBInternetMarketing Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In your PC Posts: 2,075 Thanks: 83 Thanked 789 Times in 234 Posts	Re: Should I change my domain name? The domain name is very important, but it's not always the be all and end all. Take a look at this forum for example. It ranks for terms like 'internet marketing forum', but it doesnt have that in the url. So it's definitely possible to still rank a website that doesn't have the keywords in the domain.

01-25-2012, 11:28 AM	#3
mgreener Advanced Warrior Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 500 Thanks: 24 Thanked 80 Times in 78 Posts Social Networking	Re: Should I change my domain name? Hi, Your 2 year old domain is more valuable than a new domain with certain keywords. You can rank any domain for any keyword and since you already have this one aged, stick with it!

01-25-2012, 12:20 PM	#4
webdevpro HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 294 Thanks: 0 Thanked 23 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Should I change my domain name? Keep the old domain and you can use the proper anchor tags while promoting it.
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01-25-2012, 12:23 PM	#5
UMS Peter Sundstrom War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,856 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 177 Thanked 503 Times in 370 Posts Social Networking	Re: Should I change my domain name? People don't search for domains, they search for keywords. There's no real reason for you to change your domain name unless you want to establish a brandable name.
	SECockpit - Try the most POWERFUL Keyword Research Tool for ONLY $1 Grab a LIFETIME 40% Discount off The Best Spinner Voting now open for the BEST WordPress Theme

01-25-2012, 12:26 PM	#6
Hooker Active Warrior Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 54 Thanks: 11 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Should I change my domain name? Well, thanks for the replies. I do have some subscribers already and a trickle of search engine traffic. I just want to make sure everything is optimized so was thinking of just starting over. It looks like it would be better to keep it, gut it, and move forward. I never knew about the importance of backlinks before so I can simply start from there. Thanks a million for your advice!
	My career is in the health field and I spent a year researching Type 2 Diabetes in order to find a natural cure. My 101 page eBook is available for affiliates at JVZoo. Affilates make 75% commission.

01-25-2012, 01:56 PM	#7
bermuda HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 235 Thanks: 1 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Should I change my domain name? Links are truly doing wonders these days and as mentioned already, you can find lots of top-ranking websites online which have reached top of the search sites simply because of links which point at them. Naturally, having a keyword-rich domain can be a very smart move but simply take a look at some of the sites or blogs in your own niche or web market which have great web positions on Google, some of them will not even contain the main terms as parts of the domains. When you enter the world of SEO, your mind should actually get filled with fresh ideas about contents and links, and temporarily forget about how your domain looks online because when people and net audience access the net and search Google to find information or products, they will not look at domain names structures and will click on the sites and listings appearing higher on search sites. A combination of contents plus links will help improving your web ranks and internet traffic shares.
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01-25-2012, 02:58 PM	#8
outwest Lovin Life War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: USA and Asia Posts: 2,690 Thanks: 118 Thanked 180 Times in 161 Posts	Re: Should I change my domain name? Domain name is not that important, Backlinks with your keyword in the anchor text , are 1000 times more important in ranking your site, than your domain name. Learn more about SEO domain name? is not really a part of SEO, unless you are an EMD fan, and the board has a lot of those

01-25-2012, 03:40 PM	#9
dminorfmajor HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 403 Thanks: 46 Thanked 40 Times in 31 Posts	Re: Should I change my domain name? Don't change anything. You have a 2 year old domain with good content. If you keep pumping out unique content, visitors WILL come. That's a fact. You'll have long-tail searches piling up until the day you find out you're on the first page for a top-10 health search. I'd rather have a branded domain than an EMD if I could pick a finished product of one or the other.
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