Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name

Ryan Martin · 01-25-2012, 03:34 PM

I began creating a video tutorial/tips and tricks membership site for Microsoft Excel awhile back and am just getting back to it. The domain name will most likely get little search engine traffic because it is more of a "branded" name. I am curious on peoples' opinions on if it should be more like ExcelTraining.com or something similar or if there would be enough options to get traffic otherwise. It seems like I could run into trouble with having "Excel" in the domain name though with trademark issues.

JayDoh · 01-25-2012, 03:42 PM

Instead of using Excel, see if there is a good .com with "spreadsheet" in it if you are worried about trademark issues.

Is this a one off or are you doing lots of tutorials on different stuff? If yes then maybe a brand name would be better

Ryan Martin · 01-25-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayDoh

Instead of using Excel, see if there is a good .com with "spreadsheet" in it if you are worried about trademark issues.

Is this a one off or are you doing lots of tutorials on different stuff? If yes then maybe a brand name would be better

I have around 30+ videos made so far and am planning on adding around 1-2 per week. They are broken up into three sections:
Beginner's Tutorials
Formula Training
Tips and Tricks

My original plan was to make it into a membership site. However, I am toying with trying to use it as a list building site. I just don't know if it would be viable to try to build a list off it or not. I am sure I could probably use one in conjunction with the other, but I am still a little indecisive.

UMS · 01-25-2012, 03:59 PM

Definitely go for a branded name.

Having Excel or whatever in the domain name isn't going to automatically bring you organic traffic.

Ryan Martin · 01-25-2012, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMS

Definitely go for a branded name.

Having Excel or whatever in the domain name isn't going to automatically bring you organic traffic.

That is what I was leaning towards. I guess it helps I already have most of the site built under the branded name. Do you think this is a viable way to build a list?

JohnMcCabe · 01-25-2012, 04:19 PM

This is pure opinion based only on personal observation, but I have the feeling that the EMD is going to go the way of keyword stuffing, doorway pages, etc. It may not have the same magnitude of negative effect, but at best it will be ignored as a ranking factor.

JSProjects · 01-25-2012, 04:20 PM

I'd avoid any domains with trademarks in them. Especially one from a company as massive as Microsoft.

Canuckystan · 01-25-2012, 05:08 PM

I've seen much less ranking juice from EMD's lately, I agree with the above poster, no real benefit for ranking. They can benefit your business if the name describes exactly what is in the website. I will often click an exact name site when I'm surfing around first. Example with fake sites: "cheapflights.com" would attract a click faster than "chittleflyerz.com" (or whatever). You need to do a lot of work to establish a brand name.

TBInternetMarketing · 01-25-2012, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayDoh

Instead of using Excel, see if there is a good .com with "spreadsheet" in it if you are worried about trademark issues.

Is this a one off or are you doing lots of tutorials on different stuff? If yes then maybe a brand name would be better

Yea you do need to be a little careful with this one. I'd also go the spreadsheet route just to be on the safe side.

prian · 01-25-2012, 11:03 PM

Having memorable name won't help in seo or ranking in search engine but the trust factor will be better than emd one.

SEOtraveler · 01-26-2012, 01:54 AM

My vote is definitely for a brand name or a semi-brand, taking into account that you're creating a quality website.

What's a semi-brand? It's a name that renders an idea still it's not an exact match.

A semi-brand in your case could be spreadsheetgeek.com or excelkickass.com - something people would remember and type in unconsciously and without mistakes in the Google url bar.

Read more about domain name branding issues at How to Choose a Domain Name – Brandable Domains vs Keyword Rich Domains : @ProBlogger.

To add my two cents, keywords in the domain name is just a tiny aspect (probably one of thousand) that can influence search rankings. So don't bother.

Ryan Martin · 01-26-2012, 10:26 PM

Thanks guys for the opinions. Another question - Do you think a site like this would be better suited for a membership site or would it be better to offer the material free and try to build a list?

My thoughts for a membership site are:
Offer the beginner's videos for free
Charge a small monthly fee for the formula videos and Excel tips and tricks.

I am sure building a list is always good, but would it be profitable in this case? It seems to me as if people interested in this site would be more career-minded individuals who are looking to excel (no pun intended

.

01-25-2012, 03:34 PM	#1
Ryan Martin Accountant & MBA Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 115 Thanks: 9 Thanked 31 Times in 24 Posts Contact Info	Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name I began creating a video tutorial/tips and tricks membership site for Microsoft Excel awhile back and am just getting back to it. The domain name will most likely get little search engine traffic because it is more of a "branded" name. I am curious on peoples' opinions on if it should be more like ExcelTraining.com or something similar or if there would be enough options to get traffic otherwise. It seems like I could run into trouble with having "Excel" in the domain name though with trademark issues.

01-25-2012, 03:42 PM	#2
JayDoh Active Warrior Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 29 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name Instead of using Excel, see if there is a good .com with "spreadsheet" in it if you are worried about trademark issues. Is this a one off or are you doing lots of tutorials on different stuff? If yes then maybe a brand name would be better
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01-25-2012, 03:59 PM	#4
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: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name Definitely go for a branded name. Having Excel or whatever in the domain name isn't going to automatically bring you organic traffic.
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01-25-2012, 04:19 PM	#6
JohnMcCabe Happy Hooker War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: North of the Peace River, Southwest Florida, USA. Posts: 8,045 Thanks: 2,936 Thanked 4,910 Times in 2,620 Posts Social Networking	Re: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name This is pure opinion based only on personal observation, but I have the feeling that the EMD is going to go the way of keyword stuffing, doorway pages, etc. It may not have the same magnitude of negative effect, but at best it will be ignored as a ranking factor.
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01-25-2012, 04:20 PM	#7
JSProjects Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 2,118 Thanks: 57 Thanked 201 Times in 177 Posts Contact Info	Re: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name I'd avoid any domains with trademarks in them. Especially one from a company as massive as Microsoft.
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01-25-2012, 05:08 PM	#8
Canuckystan HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 150 Thanks: 0 Thanked 26 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name I've seen much less ranking juice from EMD's lately, I agree with the above poster, no real benefit for ranking. They can benefit your business if the name describes exactly what is in the website. I will often click an exact name site when I'm surfing around first. Example with fake sites: "cheapflights.com" would attract a click faster than "chittleflyerz.com" (or whatever). You need to do a lot of work to establish a brand name.

01-25-2012, 11:03 PM	#10
prian HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Posts: 122 Thanks: 77 Thanked 156 Times in 13 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name Having memorable name won't help in seo or ranking in search engine but the trust factor will be better than emd one.
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01-26-2012, 01:54 AM	#11
SEOtraveler HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 103 Thanks: 11 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name My vote is definitely for a brand name or a semi-brand, taking into account that you're creating a quality website. What's a semi-brand? It's a name that renders an idea still it's not an exact match. A semi-brand in your case could be spreadsheetgeek.com or excelkickass.com - something people would remember and type in unconsciously and without mistakes in the Google url bar. Read more about domain name branding issues at How to Choose a Domain Name – Brandable Domains vs Keyword Rich Domains : @ProBlogger. To add my two cents, keywords in the domain name is just a tiny aspect (probably one of thousand) that can influence search rankings. So don't bother.

01-26-2012, 10:26 PM	#12
Ryan Martin Accountant & MBA Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 115 Thanks: 9 Thanked 31 Times in 24 Posts Contact Info	Re: Exact Match Domain Vs. Memorable Name Thanks guys for the opinions. Another question - Do you think a site like this would be better suited for a membership site or would it be better to offer the material free and try to build a list? My thoughts for a membership site are: Offer the beginner's videos for free Charge a small monthly fee for the formula videos and Excel tips and tricks. I am sure building a list is always good, but would it be profitable in this case? It seems to me as if people interested in this site would be more career-minded individuals who are looking to excel (no pun intended .