Can Exact Match Domains Hurt You?

[Mister Ozzy]

I have a question where me and my business partner are struggling with for weeks...

I have a VPS server with one big main site (500+ articles) plus something like 10 exact match domains on some high converting keywords.

I put one great article on those exact match domains and they rank very well (Google top 3). Below the article is a link to one of our optins or salespages.

I know Google doesn't really like the idea of buying a lot of exact match domains.

So my question is: can the tactic of buying exact match domains hurt my big main site in anyway?

And when I would buy more exact match domains, for example 50 or 100, will that hurt it?

Hopefully an SEO expert on this forum can answer this question for me, or show me some articles or video's on authority sites where this topic is discussed. So please only reply if you know where you are talking about...

[seoace]

So you are buying EMDs which ranks well and use those EMDs as a buffer to your sales page on your big main site?

If that's the case, yes it will hurt you since all your sites are hosted under 1 VPS server.

I would look towards getting a separate host for your big main site to avoid any risk of any penalty.

[sovereignn]

Originally Posted by Mister Ozzy

I have a question where me and my business partner are struggling with for weeks...

I have a VPS server with one big main site (500+ articles) plus something like 10 exact match domains on some high converting keywords.

I put one great article on those exact match domains and they rank very well (Google top 3). Below the article is a link to one of our optins or salespages.

I know Google doesn't really like the idea of buying a lot of exact match domains.

So my question is: can the tactic of buying exact match domains hurt my big main site in anyway?

And when I would buy more exact match domains, for example 50 or 100, will that hurt it?

Hopefully an SEO expert on this forum can answer this question for me, or show me some articles or video's on authority sites where this topic is discussed. So please only reply if you know where you are talking about...

You'll be fine there is no actual proof Google bans shared hosting accounts. So chances are slim to none your EMD websites will effect your larger authority website.

As for your MFA websites oh god chances are they wont last too long. The idea of an EMD is just awful.

Logically it makes sense but in terms of quality content I mean... When you buy an EMD 9/10 times you're an affiliate and that's not what Google wants a website being centered around

[VHSEOMike]

Do not worry; usually, exact match domains are safe to buy. It should not hurt you. In fact, you might get some advantages because of exact match domains. But if you have exact match domains and high keyword density, then your sites might loose their ranking because of over optimization.

[andishm]

Even after penguin update I have seen EMD works more better in top rankings than ever before I have seen in search results.

[Mister Ozzy]

I see a lot of variety in the answers.

Do a lot of people agree that I should buy a seperate VPS server for the minisites?

Here in Holland exact match domains still works like magic. Type a search term in Google related to the internet marketing, weight loss or dating market and the changes are big that you see 1 or 2 exact match domains with a affiliate link on it.

@ seoace

What is your argument that it will hurt me big main site? Hosted under same ip?

@ sovereignn

You say that the changes are slim that it will hurt my big main site. What should you do in my situation? Seperate hosting account? Delete domains?

[adam337]

Exact match domain will not hurt you. It'll give you few advantage in ranking.

[SwedishDemocracy]

Originally Posted by VHSEOMike

Do not worry; usually, exact match domains are safe to buy. It should not hurt you. In fact, you might get some advantages because of exact match domains. But if you have exact match domains and high keyword density, then your sites might loose their ranking because of over optimization.

This. Exact-match domains aren't a problem unless the site is over-optimized.

[Devel]

If you buy all of them and redirect it to your big site (as keyword) than it dangerous for your main site ranking. But if you want to create new site than its safe as long as you are not trying to fool search engine by creating many site than linking it each other (G will know).

[CatherineMay]

Well, I know the OP asked in the beginning that only experts reply in this thread, and that's the last thing I am, but I'm taking the liberty of replying here to bump this up.

Since Panda/Penguin, it seems like there's diversity of opinion about EMDs. I'm trying to learn more myself, before launching into some new projects.

It seems like the problem now really centers around over optimization. Is this right? Any more opinions from people with lots of experience?

[Chrisbroholm]

Over Optimization is particularly with anchor text since the Penguin update. Having an EMD can and will never, ever hurt you. The bonus you got from having an EMD has been made smaller, but its still a noticeable advantage.

I think the reason is mainly due to brand domains. Like say your domain was ColgateToothpaste.com I mean, if that got punished for including the exact match in the url that would be insane. There are plenty of other brands where this would hold. Like if microsoft.com got punished for using their own name - right?

It has to be said though, that any page can be ranked for any term. Having the EMD is just one way to start the whole SEO process 1 step ahead.