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Choosing the right domain name...

by Moneyland
10 replies
Hi everyone,

What are the general rules when choosing a domain name? I know things in terms of keyword research and exact matches etc. However should you do things like:

1. Check a domain name as in the history of it - if "yes" how do you go about doing this?

2. There was a domain name I wanted and I could see that when I typed in the URL it showed up as "this account is Suspended" and the rest of the page was blank. If I wanted to still use this URL with "dashes" or with an "extra letter" would this still be advisable as obviously the full domain name has a bad history - could this affect me or my rankings if I used the similar domain as above??

Any other advice about "checking" or "choosing" domains would be appreciated.

Many thanks!
#choosing #domain
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
    The domain names are different when you put dashes in them or add a word or a letter. As far as the search engines go, those are unique domains.

    But if the site you saw as suspended had a history and people remember that history and don't want to visit your site because they think it might be the same, that is a different story and you don't have a way to find that out for sure without looking for news articles that reference the old site. Or trying out your plan with dashes or an extra letter to see what happens.
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  • Profile picture of the author chimehost
    If you know domain has a bad history, don't buy it. If you are able to see a page when you enter it in browser, it means the domain is taken. Do a whois to check if domain is taken - WHOIS Lookup for Domain & IP Address Research | Whois Source

    Your focus should be on branding if you are focused on long term or getting a exact match domain to target specific keywords only.

    Branding will take a long time but exact match domains will give you results faster
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    • Profile picture of the author Moneyland
      Originally Posted by chimehost View Post

      If you know domain has a bad history, don't buy it. If you are able to see a page when you enter it in browser, it means the domain is taken. Do a whois to check if domain is taken - WHOIS Lookup for Domain & IP Address Research | Whois Source

      Your focus should be on branding if you are focused on long term or getting a exact match domain to target specific keywords only.

      Branding will take a long time but exact match domains will give you results faster
      I looked into this WHOIS Lookup and it just tells me the name of company that owns domain and indicates domain is suspendedwhich I knew - I don't if I'm honest know what info I should really be looking at??

      Anyway thanks for your tips here guys....
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      • Profile picture of the author Moneyland
        Can anyone tell me when they register many domains for niche sites if it is best to buy them with privacy or without?? Will people then be able to see all of your domain names you have registered in other niches?

        Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tony Dean
    I would go ahead and put dashes in the keyword rich domain and see how you go, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dane Vaninc
    Moneyland,

    If you are seriously thinking about running a network of domains, then you really need to think about positioning yourself away from GoDaddy.

    What I mean to say is, you need to find a better domain registrar...there is one that exists, where for $9.28 per .com, per year, you get 100% free WHOISGUARD. The privacy is complimentary with every order.

    GoDaddy is not a business host. A real online business understands that in the digital warfare nature of today's marketplace, all information has value. To not protect this information, or at least work with a company that protects this information complimentary, can be a source of many anxieties in the long run.
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    • Profile picture of the author sumting4u
      I always use the privacy option when registering my domains. I do not want my name and address floating about. I would definitely look into the registrars that offer free privacy with domain registration.
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  • Profile picture of the author jwmann2
    Go with a name that will be easy for the general public to remember. Forget what Google says as far as the keyword search. I have also heard that yor should purchase the .Net and .Org domains of your website because of free riders.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marx Vergel Melencio
    Hi Moneyland,

    Google regularly changes their "bonuses" for exact match domains, according to our internal test results with our clients. This leads me to recommend going with easy to remember, convenient to type, professional sounding domain names which can instantly communicate the benefits provided by the solutions offered by your business. After all: You wouldn't want a business solely reliant on the whims of a multi billion dollar corporation and their constantly changed, frequently improved secret algorithm now, would you?
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    • Profile picture of the author Johnny Optimo
      you can use archive.org and check out the wayback machine - it will show you a domain's past.
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