Do domains really matter?

9 replies
  • SEO
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Just wondering, I'm targeting a new niche and with domain names i've come across two options, both are similar but I'm not sure if they would make a difference.

1. xxxxx-xxxxxxs.net

or

2. xxxxx-xxxxxx.com

Google keyword tool says the phrase for the dot.net gets 15k more searches( minus the " - " of course.

Or should i look for an unhyphonated domain?

Thanks
#domains #matter
  • Profile picture of the author camelia
    Here is the ranking factors for Google Algorithm according to a survey conducted by SEOMOZ .

    24% Trust/Authority of the Host Domain
    22% Link Popularity of the Specific Page
    20% Anchor Text of External Links
    15% On-Page Keyword Usage
    7% Traffic and Click-Through Data
    6% Social Graph Metrics
    5% Registration and Hosting Data
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    • Profile picture of the author Stuart S
      Originally Posted by camelia View Post

      Here is the ranking factors for Google Algorithm according to a survey conducted by SEOMOZ .

      24% Trust/Authority of the Host Domain
      22% Link Popularity of the Specific Page
      20% Anchor Text of External Links
      15% On-Page Keyword Usage
      7% Traffic and Click-Through Data
      6% Social Graph Metrics
      5% Registration and Hosting Data
      So the domain doesn't matter but who I buy it through does?
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      • Profile picture of the author ~kev~
        Originally Posted by JacksonRiddle View Post

        So the domain doesn't matter but who I buy it through does?
        Go to google and do a search for "webmaster forum" - without the quotes. Your first 2 results should be v7n and digital point. Neither site has the word "webmaster" or "forum" in its name.

        Go to google and do a search for "news" - without the quotes. Your first results should be cnn, msnbc, foxnews, yahoo news, google news,,,,,. Out of the top 5 results for news, only 1 has the word "news" in the domain name, and that is foxnews.

        Having a keyword in the domain name helps - but its not "the" only deciding factor of where your site ranks.
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    The answer is yes it matters, a tiny bit.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Heron
    The truth is, no one really knows.
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    • Profile picture of the author link-master
      Originally Posted by Steven Heron View Post

      The truth is, no one really knows.
      That's the only statatement on this forum I can agree with no doubts.
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      • Profile picture of the author james7
        Domains are most important because the the search engine crawler first look at the domain if it contains keyword then your site well ranked for that keyword.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Koltai
      Originally Posted by Steven Heron View Post

      The truth is, no one really knows.
      True, but anecdotal experience is a good indicator.

      Having recently begun creating an authority site in an attempt to thoroughly consume a niche in which I have multiple sniper sites, I can provide my personal experience with the SEO value of a keyworded domain.

      The sniper site, after having the RSS feed submitted to feedagg (my first step for all of my sites to get them indexed), ranked at the top of Google's 2nd page (position 11) within 2-3 days, with no other links.

      The corresponding page on the authority site, following the same blueprint and with the root domain having received no links due to still being in the construction phase, entered the SERPs on the 6th page, position 54.

      If you search my previous posts, I've got another example involving an issue with a copyrighted domain posted elsewhere on the forum. Your mileage may vary, but I'd be willing to bet good money on the SEO effect of exact match keyword domains.
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  • Profile picture of the author rahulr
    Have your targeted keyword in the domain name.If your website is about dog food then have dogfood.com(It can also be dog-food.com).If you have a lottle more money to spend get an .org domain name because it ranks better.
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