Do partial keyword matches in domain name help?

4 replies
  • SEO
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For instance, if I own the domain GolfReviews.com and I build it into an authority site with pages such as:

GolfReviews.com/Golf-Club-Reviews/
GolfReviews.com/Golf-Ball-Reviews/

I know that when I do a search in google for the term: "Golf Club Reviews" that the search results will highlight the words "Golf" and "Reviews" in the domain name, as well as the term "Golf Club Reviews" in the URL.

Does having this partial match in the domain name help at all when ranking these sub pages for their keywords?

Or does the domain name ONLY help me rank for the exact term "Golf Reviews"?
#domain #keyword #matches #partial
  • Profile picture of the author Ben Armstrong
    Any SEO experts out there have any advice on this? It's not something I've been able to find any information on.
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  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    The value of having keywords in the domain has be lowered significantly since the first Panda update.

    That said, you'll get some on-page SEO benefit from the URL and Title of your inner page.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ben Armstrong
      Originally Posted by UMS View Post

      The value of having keywords in the domain has be lowered significantly since the first Panda update.

      That said, you'll get some on-page SEO benefit from the URL and Title of your inner page.
      Thanks!

      I agree about EMD value dropping since Panda and definitely don't rely on it. But I am planning an authority site and if I can help my inner pages rank this way then it's a bonus. Two of the words in the domain name (3 word domain name) feature quite frequently in many of the keywords my site will target.
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  • Profile picture of the author shakemelikeapig
    Yes, they do help, although obviously not as much as an EMD. On the other hand, it's common knowledge by now that EMDs no longer help as much as they used to.
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