6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
6 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Of Keywords and Domain Names

by TPaulBuzan
5 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Howdy Warriors,

I've got a question concerning the use of a direct keyword match for the domain name of a niche site.

I'm looking into starting up an Amazon affiliate site. This is the first time I've tried my hand at IM and Amazon is what I'm most comfortable getting started with.

Just wanna throw something against the wall and see if sticks, y'know? I mean, what have I got to lose for trying, right?

So I've been researching the Warrior Forum and there is an almost overwhelming amount of good info on here. I've parsed a tiny fraction of it, but I need some clarification.

Let's say my Amazon site is about "dog training".

I've done my keyword research on "dog training" and my global/local search numbers are good, SERPs are acceptable, and competition on the first page of Google seems manageable.

All systems point to go except for the fact that "dogtraining.com" is not available.

What are my options?

Let's say I want to avoid a ".net" domain. Would something like "dogtraininghq.com" be okay? Could I do a hyphenated domain name like "dog-training.com"?

What factors do I want to consider here?

I'm sure it's evident through this post, but I'm a n00b at all this. Help is much appreciated.

Thanks, folks!

Paul
#domain #keywords #names
  • Profile picture of the author majorcheaphazard
    There's a lot of discussion about that issue already.

    One may think of considering a keyword domain like dogtrainingtips.com (I doubt that it's still available) while another one will say that the shorter the characters are the better like dogtraininghq.com.

    IMO, both ideas are useful. What matters is the amount of work you will apply for the website to be successful.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6499007].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author SlfMastery
      Paul:

      Funny you put "hq" at the end. I was just going to suggest "x" as in dogtrainingX.com

      This is something I learned at a Mike Long / Kelly Felix webinar. And, like "majorcheaphazard" mentioned, the "consensus" says the shorter the better.

      But, who really knows what Google likes and don't like:confused:. That's the million dollar question.

      Charlie
      Signature
      **Blueprint To Your First $50 - FREE Now!
      **Amazon Assoc. Reveals How To Make $1500 Fast
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6499082].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author DeskCoder
        Originally Posted by SlfMastery View Post

        Paul:

        Funny you put "hq" at the end. I was just going to suggest "x" as in dogtrainingX.com

        This is something I learned at a Mike Long / Kelly Felix webinar. And, like "majorcheaphazard" mentioned, the "consensus" says the shorter the better.

        But, who really knows what Google likes and don't like:confused:. That's the million dollar question.

        Charlie
        I like "hq" or "guide" more than just "x" ... "x" seems spammy and doesn't convey and additional information to me. It seems confusing on what the site is actually for ... but when you see the other too, you get a sense of what the site is about.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6499219].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author TPaulBuzan
          Thanks all for the insight.

          I think I'd prefer going with something like "hq" or "tips" rather than "x" simply because I'd like to turn this into a authority site and think a proper word will benefit me in the long run.

          Yeah, I suppose trying to divine Google's voodoo is a cottage industry. Who knows? I'm going to try to provide something of value and hope for the best.

          Just to further clarify: If my main keyword is "dog training" (clearly this is just an example" and my site name is "dog training hq" I should still have a shot at ranking high on the first page of Google for the keyword "dog training", yes?

          Thanks again!
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6499300].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PhoenixFlex
      Also check to see what the competition / search volume of your new domain-name phrase is.
      For example "dog training tips" may get good searches itself, whereas "dog training hq" not so much. Do a search using the Google Keyword Tool to see what phrases people are searching for that contain your main keyword.

      Good luck,

      P
      Signature
      Get flexible for work, sport and beyond with a step-by-step stretching program. Try it out for just $1!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6499105].message }}

Trending Topics