Should I change my domain name or not?

by 14 replies
16
When I first started in IM just over a year ago, I was told that having the domain name as your targeted keyword is not important. Now I am hearing otherwise.

My website has been up since February of this year and the domain name is very general. I was looking up domain names in namecheap and found a domain that is for sale with the keywords my website it trying to rank for. (but with dashes in between)

example

my-targeted-keyword.com

would it be better to keep the domain name the way it is or would it be better to transfer to the new domain? When I type into google the keywords I am trying to target, the #1 website is one that uses my keywords in the domain. It so happens to sell the same product that I do too.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #change #domain
  • True that a domain name containing the keywords gives you ~25% increase in rankings.

    Whether to change or not depends on your current domain. How many backlinks have you built for it? If you have a ton, you could consider keeping the current one.

    As for the content, you can do a 301 permanent redirect so Google wouldn't consider it as duplicate content.
    • [1] reply
    • 25% (if even that) on only 1 keyword. Hopefully people are targeting more than 1 keyword on their website.

      A keyword rich domain name can be handy but branding can be more powerful.
      • [1] reply
  • Hmmmm, why not buy the domain name and make a whole new website? Now you have 2 websites working for you!

    I have a lot of success with having keyword based domain names. Since it works well, I also have a lot of websites. I would recommend starting to think about not putting all eggs in one basket with 1 website. What happens if something goes wrong with it?

    Okay, to answer your question, I don't think changing the domain name is a good idea. If Google already has all your pages and content indexed and associated with your domain, then you would be confusing the issue by changing it.
    • [2] replies
    • I just did a search for backlinks on my site using yahoo site explorer. I have 19 links with the "except from this domain" marked.

      I really don't get why that is, because I have been submitting to article directories using the Article Marketing Robot for a few weeks now.
    • I agree. I have had some experience with this and his advice is great.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
    • [2] replies
    • I've been successful with both. My oldest site probably gets the most traffic and it does NOT have a keyword in the domain name. In my opinion, it does well because of it's age and the large amount of content.

      My other websites have the domain names in them and they ranked well faster, but for a smaller audience.

      I like the idea of JRCarson...having two websites. It also depends on how narrow you want to go and how much time/work you have invested in your current domain/website.
    • I don't know about having 2 websites with the same exact content. I have invested a lot of time to my website.....but I am worried about making two because of the duplicate content thing that google doesn't like.

      So would a 301 redirect be better? Would it be worth it with only 19 links to my site?

      Thanks for your suggestions so far
  • If it is a information site that uses adsense affiliate links domain name is not that important
    • [1] reply

    • I sell an information clickbank information product. I have no adsense.
      • [1] reply
  • Hi,
    You can fix the problem by create URL favourable to the keyword you try to target. this way will work, as many good domains have been taken.
    • [1] reply
    • There have been a number of issues raised here, some of them answered.

      Forget about the duplicate content issue, duplicate content exists all over the Internet. Just don't place two or more copies of the same article or content on any individual website.

      Yes you can. A word of warning though - do not host your domain names with the same service provider that provides your web hosting. It is far better to host your domain names with a separate provider and then point them to the servers of your web host.

      Both your domain and web host providers will explain how to do this.

      Just my thoughts,

      Jeff.
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    Should I change my domain name or not?

    When I first started in IM just over a year ago, I was told that having the domain name as your targeted keyword is not important. Now I am hearing otherwise. My website has been up since February of this year and the domain name is very general. I was looking up domain names in namecheap and found a domain that is for sale with the keywords my website it trying to rank for. (but with dashes in between)