Exact Match Domain Names Are Dead

103 replies
I have been doing some research for about ten days and I now feel comfortable posting my conclusions here. I don't claim to know this for sure, but everything I can see points to exact match domains getting preferential search result treatment being a thing of the past.

I own well over 100 sites, all with EMD's so I have a good pool to compare from. Do take in mind though, that they are of all different ages, backlink numbers etc. so my research has no "scientific control" to make this claim any more than a personal theory at this point.

Also let me make it clear that I am not in any way saying that I think that Google is punishing sites for having EMD's. I am saying they are not getting the magical SEO boosts they used to get.

Every EMD site I have that is under three months of age and has less than 25 or so (quality) backlinks has lost some significant ranking for it's exact search term. They have all stayed perfectly steady for other keywords, so the sites themselves have not been de indexed nor have they been penalized. They simply dropped for their exact searches and only their exact searches.

Also, my sites that are older and have higher PR, more backlinks etc. have all held steady for their exact search terms, these are sites that would rank where they are no matter what their domain is. This, coupled with the newer ones dropping in the search engines, leads me to believe that Google has eradicated the advantage that used to be given to EMD's.

I used to be able to rank a site top 3 with an EMD and exact search numbers from 5k to 10k within a week, now it seems it takes around three months, which is exactly what it takes for any domain with no matches. This leads me to believe that it is no longer as big of a help to get the EMD when building a site and that your content being optimized is now the major ranking factor of a new site.

Before anyone chimes in with Panda and Blog network talk I just want to say that not one single site I used to research this belongs to any blog network and every single one has only organic, niche specific backlinks, they all have 100% unique original content, and they are not in the least bit spammy. Many have not even been monetized at all yet.

Also, I know that for many, it is no surprise to hear this since EMD's have been losing their juice for a while. This is true, they were slowly becoming less important, but they still certainly helped. I am pretty sure this is no longer true, that they aren't helping at all and EMD's are officially dead.
#dead #domain #exact #match #names
  • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
    Banned
    Geeze, I don't think we have space to bury this one with everything else in IM that is dead/dying.

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    • Profile picture of the author James.N
      Originally Posted by Joe Robinson View Post

      Geeze, I don't think we have space to bury this one with everything else in IM that is dead/dying.

      Maybe just IM as a whole is dead?
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Franklin
    It's not enough to just have an EMD with backlinks. They're still highly effective as long as you put in the work upfront with your sites (preferably Wordpress) with on-site SEO.
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  • Profile picture of the author SamDermot
    Banned
    SEO is not going to change completely, it is changing slowly, due to lots of spammer, who register long domain name with exact match keywords and they start spamming forums, blogs I think for those there may be changes...

    My point is quality is always needed in SEO....
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  • Profile picture of the author ShaneBoyd
    Google is changing things up a little, that's for sure. But the only things that are really going away are the shortcuts or loopholes. If you put together a quality site, deliver quality information, work hard to get quality back links and employ good old fashioned MARKETING then you really have nothing to worry about.

    Sure it's a little harder to get to the first page of Google. But so what? This is actually a good thing. All these changes will get rid of the people that shouldn't be here anyway. Leaving only the cream of the crop.

    It's a cleansing period folks. Nothing to worry about.

    Happy marketing.
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    • Profile picture of the author turtlenet
      Originally Posted by ShaneBoyd View Post

      Google is changes things up a little, that's for sure. But the only things that are really going away are the shortcuts or loopholes.
      So true! Google just wants to deliver quality relevant results to its searchers, to keep them coming back. The goal of SEO is to manipulate the system, and Google will slowly but surely close the loopholes the SEOers find. What value does the domain name really add to the end user? Very little.
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    • Profile picture of the author Batou
      Originally Posted by ShaneBoyd View Post

      Google is changes things up a little, that's for sure. But the only things that are really going away are the shortcuts or loopholes. If you put together a quality site, deliver quality information, work hard to get quality back links and employ good old fashioned MARKETING then you really have nothing to worry about.

      Sure it's a little harder to get to the first page of Google. But so what? This is actually a good thing. All these changes will get rid of the people that shouldn't be here anyway. Leaving only the cream of the crop.

      It's a cleansing period folks. Nothing to worry about.

      Happy marketing.
      I agree, i'm all for google weeding out spammy/low quality sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author aZooZa
    Picking an EMD for your domain isn't all about pleasing Google. On the premise that EMDs are no good, what would be the criteria for registering a new domain, other than anything with 'brandability' and obscure?
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    • Profile picture of the author Takk
      Originally Posted by aZooZa View Post

      Picking an EMD for your domain isn't all about pleasing Google. On the premise that EMDs are no good, what would be the criteria for registering a new domain, other than anything with 'brandability' and obscure?
      I don't think there is anything specific. This is simply saying that exact matches aren't getting special treatment anymore. Its not saying that they are terrible choices.

      I'd still pick one with a keyword related to my topic unless I wanted to make a brand. Just not build 100 domains with exact matches, build 1 domain that has the main word(s) in the domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    EMD's will always be better, there are always going to be people who just type in their term and go, also humans look at results and if they see the EMD they give it more weight. I'm just saying the magic bullet SEO aspect is gone.

    Shane, I agree with your sentiments 100%. It is a welcome change.
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  • Profile picture of the author Faisal Karim
    EMD's still have their charm, but one can't solely rely on EMDs to lift you up to the first page anymore. Mix it up well with on-page and off-page SEO and things should look good.
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by Randall Magwood View Post

      EMD are dead? I highly disagree.
      Very informative. Care to state your case?
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    • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
      "Exact Match Domain Names Are Dead"

      No they're not. For fake Google juice they may or may not be slipping, but if choosing a EMD for the purpose of getting that 1% boost in the serps is the reason you chose the name then you might be missing out on the big picture.

      If someone is searching for a zorbsworm cure for their dog, as an example, what do you think will inspire more trust in the searchers mind...

      zorbswormcure.com or stevesstormdoorrepair.com

      If you're not building your sites for humans take two steps back.

      ~Bill
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  • Profile picture of the author krestup
    EMD still rank well, all my EMD rank without much SEO effort. I believe its because of the niche
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by krestup View Post

      EMD still rank well, all my EMD rank without much SEO effort. I believe its because of the niche
      As I said, established EMD sites still rank, how old is the newest site you speak of? How many exact match searches does it get? If I wanted to rank for "oh my god exact match domains are so awesome" then I could get ohmygodexactmatchdomainsaresoawesome.com to number one in a day. I am talking about 5k and up exact matches.
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      • Profile picture of the author the goat
        Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

        "Exact Match Domain Names Are Dead"

        No they're not. For fake Google juice they may or may not be slipping, but if choosing a EMD for the purpose of getting that 1% boost in the serps is the reason you chose the name then you might be missing out on the big picture.

        If someone is searching for a zorbsworm cure for their dog, as an example, what do you think will inspire more trust in the searchers mind...

        zorbswormcure.com or stevesstormdoorrepair.com

        If you're not building your sites for humans take two steps back.

        ~Bill
        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        EMD's will always be better, there are always going to be people who just type in their term and go, also humans look at results and if they see the EMD they give it more weight. I'm just saying the magic bullet SEO aspect is gone.
        Maybe you should take two steps back and read the thread before replying?
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        • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
          Originally Posted by the goat View Post

          Maybe you should take two steps back and read the thread before replying?
          I read it.

          ~Bill
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          • Profile picture of the author the goat
            Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

            I read it.

            ~Bill
            So why did you tell me to take two steps back and follow your advice that was an exact repeat of what I already said?
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        • Profile picture of the author tpw
          Originally Posted by the goat View Post

          Maybe you should take two steps back and read the thread before replying?

          Maybe you should not assume that anyone who agrees or disagrees with your assessment is someone who did not read what you said.
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          Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
          Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    He quoted me personally, he then gave me advice that mirrored the EXACT thing that I had already stated. What assumption would any human make, am I in the twilight zone?
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      He quoted me personally, he then gave me advice that mirrored the EXACT thing that I had already stated. What assumption would any human make, am I in the twilight zone?

      You are familiar with the definition of "nuance", right?

      His response was a nuance of what you said originally.

      You were talking strictly in terms of the Google algorithm, and Bill was talking about how a "human" perceives a given website and the trust that a "human" invests into the domain, based on its name.

      I am sorry you missed the distinction.
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      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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      • Profile picture of the author the goat
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        Bill was talking about how a "human" perceives a given website and the trust that a "human" invests into the domain, based on its name.

        I am sorry you missed the distinction.
        Ummm... have you read the thread? This is what I wrote before he replied about the EXACT thing you stated, humans.

        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        EMD's will always be better... humans look at results and if they see the EMD they give it more weight. I'm just saying the magic bullet SEO aspect is gone.
        Then he regurgitates my exact sentence back to me and tells me to take two steps back and follow his advice... advice that I already gave?

        Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

        "Exact Match Domain Names Are Dead"

        No they're not. For fake Google juice they may or may not be slipping, but if choosing a EMD for the purpose of getting that 1% boost in the serps is the reason you chose the name then you might be missing out on the big picture.

        If someone is searching for a zorbsworm cure for their dog, as an example, what do you think will inspire more trust in the searchers mind...

        zorbswormcure.com or stevesstormdoorrepair.com

        If you're not building your sites for humans take two steps back.

        ~Bill
        Listen I am not some kid or troll here but I will defend my own statements, and if he really read what I wrote, then still wrote what he did, then the only other conclusion is that he's an idiot, and I highly doubt that.
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        • Profile picture of the author tpw
          Originally Posted by the goat View Post

          Ummm... have you read the thread? This is what I wrote before he replied about the EXACT thing you stated, humans.

          I read your original post, not post #10 where you used the word "humans" in a way that differed from your OP.
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          Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
          Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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          • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
            Banned
            Originally Posted by tpw View Post

            I read your original post, not post #10 where you used the word "humans" in a way that differed from your OP.
            ^^That. Also, if you take the time to read and understand Bill's post instead of just reacting because he won't agree with your doom and gloom call, you can see his point.

            The fact that there is still a human element means that exact match domain names are not dead and not dying.
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          • Profile picture of the author the goat
            I agreed with Bill before Bill said what Bill said! Bill just repeated something I had already said. I feel like I am taking crazy pills.
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            • Profile picture of the author tpw
              Originally Posted by the goat View Post

              I agreed with Bill before Bill said what Bill said! Bill just repeated something I had already said. I feel like I am taking crazy pills.

              We only have your word that you are not. :p
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            • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
              Banned
              Originally Posted by the goat View Post

              I agreed with Bill before Bill said what Bill said! Bill just repeated something I had already said. I feel like I am taking crazy pills.
              Go eat some bacon, it'll be alright.

              @rickzep actually what you are saying is spot on. Do what you can to internally optimize your site for the search engines (that doesn't mean keyword stuffing and the like, but properly linking and tagging your pages/setting up a readable structure for crawling), but make the main focus on quality for your end user. The ranking will come.

              @aZooZa, then the whole "death of" part would lose it's sizzle. Can't have that now, can we?
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            • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
              Originally Posted by the goat View Post

              I agreed with Bill before Bill said what Bill said! Bill just repeated something I had already said. I feel like I am taking crazy pills.
              What flavor?

              Coming back to this thread is a trip.

              My response was effectively a renunciation of the broad brush stoke used as the subject line to draw people in and an expounding on the validity EMDs hold for humans. A point with which you and I are in agreement on.

              This is a discussion forum, and generally broad stroked pontifications will be strong on some positions and light on other positions. It's the nature of the beast. I wanted to stress the human side moreso than I saw in this thread.

              How you responded to me was a function of your belief that the general statements I made were targeted specifically at you. They weren't. Ironically, had your mind been in a different place you may have seen them in the light I wrote them. It happens sometimes.

              What really took this thread off course was not my comments but the way they were handled. I'm sure there is a big fat lesson in there somewhere.

              For everyone.

              ~Bill

              edit/added: There have been quite a few responses in this thread made while I was typing my thoughts. Just letting everyone know upfront...
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              • Profile picture of the author the goat
                Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

                What flavor?

                Coming back to this thread is a trip.

                My response was effectively a renunciation of the broad brush stoke used as the subject line to draw people in and an expounding on the validity EMDs hold for humans. A point with which you and I are in agreement on.

                This is a discussion forum, and generally broad stroked pontifications will be strong on some positions and light on other positions. It's the nature of the beast. I wanted to stress the human side moreso than I saw in this thread.

                How you responded to me was a function of your belief that the general statements I made were targeted specifically at you. They weren't. Ironically, had your mind been in a different place you may have seen them in the light I wrote them. It happens sometimes.

                What really took this thread off course was not my comments but the way they were handled. I'm sure there is a big fat lesson in there somewhere.

                For everyone.

                ~Bill
                Thanks Bill, but you did quote me, and then offer advice, if I was wrong to assume a quote meant that you were speaking directly to me then I apologize and hope you can see how it would be taken that way?
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            • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
              Originally Posted by the goat View Post

              I feel like I am taking crazy pills.
              What color is yours .. they gave me green ones the last time.
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              • Profile picture of the author thedog
                Thanks for sharing, I was a bit of an EMD junkie there for a while...

                To be honest, this isn't a bad thing... how many times have you tried to register an EMD and it turns out a domain squatter owns it.

                If I can find a good one, then I'll snap it up of course, but, not going to stress over it too much.

                We've all bee hearing for a while now, but I'll repeat it, GOOGLE WANTS FRESH CONTENT

                That's it... a lot of our SEO tricks are dead or are in Googles cross hairs.

                I think those who'll not only survive, but also do very well are those who actually give Google what they want.

                I'm even back using Ezine articles!

                I'm gonna kick it old school, lots of original content.
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                • Profile picture of the author Ian Varnava
                  @the goat

                  I guess the bottom line is that nothing is written in stone in this IM business so it is very well possible that some EMD owners such as yourself may be experiencing the effects of the EMD-knock-down by Google more heavily, while the rest of us aren't (yet?). The 'rest of us' are probably next so better get prepared!

                  Originally Posted by thedog View Post

                  I'm even back using Ezine articles!


                  Originally Posted by thedog View Post

                  I'm gonna kick it old school, lots of original content.
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                  • Profile picture of the author the goat
                    Originally Posted by Ian Varnava View Post

                    @the goat

                    I guess the bottom line is that nothing is written in stone in this IM business so it is very well possible that some EMD owners such as yourself may be experiencing the effects of the EMD-knock-down by Google more heavily, while the rest of us aren't (yet?). The 'rest of us' are probably next so better get prepared!
                    Or I could be over analyzing, nobody knows for sure unless they work for Google.

                    Ian I read through your site and I have to say you are one of the most honest and sane people I have come across in IM. Like I said before this forum is the first time I have ever interacted with other internet marketers and I was pretty set on going back in my hole, but your site made me re think sticking around and actually helping others make money without bleeding them dry in the process. I actually signed up for your newsletter, first one ever (besides industry people like Matt Cutts).
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  • Profile picture of the author Premier Plugins
    This thread had potential, but went downhill pretty fast.
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    • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Premier Plugins View Post

      This thread had potential, but went downhill pretty fast.
      I don't know, getting to see the OP's bacon avatar again and again gives me hope. That might just be because of the bacon though, and not the content.

      Seriously though, the only potential a thread with "death" in the title has is the potential to lead to bad jokes and bickering :p.
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  • Profile picture of the author rickzep
    Ok nobody shoot me for saying this but I think that onpage seo is becoming more of a factor. Let me explain. My sites that are getting backlinks from blog networks and quick seo stuff are tanking but the ones that I build with no backlinks from external sites but instead backlinks from interlinking content from my own blog back to the main keyword url are doing very well.

    On site backlinks count too and for niche long tails it works very fast so it all goes back to content. Also, well written articles posts on my blogs get external backlinks naturally because people tend to bookmark and backlink to useful relevant content with an emphasis on useful because you have to give people a reason to link back to you.

    Once I understood this, I no longer sweat over building backlinks and just let it happen naturally over time. If you are in a hurry to be #1 fast well this is not a get to the top fast strategy. It's long term but it works.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by rickzep View Post

      Ok nobody shoot me for saying this but I think that onpage seo is becoming more of a factor. Let me explain. My sites that are getting backlinks from blog networks and quick seo stuff are tanking but the ones that I build with no backlinks from external sites but instead backlinks from interlinking content from my own blog back to the main keyword url are doing very well.

      On site backlinks count too and for niche long tails it works very fast so it all goes back to content. Also, well written articles posts on my blogs get external backlinks naturally because people tend to bookmark and backlink to useful relevant content with an emphasis on useful because you have to give people a reason to link back to you.

      Once I understood this, I no longer sweat over building backlinks and just let it happen naturally over time. If you are in a hurry to be #1 fast well this is not a get to the top fast strategy. It's long term but it works.


      I won't shoot you... I agree.

      It has been suggested before now that Google has been moving towards putting more emphasis on on-page SEO in recent months.

      I think they need to do that to keep up with Bing...

      Google is only considered the better search engine by webmasters and other Kool-Aid drinkers. Yet, they have been losing percentage points of market share to Bing for a couple years now.
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by rickzep View Post

      If you are in a hurry to be #1 fast well this is not a get to the top fast strategy. It's long term but it works.
      I definitely won't shoot you either, thanks for an on topic reply. I agree with your sentiment, long term SEO strategies are becoming more and more important.

      Someone might shoot me for this, but the most absolutely natural SEO strategy is no SEO strategy. I'm not saying we should ignore SEO, but anything that tries to manipulate it will eventually be weeded out.
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      • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
        Banned
        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        I definitely won't shoot you either, thanks for an on topic reply. I agree with your sentiment, long term SEO strategies are becoming more and more important.

        Someone might shoot me for this, but the most absolutely natural SEO strategy is no SEO strategy. I'm not saying we should ignore SEO, but anything that tries to manipulate it will eventually be weeded out.
        You might shoot yourself for this; but the people you are arguing with in this thread would take the same stance on the topic as you.

        PLOT TWIST
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        I definitely won't shoot you either, thanks for an on topic reply.

        Technically, all comments have been "on topic".

        Unfortunately, you spoke with an absolute in your thread title.

        Then in your original post, you spoke only to proving your headline where the Google algorithm is concerned.

        Even YOU had to correct your original post, by acknowledging your omission of the "human behavior issue" in post #10.
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        • Profile picture of the author the goat
          Originally Posted by tpw View Post

          Thicker skin could reduce your stress level and lengthen your life. :rolleyes:
          Originally Posted by tpw View Post

          Technically, all comments have been "on topic".

          Unfortunately, you spoke with an absolute in your thread title.

          Then in your original post, you spoke only to proving your headline where the Google algorithm is concerned.

          Even YOU had to correct your original post, by acknowledging your omission of the "human behavior issue" in post #10.
          You are talking in circles. Your friend regurgitated words I had already said back to me as advice because he didn't read the thread. Simple as that.
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          • Profile picture of the author tpw
            Originally Posted by the goat View Post

            You are talking in circles. Your friend regurgitated words I had already said back to me as advice because he didn't read the thread. Simple as that.

            No circles, my good man.

            You did not mention the human behavior in post #1, and you agreed that human behavior was a factor in post #10 when someone else mentioned it.

            Then you recommended people should have read what you wrote, when people did read your original post and missed post #10.

            Here is a lesson in human behavior, when it comes to forum behavior:

            You are lucky that most people will read your entire first post before hitting reply!!

            I have tested it and proven this in this forum more times that I would want to admit.

            I have proven it so many times in this forum that some people hit Report Post every time I start a new thread, because they are afraid I am playing head games with them. :p

            A certain percentage of forum participants will hit reply after only looking at the subject line. You can test it yourself, by setting up your subject line, then contradicting your subject line in the post.

            I would recommend against doing so, because you will collect enemies like I have done.

            But, human nature dictates that even some of old timers will read the first post, then we will reply and only sometimes will we read all of the comments before hitting reply.

            No sense in getting upset about that....

            Shhhh..... It happens...
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  • Profile picture of the author aZooZa
    Maybe OP might have considered starting his thread title with "IMO:..."
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  • Profile picture of the author ivan84m
    You're true, but there's no problem with that in terms of SEO. Just pick a domain that has your keyword and a suffix. I've seen these rank really well.

    Don't use prefixes. Your keyword must go first.
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by aZooZa View Post

      Maybe OP might have considered starting his thread title with "IMO:..."
      From my original post:

      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      my research has no "scientific control" to make this claim any more than a personal theory at this point.
      Not good enough for you?
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      • Profile picture of the author aZooZa
        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        From my original post:



        Not good enough for you?
        I'm just wondering whether you read stuff before getting the hump? I said TITLE.
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      • Profile picture of the author tpw
        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        Not good enough for you?

        Thicker skin could reduce your stress level and lengthen your life. :rolleyes:
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        Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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      • Profile picture of the author Joseph Robinson
        Banned
        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        From my original post:



        Not good enough for you?
        Nope, he is saying you should have put it here:

        IMO: Exact Match Domain Names Are Dead
        Because by taking that hardline stance in your title, you actually created what happened with you and Bill. He and other veterans have seen this type of thread way too many times, and react accordingly.

        You learned a lesson in creating thread titles today, so there's that .
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    I haven't argued with anyone about any points they've made about the topic, because nobody has shown any evidence that my actual point is wrong. I have only argued because someone quoted me, stated that I need to take two steps back, and told me what I had already said.

    I showed him why he was wrong, that's it. Then you guys jumped in.

    Frankly put I have quietly, minding my own business and not talking about it, been making good money online for years. This forum is the first time I've decided to stick my head out a little and give back to the community. I'd like to thank you guys for such a warm welcome.

    I guess my skin is too thin to share my years of knowledge around here.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      I guess my skin is too thin to share my years of knowledge around here.

      If you go immediately on the offensive when someone disagrees with you or repeats something you have said, then your skin is a bit thin.

      Things like that happen in forum threads all the time. It is nothing to get upset or defensive about.

      Shhhh... It happens!!
      Signature
      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author aZooZa
    Anyone with "years of knowledge" wouldn't generally come onto a forum such as this, dumping on others' niches with unqualified absolutes in a thread title.
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by aZooZa View Post

      Anyone with "years of knowledge" wouldn't generally come onto a forum such as this, dumping on others' niches with unqualified absolutes in a thread title.
      If your niche is a loophole that has already been exploited for years then you may want to reconsider your niche.
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    And that is why I asked if he read the thread, and I asked you if you had read the thread and you both said yes. But you didn't. And I am wrong? Circles.

    bowerboy, I am beginning to see that this place is just about a few old members selling totally useless stuff to a bunch of newer members. I think I was mistaken about the reasons behind this forum.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      And that is why I asked if he read the thread, and I asked you if you had read the thread and you both said yes. But you didn't. And I am wrong? Circles.

      I read most of the first few posts, then scanned.

      I only even participated in this thread, due to how you responded when you saw Bill's comments.

      Never mind that you admitted that you misunderstood what Bill was saying originally... I am the one talking in circles and clearly in the wrong. LOL
      Signature
      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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      • Profile picture of the author the goat
        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        I read most of the first few posts, then scanned.

        I only even participated in this thread, due to how you responded when you saw Bill's comments.
        You said it yourself, you responded with no intent of being on topic and for no reason but an emotional response. That is EXACTLY what a troll does.
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      • Profile picture of the author the goat
        From Wikipedia: "a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion"

        Here is what you said:

        Originally Posted by tpw View Post

        I only even participated in this thread, due to how you responded when you saw Bill's comments.
        Black and white, you came into a thread completely off topic and emotionally charged. You like to argue semantics and dance around with words of no substance, this is a common tactic of people with no foundation to argue on, so I will just let you be. Not even the best psychologists can make a person like you see what they are doing objectively so I will not try any longer.

        Oh and aZooZa, you're not even worth arguing with, good luck banking your existence on EMD's.
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        • Profile picture of the author tpw
          Originally Posted by the goat View Post

          Not even the best psychologists can make a person like you see what they are doing objectively

          At least you and I have something in common... :rolleyes:
          Signature
          Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
          Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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          • Profile picture of the author the goat
            Originally Posted by tpw View Post

            At least you and I have something in common... :rolleyes:
            Ahhh... The old "I know you are but what am I" tactic. Your rudimentary debate skills are getting more and more comical as we progress. I am officially reinvigorated. Please, do continue.
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            • Profile picture of the author Legit SEO
              Get a room guys jeez

              Back on topic, this post really got me thinking. Of course Google would do something like this, what better way to get rid of all the MFA sites by putting a short term hold on EMD's.

              People making MFA sites are used to adding 5 pages of content, throwing some backlinks at it and getting in ranked in 2-4 weeks (for low comp. KW's at least). By putting a waiting period in place this would discourage a lot of people away from making MFA sites.

              Very interesting stuff...thanks for sharing this
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    I was nice to Bill because he had a logical explanation. You are backpedaling and dancing with words. Notice Bill and I have had a much different tone than you, and you have nothing to do with any of it. This is not about you and never was, you are the definition of a troll. Someone who has nothing to do with anything except to cause trouble.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      I was nice to Bill because he had a logical explanation. You are backpedaling and dancing with words. Notice Bill and I have had a much different tone than you, and you have nothing to do with any of it. This is not about you and never was, you are the definition of a troll. Someone who has nothing to do with anything except to cause trouble.

      You might assume that from one thread, but like your "wide paint brush" subject line, you would be making another mistake by painting me as a troll using your "wide paint brush".
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      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    I will be specific for the record. In this thread, you sir have been the textbook definition of a troll.
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      I will be specific for the record. In this thread, you sir have been the textbook definition of a troll.

      I just went through everything I said in this thread seeing if I agreed with you. I don't.
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      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author tpw
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      Then you need to brush up on your definition of a troll, and then read your first post again.

      If we read what I said, in context to what I had read, then one might see it different than you do....


      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      EMD's will always be better, there are always going to be people who just type in their term and go, also humans look at results and if they see the EMD they give it more weight. I'm just saying the magic bullet SEO aspect is gone.

      Shane, I agree with your sentiments 100%. It is a welcome change.
      Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

      "Exact Match Domain Names Are Dead"

      No they're not. For fake Google juice they may or may not be slipping, but if choosing a EMD for the purpose of getting that 1% boost in the serps is the reason you chose the name then you might be missing out on the big picture.

      If someone is searching for a zorbsworm cure for their dog, as an example, what do you think will inspire more trust in the searchers mind...

      zorbswormcure.com or stevesstormdoorrepair.com

      If you're not building your sites for humans take two steps back.

      ~Bill
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      Maybe you should take two steps back and read the thread before replying?
      Originally Posted by Bill Farnham View Post

      I read it.

      ~Bill
      Originally Posted by tpw View Post

      Maybe you should not assume that anyone who agrees or disagrees with your assessment is someone who did not read what you said.

      My first post in this thread was not that of a troll.

      In context of what Bill later explained and you agreed was what he meant, then my first response exactly supported that outcome.
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      Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
      Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author aZooZa
    I thought the idea of "being on topic" was generally to bear the thread title in mind when commenting. Maybe we're all thick here and should allow 'the goat' his higher ground.
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  • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
    Jimmy cracked corn and I don't care ....
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Its a shame theres so much useless dribble in this thread because it would make for a great discussion.

    To the OP, Im glad you posted this, because my gut feeling tells me that its just a matter of time before EMD's are no more effective than any other domain.

    Infact they could end up potentially having an adverse effect.

    There's so much crap out there...

    mydogsitex.com
    1dogtraining.com
    training-for-dogs9.com

    Its garbage. We know it, and so do the search engines.

    Im going to make a prediction here that EMD's are going to get spanked sooner than we all think.
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    BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by John Romaine View Post


      Im going to make a prediction here that EMD's are going to get spanked sooner than we all think.
      I think it is already happening, but I don't think they are being spanked, I think they are being reviewed, and if they are found to be garbage, then they are being spanked.

      I always used EMD's as a way to get quick rankings, but build my sites with unique quality content and backlinks anyway, so I am not too worried about it.

      I posted the original post mainly to ease some minds about why their sites might not be ranking well yet. They still will, they are just taking a little longer now.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Originally Posted by bowerboy View Post

    There was an Australian soap opera called Neighbours that was extremely popular....
    That show is still going here.

    Next time its on, take note of how happy, and joyful everyone seems at the opening credits.

    Then, take note at how much anger, resentment and depression is in the show once it starts.

    Its pretty funny actually.
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    BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

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  • Profile picture of the author Sanwal
    The Goat:

    Think about it in this perspective,

    You have a site with an exact match domain, you outsource and put some articles in it, assuming that people link back to you naturally and no link building is personally done.. Most people who link back to you will link back with your domain name, and when they link back to an exact match domain the hyperlink text will have the keyword in it, thus boosting your serps and giving you an extra advantage.

    Sanwal.
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    Actually Ghufran1, after some recent Google announcements many people would argue that too many back links with the same anchor text will now hurt your rankings. I don't claim this as a fact but keywords in anchor text seem to be going the way of meta keywords, the days of "stuffing", or "buying" in the case of back links may be over.
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    • Profile picture of the author Sanwal
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      Actually Ghufran1, after some recent Google announcements many people would argue that too many back links with the same anchor text will now hurt your rankings. I don't claim this as a fact but keywords in anchor text seem to be going the way of meta keywords, the days of "stuffing", or "buying" in the case of back links may be over.


      I said "naturally" and I'm 100% sure that could not hurt your rankings.

      "keyword diversity" bla bla bla is all bs, more than 75% people are using black or grey hat techniques, yes i have done that in the past too, by using fiverr and all. Got the punishment for it too but now no more.

      Obviously, we "webmasters" or Internet markets think about our benefits and the same goes for google too, they don't want to loose their huge user base.

      Just go along and for sure we will be awarded.

      The problem "we" have is that we want everything in a hurry, quick earnings, quick rankings etc. However as all the experienced "players" know this is short lived and the long lived ones are still out there making much more money than the impatient ****. (Sorry for using that) And yes i was one too, but my eyes have opened, plus it doesn't leave me to start hating on Google, rather the opposite and i respect them for that..


      Sanwal
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  • Profile picture of the author Gaz Cooper
    GREAT NEWS

    More EMD's for me

    An EMD is an important piece the jigsaw puzzle and in my eyes if you can get one and have all the other pieces in place (On page SEO backlinks, content etc etc) you will likely shoot to the top of the search engines, HOWEVER if you have a pieces missing then your positioning wont be as strong.

    Get all the pieces of the jigsaw and your well on your way

    EMD'S DEAD ? No Way

    EMD'S DEAD with 2 pages of scraped crap content - ABSOLUTELY

    kickin it on Amazon

    Gaz Cooper
    Amz Training Academy
    Signature

    Beginners Guide to getting started in CRYPTO, FREE Ebook on a Massive Opportunity as the World shifts to Digital payment http://amzauthorityzone.com

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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by GazCooperOnline View Post

      An EMD is an important piece the jigsaw puzzle and in my eyes if you can get one and have all the other pieces in place (On page SEO backlinks, content etc etc) you will likely shoot to the top of the search engines, HOWEVER if you have a pieces missing then your positioning wont be as strong.

      Get all the pieces of the jigsaw and your well on your way
      I have to (respectfully) disagree. I just don't think it is that important anymore. If you do everything else you mention (On page SEO, backlinks, content etc. etc.) but you don't have an EMD you will rank well. If you don't have the all those other things and do have an EMD then you won't rank well like you used to be able to. So how can we deduce that it is still important?

      Do you have any data to back up why you think they are still important?

      Just to be clear, I am talking in regards to SEO, not the human aspect.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ian Varnava
      I guess I should start closing my bank accounts...

      ...but then where will they deposit the money? :confused:
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      • Profile picture of the author the goat
        Originally Posted by Ian Varnava View Post

        I guess I should start closing my bank accounts...

        ...but then where will they deposit the money? :confused:
        Well it seems as though you saw it coming, since you wrote this on your own website: "Sure, the days where we could register an EMD for a competitive keyword, have it at the top of the first page in organic search on day 3, and retire with the money we made from it by day 21… those days are probably numbered."

        Sounds like someone who thinks EMD's are losing their juice to me.
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        • Profile picture of the author Ian Varnava
          Originally Posted by the goat View Post

          Well it seems as though you saw it coming, since you wrote this on your own website: "Sure, the days where we could register an EMD for a competitive keyword, have it at the top of the first page in organic search on day 3, and retire with the money we made from it by day 21... those days are probably numbered."
          Since you're syndicating my content for free, I might as well take advantage of it. Surely, since you read that far into the article, you read the next few paragraphs also:

          Nonetheless, in this world full of Pandas and Unnatural Link Notices, EMDs still hold a significant advantage over non-EMDs. Even today I can register an EMD for a keyword, put up some quality content which provides value to the visitor, is well-optimized as far as on-page SEO is concerned, build a minimal amount of backlinks, and have it popping up on the first page within a week or two, with rankings solidified within 4-6 weeks (or at least as "solidified" as possible in this delicate business of internet marketing and SEO). It doesn't matter who is in the top 3 of the SERPs. If you've got an EMD for the term in question, then you can, and will be, in the top 3, given that certain steps are followed of course.

          In fact, often times you can even get on the first page without building a single backlink, just with the power of the EMD + good on-page optimization. Now, try breaking into the same top 3 without an EMD, and you'll soon realize that you've got to work several times harder in order to achieve that. You've got to go even crazier with tweaking and optimizing every aspect of on-site SEO, while at the same time you have to build that many more backlinks, just to (maybe) start seeing some type of results within 4-6 weeks, with rankings maybe solidifying after at least 4-6 months.

          That has been my experience, as well as the experience of many, many seasoned internet marketers. That doesn't mean that EMDs are the only way to go, in fact that is far from the truth. EMDs are not always recommended. If you're trying to build a brand, or a large authority site which you will pump time, money, promotion, and serious, consistent effort into (aka a "brand"); then by all means, go with a branded name. However, EMDs have their purpose, especially in the world of niche affiliate marketing.

          Also, this also doesn't mean that the information and time figures provided in the above few paragraphs are written in stone. In fact, they are not written at all, it's all theory & personal experience. Hence, it would be in your best interest to take what I've just said with a grain of salt.

          Originally Posted by the goat View Post

          Sounds like someone who thinks EMD's are losing their juice to me.
          Yup, losing their juice, not lost their juice... or "dead" as you say.

          Matt Cutts has mentioned the whole thing about EMDs being given less and less weight on more than one occasion. Then again, I believe Matt Cutts like I believe the title of this post (no insult intended). I have tons of sites on EMDs and I haven't noticed any unusual ranking drops (for the exact terms as you're saying) which I would attribute to the fact that the EMD has lost the juice it once had. I still build new sites on EMDs on a regular basis and get them ranked fairly quickly (for the exact term), as you can read in the excerpt from my blog post quoted above.

          I do understand where you're coming from but I wouldn't go as far as calling them "dead". EMDs just require a certain type of treatment. The shortest way I can explain it is that you have to treat it as if it was a "company" or a "brand" name. If I own BlueBedSheets.com, for example, I need to think along the lines of "Blue Bed Sheets" is a brand, the name of a company, and the links I build need to reflect that.

          I understand Google can and will try to devalue the "EMD Juice" more and more as they try to improve their search engine, but I don't see it completely dying anytime soon. If someone searches for "blue bed sheets" on Google, they may be looking for sheets for their bed which are blue in color, OR they may be looking for a company called "Blue Bed Sheets", which is located online at BlueBedSheets.com. This company may not even have anything to do with bed sheets, but how does Google know if the user is looking for the company or to buy bed sheets for their bed? Being that Google wants to deliver the most relevant results for their users, they have no choice but to have the algorithm consider this and thus display "BlueBedSheets.com" as one of the top results along with all the big merchants actually selling bedsheets which are blue. This combined with a proper, high quality site, with proper SEO, can get you solid rankings quicker than if I got IansTopPicks.com and tried ranking that for "blue bed sheets".

          I believe it would be easier for them to devalue very long domains, such as "BlueBedSheetsForMySonsNewBedForHisRoom.com", because, well, that's mostly just kind of obvious... but I think with the shorter EMDs it will be very tough for them to figure out whether it's a brand name or what. They can keep updating their algorithm to make it 'smarter' to detect these things, and they undoubtedly will; however I do believe that it's still an algorithm (i.e. artificial intelligence), and it can only go so far when it comes to being "smart".

          Lastly, as with anything else, it's certainly strongly advised for anyone earning their livelihood via IM to diversify their income and not depend on just one single stream. There are plenty of examples and advice around diversifying your sources of income on this forum so I won't get into that. However, if someone's only income, or a large chunk of it, is generated by a bunch of sites which they run on EMDs, and tomorrow Google decides that they're just completely telling their algorithm not to display EMDs... that it doesn't matter if someone is searching for "coca cola", they're not going to display "cocacola.com" just because it's an EMD... then yes, this person would be in trouble.
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    Ian that was a little good natured dig since you seemed to be joking in your first post. I did read the entire page the first time and it is very obvious you know your stuff. I am sorry if I didn't make it clear that it was a ribbing, I am learning that I am not good at this forum stuff.

    All that said, I would be interested to know if you have looked into your newer sites rankings (three months and under or so according to my research) to see if you notice any slipping in the exact match terms?
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    • Profile picture of the author Ian Varnava
      Originally Posted by the goat View Post

      Ian that was a little good natured dig since you seemed to be joking in your first post. I did read the entire page the first time and it is very obvious you know your stuff. I am sorry if I didn't make it clear that it was a ribbing, I am learning that I am not good at this forum stuff.

      All that said, I would be interested to know if you have looked into your newer sites rankings (three months and under or so according to my research) to see if you notice any slipping in the exact match terms?
      Regarding the "not good at this forum stuff"... smileys are your best friend. ... but not to be overused :p:rolleyes:.

      Without the use of something to convey your emotions (such as when joking), just plain writing can seem pretty 'dry' and people will be 'dry' back to you . I don't know anything about forum etiquette myself, I just come on here once in a while to post and contribute, but just saying.

      Regarding your question... like I said I haven't noticed any ranking drops, newer sites or older, which I would attribute to the possibility of EMD juice being taken away. However, my situation is a bit different than someone who may be just starting out and be eager to make money as soon as humanly possible. With my newer sites these days, they are mostly a bunch of experiments. They all get different types of backlinks, or the same types in different order, different plugins, layouts, different styles of content, etc. Also, when I build new sites now, I just have some good content written and published (or write myself if in the mood) and then just let them sit for a while until I get time to really jump in to the site (normally that can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months). This way, the site gets time to age a little and I get a good idea of the position Google is giving the EMD without any backlinks (which still more often than not is within the top 10-20 even for fairly competitive keywords, without any backlinks). Then and only then I go and shoot some backlinks at it, add affiliate links and all that good stuff. Basically, I have room to play so that's what I do... play .

      I know I went off on a tangent there, but my point was that I probably don't have any data to contribute in this regard as the 'data' I collect is probably completely random & different than what the general IM market is wanting to know.
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      • Profile picture of the author the goat
        Originally Posted by Ian Varnava View Post

        my situation is a bit different than someone who may be just starting out and be eager to make money as soon as humanly possible. With my newer sites these days, they are mostly a bunch of experiments. They all get different types of backlinks, or the same types in different order, different plugins, layouts, different styles of content, etc. Also, when I build new sites now, I just have some good content written and published (or write myself if in the mood) and then just let them sit for a while until I get time to really jump in to the site (normally that can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months). This way, the site gets time to age a little and I get a good idea of the position Google is giving the EMD without any backlinks (which still more often than not is within the top 10-20 even for fairly competitive keywords, without any backlinks). Then and only then I go and shoot some backlinks at it, add affiliate links and all that good stuff. Basically, I have room to play so that's what I do... play .
        This is what I do almost word for word. My sites are all in various stages of development with all kinds of tests. It is entirely possible that what I am seeing is a coincedence, since as I stated there is no scientific control within my research.

        Thank you for your input as well BloggingPro it is good to hear from people with real world experience. Since my existing sites have so many variables I am going to develop a couple of statistically similar domains with the exact same amount of content etc. and see what types of results I get.
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  • Profile picture of the author HappyLuke
    I purchased one about 3 weeks ago with 8000 exact searches, under 100,000 in comp and with ONLY a 4 page blog and 'all in one seo plugin' it ranks #3. I spent about 8 total hours.

    Once I finish my success manual I'm focus on this site more. I put a optin box, and got my first subscriber yesterday.

    I don't think they are dead, but that is my opinion
    Signature

    In America anyone can go straight to the top. And here's what's exciting- It is the bottom that is crowded, not the top.

    (Excerpt from my Success Manual found at http://thoughtsofsuccess.com)

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  • Profile picture of the author Ashera
    If EMD's are so dead why do I have over 30 of them ranking between #1 and #3?
    Signature
    If you don't change direction, you'll end up where you're going.
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by Ashera View Post

      If EMD's are so dead why do I have over 30 of them ranking between #1 and #3?
      I have over 100 ranking that high, the point wasn't about existing sites, it was about new sites working towards rankings. I'd guess you didn't read the entire post, but that gets me in trouble.
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      • Profile picture of the author Ashera
        Originally Posted by the goat View Post

        I have over 100 ranking that high, the point wasn't about existing sites, it was about new sites working towards rankings. I'd guess you didn't read the entire post, but that gets me in trouble.
        Purchased one of them 3 weeks ago, and it ranks just fine.

        I'm saying maybe you should work on making better thread titles instead of making blanket statements that entirely based on opinion.
        Signature
        If you don't change direction, you'll end up where you're going.
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        • Profile picture of the author the goat
          Originally Posted by Ashera View Post

          Purchased one of them 3 weeks ago, and it ranks just fine.

          I'm saying maybe you should work on making better thread titles instead of making blanket statements that entirely based on opinion.
          Well I'm glad that one site is ranking well for you, but since it is one site, excuse me if I don't form my entire judgement of the subject on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    Thank you HappyLuke for the example, that would definitely point to EMD preferential treatment. I am wondering is the 100,000 competition the "" competition? Also do you simply Google your term to get your ranking, or do you clear cookies etc. first?
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  • Profile picture of the author HappyLuke
    yes, the 100k is quoted search example "8000 exact searches on keyword term" and my domain is 8000exactsearchesonkeywordterm.com...

    I simply google my term from various computers, and have my contacts in different parts of the world do the same.

    There is also a seo page rank firefox plugin, but hardly use it as I'm too busy to worry about rankings.

    good content will rank you naturally over time anyways
    Signature

    In America anyone can go straight to the top. And here's what's exciting- It is the bottom that is crowded, not the top.

    (Excerpt from my Success Manual found at http://thoughtsofsuccess.com)

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  • Profile picture of the author BloggingPro
    I don't mean to discredit your research, but my exact match domain names are doing just fine, even those that have just launched. I haven't seen anything in terms of a slap to be concerned about. Actually all of my sites seem to be ranking much stronger than they did before, exact match or not.
    Signature
    You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.
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  • Profile picture of the author the goat
    Exactly. I'll get EMD's when I can, they certainly don't hurt, but I won't abandon a niche or good keywords if I can't get an EMD.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robbie B
    It might be a good thing for people searching. I know myself I run a search for TMJ a few times and it got to the point where if I saw the domain was an EMD, I'd have to bypass it. The information on them was nearly all marketing material and useless to me for solutions.

    So as a marketer, it's certainly harder, but as a searcher, it's probably for the best if EMD's aren't given preferential treatment.

    Just my 2 cents on it.
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  • Profile picture of the author MrDay
    I have a few exact match domains without any backlinks and they are near the front page of Google serps for their keywords. They've stayed their for at least a few years. So, I think EMD's are still the way to go.
    Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author lesr
    Hmm, so after all that OT discussion, seems like it's still a good idea to go with EMD? Currently in the process of picking out one from suggestions by Pickydomains.com and thinking of whether or not I should go with EMD.
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by lesr View Post

      Hmm, so after all that OT discussion, seems like it's still a good idea to go with EMD? Currently in the process of picking out one from suggestions by Pickydomains.com and thinking of whether or not I should go with EMD.
      If the one you want is available by all means do get an EMD for the other reasons we talked about.

      In hindsight I admit I should have titled the thread "Newly registered EMD's are dead when pertaining to preferential treatment in Google" or something to that effect, because they do still have other positive aspects.
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  • Profile picture of the author StevenJones
    Appreciate the research OP has done, but concluding that EMDs are pretty much dead is not a good conclusion. EMDs with a lot of spam links, spun articles are going to drop. But quality EMDs that branded themselves will stay on top, hence I would like to add that it has to do with the quality of the EMD website. Great post OP.
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  • Profile picture of the author hdavies
    I think Google are looking towards the quality and diversity of a site's backlink structure and the quality of the content to determine the rankings. Even if you have an EMD and another site is targeting the same keywords that doesn't have an EMD, you will still not get ranked better than them if their link stratagy is better than yours.

    It comes down to the competition and your SEO skills, not just the name of your domain.

    The age of a site seems to be a big factor in the SERPS.

    Just my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Robbie B
    This might be going off course but I'll post it anyway.

    It seems fitting to me cos I just came under manual review and lost all my sites organic traffic.

    That's another story though...


    Say you want to go into the acne niche.

    Find a part of it you can rank well.

    Fire up your keyword tool or go to Googles and you find something like...

    How Can I Get Rid Of Acne?

    1600 searches on exact match. Might seem a good one to get given the CPC as well.

    How much can you say about that though. You could say how you treated your acne, but that's not the terminology of the phrase, it's something you'd probably find on Yahoo answers with a link to an acne treatment website.

    The phrase, (in my opinion) is something that I would do an article on for traffic back to a website about treating acne.

    I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable if I got a manual review and had to explain why I chose that keyword.

    Erm....Because 1600 people are searching for it and it would stand a better chance at ranking.

    I don't think that would quite cut it.

    Besides that. If you want to target the acne market, and again, I'm only using this as an example. Wouldn't you be better to use your name or a pen name, to have something like...

    RobsAcneAdvice.com or "AnceAdviceCenter.com"

    That would leave a whole lot more room to expand into plenty more areas within the market, rather than just hitting the one phrase "how can i get rid of acne".

    Don't get me wrong...I get the argument about EMDs but to me, after my heavy slap down, I'm starting to see the bigger picture. Sniper sites can only go so far and they are or can be fairly thin sites.

    Although thin ones can still be really good informational sites. I just think going broad and using the inner pages for other keywords is (maybe) a better way to go.

    Especially if you feel good about your content, and I know I'd certainly find it a lot easier to explain my way out of a review of it, if I did put it together in a way that wasn't intended to snag a keyword and rank it on the front page of Google.

    This is coming from someone that's just lost all my rankings though, so take my opinion with a pinch of salt. Or the opposite. It's your business, but when I think about how I worked before, in hindsight, I'd much rather have went broad and spent the whole time working on 1 or 2 sites and managing them well, rather than jumping around from niche to niche, being like a jack of all trades.

    Hope I'm not out of place posting this here.
    Robbie
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  • Profile picture of the author thegotoguy
    Google changes so much, that by the time I catch up, I have to start over again! lol
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    • Profile picture of the author Aussie_Al
      I have used EMDs for a few years now and I have to agree with the OP in the fact that before you could have your site go live and with little or no effort have it sitting at position 2-3 on page 1 of Google - my last few EMDs its taken SOME work to get them there.

      So IMHO they are not as easy to rank as they used to be but if you have good on page optimization and a quality back linking plan you will get there.

      Thanks for starting this thread OP as it has definitely been on my mind lately
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  • Profile picture of the author sackboy127
    But that means that we can use tons of other profitable niches, emds aren't a requirement anymore! Just low competition and high search numbers, and we're golden, right?
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    • Profile picture of the author the goat
      Originally Posted by MrDay View Post

      I have a few exact match domains without any backlinks and they are near the front page of Google serps for their keywords. They've stayed their for at least a few years. So, I think EMD's are still the way to go.
      We addressed this situation, you have aged sites that would hold their rankings no matter their domains at this point, this pertains to newer sites.

      Originally Posted by Robbie B View Post

      Hope I'm not out of place posting this here.
      Robbie
      Not at all, those are extremely valid points.
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