21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Is it unwise to use the word "free" as part of a domain name?

by JazzOscar
18 replies
I know that emails with headers containing the "free" word more or less end up in spam filters.

What I wonder is;

If you have something you want to give away for free, will the word "free" as part of a domain name refered to in the body of the email have the same effect on the spam filters?
#domain #free #part #unwise #word
  • Profile picture of the author MisterMunch
    I have heard somewhere that google dislikes hype words like "Free" "amazing" "awsome" etc. Espesialy in headlines.

    Still do not know. Have not tested it.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[558596].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author newebie
    May be for a new member like it is better to keep his mouth shut but I will try to give my point of view clear and fast:

    - if you just add the domain as a hyperlink as www freething com it is not likely to be considered as a spam
    - if you use keywords one of which is free like Free Things in most cases it will be considered as spam
    I did not test it by myself. I have this information from a friend of mine
    Signature

    ***

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[558637].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Hasnt hurt me in my rankings for my Flagship Domain! And I have had my Domain for a year now. To be honest this is the first time this has even crossed my mind and the first time I have ever heard of anybody ask this question.

      Thanks for giving me a Complex about it now !!

      Seriously, look at it from Googles standpoint. There is millions of searches a month for keywords such as 'free money', 'free grants', 'free things' etc.. Goog would be eroding the User Friendly envirorment it so highly strives to maintain if goes around de-indexing or sandboxing those Quality contented Sites just because they have the word 'free' in them !! Too many people look into the Search Engines for 'free' stuff. So GOOG is intent on giving the people what they want as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thats how they make their obscene amounts of money.

      I think many people over-think things too much with Google !!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[558665].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author bgmacaw
        I've got a domain with 'free' in it and it ranks well, typically on page 1 for the main keyword and a good number of related long tails. And, yes, I do give away a digital product on it. It's primarily monetized with Adsense and brings in about $5-10 a day essentially on autopilot.
        Signature
        Product Reviews | Earn Online Cash | Free HTML Templates
        Free WordPress Themes: Boring Memo | Dateless Mini-Site | Info Magazine | 100 Twenty-Ten Niche Headers
        Discount Templates, Graphics and Scripts: Templates for Website
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[558679].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JazzOscar
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        -----
        Thanks for giving me a Complex about it now !!

        Seriously, look at it from Googles standpoint. There is millions of searches a month for keywords such as 'free money', 'free grants', 'free things' etc.. Goog would be eroding the User Friendly envirorment it so highly strives to maintain if goes around de-indexing or sandboxing those Quality contented Sites just because they have the word 'free' in them !! Too many people look into the Search Engines for 'free' stuff. So GOOG is intent on giving the people what they want as quickly and efficiently as possible. Thats how they make their obscene amounts of money.

        I think many people over-think things too much with Google !!
        Not my intention to give you a complex.

        I didn't think that much about Google.

        My worries are mainly with refering to such a domain in emails. Will this cause the email to end up in the spam filters?
        Signature

        Oscar Toft

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[559060].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          Originally Posted by JazzOscar View Post

          Not my intention to give you a complex.

          I didn't think that much about Google.

          My worries are mainly with refering to such a domain in emails. Will this cause the email to end up in the spam filters?
          Hey Oscar, I didnt completely understand what you were asking. My fault. For some reason I thought you were talking about how the 'free' Domain could be affected in Serps and with Google etc...
          .......As far as email, I know I started email Marketing on Nov.1st for this Domain and I know from my own testing and the results in general ,my emails with this 'free' domain for the most part are free of any problems concerning spam filters.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[559981].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author tommygadget
    Originally Posted by JazzOscar View Post

    I know that emails with headers containing the "free" word more or less end up in spam filters.

    What I wonder is;

    If you have something you want to give away for free, will the word "free" as part of a domain name refered to in the body of the email have the same effect on the spam filters?
    Have you ever heard of a small *cough* *cough* site called freecreditreport dot com? Dude, it's all in the marketing. Don't worry about the spam filters, worry about your traffic generating methods.

    TomG.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[559071].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author abundantlife085
    Depends.

    The word free can trigger spam filters.

    It can also attract freebie seekers and tire kickers, which may not be good if you're trying to sell stuff.

    But it all depends on what the site is about and how you do your marketing. Like Tommy said, freecreditreport .com is very successful.
    Signature
    CASE STUDY: 24,256 Pageviews For $14.73 (and a 1,318.87% ROI)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[560016].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author yves
      Personally, if I see an email with free blah blah, it gets intstantly deleted. If I see it when I'm searching the web in the domain, and it's about the thing I'm looking for I don't see it as spam.

      Hope that helps.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[560050].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author JazzOscar
        Thank you for your answers!

        Going ahead now with the domain buying plans I had before my thoughts got derailed by the thought of spam filters.
        Signature

        Oscar Toft

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[560948].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author IMChick
    There's a 'list' of no-no words as part of the spam legislation for email use. (I can't find the link, but it's in the Cann Span part of the code.) If you can, stay away from these words altogether, including as words in your domain name, or use synonyms instead. For instance:

    free = no cost

    I don't think I would gamble that the spam filters would let the forbidden words through in email links. It seems to be an unnecessary and avoidable risk to take.

    I think that tommygadget's example of freecreditreport dot com is a good one that shows that the word can be used. However, (and this is a biggie) that site came into existence because of specific legislation requiring the credit bureaus to make free credit reports available. The domain name may actually have a top-secret exception that no-one else can get for their own sites.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[561279].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Teresa Coppes
      Originally Posted by IMChick View Post


      I think that tommygadget's example of freecreditreport dot com is a good one that shows that the word can be used. However, (and this is a biggie) that site came into existence because of specific legislation requiring the credit bureaus to make free credit reports available. The domain name may actually have a top-secret exception that no-one else can get for their own sites.
      I think you are confusing freecreditreport.com with annualcreditreport.com. The later is the one that is setup specifically due to government regulations. As for the former - that's one where in order to get the report there is a catch (i.e. you're automatically enrolled in a program and have to cancel within a set period in order to not be charged).

      Sorry to go off topic there.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[561410].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author IMChick
        Originally Posted by Teresa_C View Post

        I think you are confusing freecreditreport.com with annualcreditreport.com. The later is the one that is setup specifically due to government regulations. As for the former - that's one where in order to get the report there is a catch (i.e. you're automatically enrolled in a program and have to cancel within a set period in order to not be charged).

        Sorry to go off topic there.
        Thanks for pointing that out. You're right, and I got the two sites mixed up.

        (I would still use an alternative to one of the forbidden words in my domain name...)
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[561424].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Sheila
    Just for grins, I went to google and typed in the word "free" and there's thefreesite.com, free.ed.gov site, and freerice.com on the first page, out of 3,770,000,000 results.Conclusion: I don't think google gives a hoot whether or not you use "free" in your domain name!

    I know there's huge potential to attract a lot of visitors to your offer. Do a keyword search, and you'll see what I mean. I'd say, if it fits into your business plan, go for it. What do you have to lose?

    As far as using your domain name in emails - don't know if "free' in your domain name will be a problem, but you can try it and find out. You'll know by your deliverability rate, and you can adjust accordingly.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[561393].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bakai
    I can tell you that without a doubt that using the word "free" in your domain name can help you make a ton of CPA money. You copy a commercial for a particular popular product, edit it, and upload to YouTube for some very easy money.

    You watermark your domain for a free whatever on the video and redirect it to the CPA page. I don't even bother making a site for stuff like that.
    Signature
    A Simple "Step-By-Step" (with screenshots) on How To Make $82 a Day With ONE Little CPA Offer

    Traffic To My Website
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[561442].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Joel Gray
    If you google Internet Marketing the number 3 site has the word FREE in it, and it has been up there for quite a while now.

    Joel
    Signature

    "Punish The Deed, Not The Breed"

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[562039].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Joel Gray View Post

      If you google Internet Marketing the number 3 site has the word FREE in it, and it has been up there for quite a while now.

      Joel
      Wow, just checked that out. Actually its no.2 behind Wikepedia.
      Oh well, there goes that person's Myth about how Google looks negatively at this so called ' list' of no-no words being used in the Domian name

      Where do people come up with this stuff ?? Gotta luv it
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[575031].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author laurelwachtel
    Would agree that if you use the word free in combination with the keyword of your niche, and are offering a free report or free product on that domain page, your subscribing list can profit considerably! Just make sure you link it directly to a profitable keyword from your niche, and you can reap the rewards of interested and targeted traffic! Nice thread!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[571273].message }}

Trending Topics