Keyword domain names still good?

6 replies
  • SEO
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Hi guys

This is my first post here after some lurking, so apologies if I'm posted in the wrong place. If so, please let me know.

I have a web-based business and am about to extend to a slightly different area of the market, targetting specific keywords. This is not particularly niche and competion is relativley strong.

My question to you experts is:

My first website domain is my business brand name which is SEO'd and has a link-building campaign ongoing which has taken time, but is paying off gradually.

My new site will trade under the same business, but as a new site supplying only the UK. I want to encompass my main keyword "electric widget" in the domain name that I buy in order to get to page 1 quicker and easier, and to show some authority. The domain name needs to be the name of my site also. Obviously, I'll ensure content is original and good quality etc.

Here's the problem:

"electricwidget.co.uk" and it's various permutations are taken, so what are my alternatives, does google favour hyphens, and does the word before or after the keyword directly affect relevence, even if it is just "the"?

Which of these alternatives would you say is best in the eyes of google, and any other suggestions you can make would be fantastic!

"electricwidgetstore.co.uk"
"electric-widget-store.co.uk"
"electricwidgetexpert.co.uk"
"electric-widget-expert.co.uk"
"theelectricwidgetexpert.co.uk"
"the-electric-widget-expert.co.uk"

Please, if you have any thoughts or experience on this, I'd love to hear them.
#domain #good #keyword #names
  • Profile picture of the author Kris79
    My suggestion would be:
    - NOT to use hyphens - it looks spammy for Google
    - you can use word like "get" at the front.
    Some people are just adding a random letter at the end but it seems a little bit odd and I would use it.
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  • Profile picture of the author MemberWing
    Tips:
    - I'd drop "the" prefix
    - stay with no more than 3 keywords (I just sold 3-keywords domain for ~$3k)
    - hyphens is a fact of life, but try to come with no more than one.
    - I'd append short brandish keyword to phrase to avoid dashes and make it unique:

    - electricwidgetsworld.co.uk
    - electricwidgetsuniverse.co.uk
    - electricwidgetsparadise.co.uk
    - electricwidgets4u.co.uk
    - electricwidgetsalley.co.uk
    - electricwidgetsfactory.co.uk

    Gleb
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    • Profile picture of the author AskJon
      Originally Posted by MemberWing View Post

      Tips:
      - I'd drop "the" prefix
      - stay with no more than 3 keywords (I just sold 3-keywords domain for ~$3k)
      - hyphens is a fact of life, but try to come with no more than one.
      - I'd append short brandish keyword to phrase to avoid dashes and make it unique:

      - electricwidgetsworld.co.uk
      - electricwidgetsuniverse.co.uk
      - electricwidgetsparadise.co.uk
      - electricwidgets4u.co.uk
      - electricwidgetsalley.co.uk
      - electricwidgetsfactory.co.uk

      Gleb
      This. If you cannot get the EMD, use that kind of filler word. I wouldn't use hyphens as I think it looks horrible, but I know some people that use them with good success. Still, your best bet is to add one word like the one mentionned by Gleb to keep the website professionnal and still get some benefits of having the keyword in domain! 2 filler words is WAY to much though, so keep it at one!
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  • Profile picture of the author SEOexperto
    if I cannot get emd domain I usually ad one extra word or letter.
    Signature
    Get ranked in Google Page 1 FAST Quality backlinks
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  • Profile picture of the author richard3i
    I do have some hyphen domains and I dont know if its because the hyphen but It doesnt seem to be going as well as others, even though I do have strong backlinks. From now on Im avoiding hyphens.
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  • Profile picture of the author easynow
    Thanks guys. You have given me the exact advice I was looking for, and I'm now buying some domains! Great. Thanks a lot. E.
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