Help in choosing a domain

Discussion in 'Domain Names' started by gandalf117, Mar 31, 2013.

  1. #1
    I have a few questions about choosing the proper domain for an online store. We have already decided that the domain should contain a certain keyword "example" that will represent the goods we sell and that it will end with (dot)com. Of course that particular domain "example.com" is already taken so another word needs to be added "word". So here are my questions:

    1) does it matter for search engines whether the important part of the domain "example" is first or last? Which would be better exampleword.com or wordexample.com?

    2) What would be better when it comes to SEO?
    example4letterword.com or example-3letterword.com

    3) If the domain is very close to an already existing and popular domain can the other domain steal from our visitors? So let's say that their site is called example.com and ours is examples.com can we lose from that proximity, because the domain is practically the same but in plural.
     
    gandalf117, Mar 31, 2013 IP
  2. avantemedia

    avantemedia Active Member

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    #2
    People always ask this sort of question ot myself. However unless you are staying in one particular niche, i would not recommend choosing a keyword domain. Any gain you get from an SEO perspective is only small, infact look at your competitors, does "example.com" rank top for your keywords? As 8/10 times it actually doesnt.

    I would choose a company name, something brandable. If its not brandable its no good for business away from the internet.

    It also gives you a domain with something that you can move into a different niche with the same domain. Such as "tesco.com" they sell everything now, only used to do groceries, now its insurance etc.... They rank top for dvds even with their domain. So like I say, stay brandable and recognizable or it will hurt your general marketing.
     
    avantemedia, Mar 31, 2013 IP
  3. JerrickYeoh

    JerrickYeoh Active Member

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    #3
    1) The best that keywords is infront so you can see the higlight is in front such as
    www.namecheap.com. You can see the name is been higlighted infront. But it does't matter it infront or behind as long the keywords which will not affect in SEO but infront are more encourage due to people study front to the end which easy to capture searcher attention..

    2) example4letterword.com or example-3letterword.com
    I will go with example3letterword.com because hyphen are not encourage in SEO while it look spammy and unprofessional.

    3) I will said depend which keyword you target where with a s and without a s. All keywords you use in content , anchor text and backlink to related as well. It still rank with which content more related no matter with exact match keywords or add on a s in the keywords. Which google identify more quality toward the search , the site will rank 1st even no EMD for the site.

    Don't overlook important of keyword in the domain after Google Algorithm change in EDM where they give priority toward the quality of the content and punished those sites which rank well with EDM but poor content.
     
    JerrickYeoh, Apr 2, 2013 IP
  4. Alok8978

    Alok8978 Greenhorn

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    #4
    Choose Domain name that not only help in your SEO but it is also be small, unique and catchy for user or website visitors. Long, special characters, hyphens are not a good option to both SEO and visitors.
     
    Alok8978, Apr 3, 2013 IP
  5. jasonwilks

    jasonwilks Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Don't worry about keywords so much!

    You need to think of SEO as in what a user wants to see and not necessarily a search engine. In that regard you do not have to have keywords in your domain. What is important is creating a brand for yourself. And do this with as few words as possible. Two word domains are more profitable IMO, so I would look into that. Try to think of a name that people will remember you by. Stuffing a bunch of keywords in a domain does not look professional at all, and I do not know why people are still doing this.

    Matt Cutts has even said more and more into the future they are going to be devaluing the keywords in domains. This is another reason to stick with brand names. Brand names are way more professional.
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2013
    jasonwilks, Apr 5, 2013 IP
  6. gusto

    gusto Well-Known Member

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    #6
    1. Tell the name to a friend of yours on the phone.
    2. Talk about another thing for 5 minutes.
    3. Ask him to spell it.
    4. Decide.
     
    gusto, Apr 7, 2013 IP
  7. agnstege

    agnstege Peon

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    #7
    I'm not sure that big G cares anymore about the domain name, as much as the content. I mean related vaguely probably helps with prospective customers, as far as trust in the source goes, but the search engines I doubt care anymore (because of the scope for abuse)
     
    agnstege, Apr 10, 2013 IP
  8. mauiman

    mauiman Well-Known Member

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    #8
    While I agree with much of the feedback offered I don't' know enough about your business to give you solid advice, but I agree you should worry less about a keyword and search engines and more about what your prospect's brains will recall.

    Would "Big G" have done as well if their name had been "searchengine.com". How about zappos? They sell a lot of shoes... Apple... do they sell fruit? Amazon.com.

    Think big, think long term.

    Whatever you decide, best of success!
     
    mauiman, Apr 10, 2013 IP
  9. MilesWeb

    MilesWeb Well-Known Member

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    #9

    1) does it matter for search engines whether the important part of the domain "example" is first or last? Which would be better exampleword.com or wordexample.com?
    - Keyword in domain name doesnt matter nowadays . Its your SEO efforts that helps you to rank your domain in search engines.

    2) What would be better when it comes to SEO?
    example4letterword.com or example-3letterword.com

    - Try to avoid hyphens and make the domain name as short as possible so that it would be easy for users to remember.

    3) If the domain is very close to an already existing and popular domain can the other domain steal from our visitors? So let's say that their site is called example.com and ours is examples.com can we lose from that proximity, because the domain is practically the same but in plural.
    - Although domain would be same to some extend however in order to get good traffic from search engines, the site which has quality content, good backlinks and other SEO factors ranks well in search engines. SEO efforts will bring traffic to your website, domain name has nothing to do with it.
     
    MilesWeb, Apr 10, 2013 IP
  10. Vishal Chadha

    Vishal Chadha Member

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    #10
    When choosing a domain name for SEO purposes, there are three main factors to consider
    Brand
    Rankability
    Linkability
     
    Vishal Chadha, Apr 10, 2013 IP
  11. D_C

    D_C Well-Known Member

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    #11
    Think first of what website your going to make then search for the consumer status, if it is marketable or not. Then chose a niche that strongly catches attention, then used it as your domain. Lastly, should be in .com to be ranked easily :)
     
    D_C, Apr 11, 2013 IP