Keywords in URL vs backlinks

Wondering if anyone can answer this question? I use backlinkwatch.com to look at my backlink counts and my competitor's, and I just noticed that when I type in my keywords (grand rapids wedding photography) on google, the number 1 organic hit is www grandrapidsweddingphotography . com

When I check that site's backlinks, there is only 1! I have been working a month or so and have 88 backlinks and am still on PAGE 18 of google, but my url isnt as precise to those keywords. So my question...does URL name really outweigh backlinks? How can that other site show up as #1 on google with only 1 backlink...I thought it was all about backlinks with google?

 

I dnt know about that website ... But you know what the submission depends on the quality of links ...

High PR directory submission will help you a lot ...

Thanks

 

Kristy, that other site has two immediately obvious advantages over yours:

1. The keywords you are targeting (Grand Rapids Wedding Photography) are in their URL, but not in yours.

2. Those keywords are the first words in their title tag, but come later in your title tag.

Both those items give them a significant advantage. You can correct #2 by changing your title to something like Grand Rapids Wedding Photography by Kristy Berends.

Best wishes!

 

Ok, that makes sense, for the most part. I changed my title tag and will make sure I incorporate those keywords in my post titles from now on, when possible. I just thought that the backlinks represented 'votes' for your site, and those outweighed everything else (so that people can't just grab catchy URL's and rank high without first having good content and representation across the web).

 

It is due to the keywords in the domain, not the URL. The domain is like a trademark. Google thinks that when they enter (grand rapids wedding photography) they are actually after the company called the same thing (the domain).

You can still beat them for that term but you need to focus on off-site (backlinks) with the relevant anchor text. You can still add (grand rapids wedding photography) to an URL f you like. It will help a little, but not as much as the domain. The domain doesn't make it impossible though.

 

It depends on what kind of backlinks are, where they are, and lots other stuff besides amount. So there is no simple answer on this. Jim4767 gave you good tip, and you shall work on other SEO adventages you can make so reaching that competitor isn't impossible. And here in Serbia, they are not #1. They are 3rd on SERP, by the way.

 

In code of your web bad relation content:code. Css lets move to seperate file, also all .js code same. In html code need to stay only what is necesary. Also as said friends earlier - title tag very important. You need also some backlinks with related keywords to base keyword which you want to have at top position.

 

for long tail keyword, domain name keyword does have its advantage.
in this case its a 4 word match, and someone started a website for that specific niche, search engine will see that niche site should be the best result

 

get some high pr backlinks

 

Thanks everyone! That helps alot!

 

well url also plays a role in seo as well as the domain age and the competition against that keyword.

 

Basic thing is that when u do good submission of your site than one day it will comes on good rank. back links are back of your site. domain name could matter but not that much like back links.

 

backlink not the only factor that affect your SERP
And quality of backlink are much important than quantity of backlink

 

Google back Link, & Keyword ranking have difference. It not necessary that if you have many google back link and keyword on top. Google show only those link who have quality. May be Google have not cached you another back link, Google take time for this. and try more quality link.

 

Keyword rich domain name is really helpful for ranking. Increase relevant backlink with your targeted keywords, it may helps to improve ranking.

 

No doubt about it... the URL plays a big role.

Having the keyword in the page name also can work if having it in the URL is not possible. (ie. yoursite.com/grandrapidsweddingphotographer.htm )

Your photos are beautiful!

 

Of course having the desired keyword on the name of website is useful. But a website can not rank high only by having desired keyword on the name on it. It usually work for low competitive keywords. But for average or high competitive keywords, of course backlinks is far important than the name of domain.

 

Back link only not a factor to come up first on SERP. It includes more factors like keywords on url, content of web site, back link and more.

 

I like this.

 

Thanks for the kind words!

This helps alot. I am not going to worry so much about my competition (not that I can't learn how to fight them better by keeping an eye on their site structure). Now I need to figure out how to my keyword content more favorable...