Search Term Domain Names Probably To Get Devalued – Matt Cutts

Matt Cutts, Google webmaster anti-spam expert, filmed a very worthwhile online video on keyword domain names.

He discusses using a more ‘brandable’ domain address versus using a keyword-rich domain address.

Ok, before I cover ‘DeJuicing’, I want to clarify the main difference between a brand domain address and a keyword-rich web address…

A ‘brand’ internet domain would be, by way of example, Facebook.com. The term ‘Facebook’ is a ‘made up’ term, if you will, which has no particular meaning, other than the company it represents. Facebook’s business model is a Social Network website, even so the domain clearly doesn’t have the text ‘social network’ in it.

So whenever the question what are blogs are posed in association to internet domain names, it really should be stated that there is no distinction. Blogs are actually just an alternative sort of web-site and the domain weighting is equal.

Alternatively, a keyword-rich domain address is as the name indicates. It’s a domain name containing key terms to which you may or may not rank for in the major search engines. One example might be buycellphones.net, in which the term ‘cell phones’ and ‘buy cell phones’ are definitely part of the domain address.

It has been more or less well-known in the SEO (search engine optimization) world that key terms as part of the domain address will get a search positions boost from Google.

And so in the previously mentioned illustration of ‘buycellphones.net’, when all other ranking components ended up being identical (they rarely are not surprisingly) then I would have a search engine rankings edge for the search phrase ‘buy cell phones’ because that particular search term is contained in my internet domain.

At this point it appears that this might change. At the end of the video clip Matt Cutts suggests that Google may reduce the ranking advantage of keyword-rich domains by ‘adjusting the mix’, as Cutts describes it.

What’s intriguing is Cutts doesn’t mention they intend to get rid of the ranking edge. He implies that they may change it to some degree.

Precisely what does this mean for website owners and SEO’s?

As is frequently the situation with Google, who knows for certain??

Google has implemented a couple of changes to their ranking algorithm in recent months to battle spam, low quality internet pages and enhance the all around search experience for their end users.

At least one apparent benefit found in decreasing the keyword phrase domain edge is it should stop smaller, cruddy sites from trying to obtain a top search engine position for a keyword/keyphrase by putting said keyphrase inside of the domain address. Inside of my very own blog building program, I cover how to set up a blog for the search engines simply because they will last a long time if done right.

Google seems to have made strides in the last couple of years in this area but I’ve still noticed instances of smaller low quality web pages being ranked well merely by placing the search phrase in the domain address along with generating a few internet pages to the site. I should point out that this normally occurs when working with a keyword which has little competition, particularly backlinks-wise.

What Exactly Is The Next Step? Employ a Keyword Domain Name or possibly a Brandable Domain?

There’s no one set answer here. If you’re developing a web page intended for the long-term and want to build brand identity then I wouldn’t worry about having a search phrase in the url of your website.

Having said that, in case you have a substantial keyword phrase which identifies and/or increases your business’ identity and you’re able to incorporate that keyword phrase in the brand then go ahead and do it. Look at it like a added bonus. You were able to make the keyword phrase part of the brand and that can certainly help.