pageoneresults - 4:49 pm on Jan 2, 2009 (gmt 0)

Do Domain Names Even Matter Anymore?

They matter "very much" to those who have them. Don't let anyone tell you any different either. :)

Having the "perfect domain name" can big a +5 points out of the gate. I work on a 100 point scale.

Many things occur when you have the ultimate domain. There are both internal and external "relevancy" factors that come into play.

The ultimate scenario would be to have a company name that contains the primary word and or words that you are targeting, that is by far the best from a "in the trenches" perspective. And if you don't have the company name but do have the domain then set up a /d/b/a/, you'll thank me later and so will your CPA. ;)

Is this a daft idea? Should I be spending time researching keyword relevant domains?

No, not a daft idea at all. Let's talk about the keyword relevant domains. If you have or can obtain one that makes perfect sense to your visitors, go for it. If they are all taken and you've tried a more creative approach and still can't find one, then maybe you are sitting on the perfect one already and just don't know it. Brand is a large factor in domain names. If you've got something that is brandable, rolls off the tongue and can be easily remembered, that is a +5 points too. But, you've now got to invest the resources to establish the Brand and that may not be an easy task.

Or is that all sooooo last year? Does anyone really care about the name of the domain, as long as it has a snappy or memorable title/url and good content?

Memorable is the keyword there. As long as the visitor can remember it, that is really what counts. If you've got something that is memorable and the resources to brand it, I say take that and run with it. Are they short? Can they be typed easily on a QWERTY keyboard? How do they look in Pascal? Do they exceed the Display URI limit for ads? All sorts of questions would be running through me mind...