domain + keyword = different results than just keyword

[apauto]

You'd think that when you do a domain + keyword search, Google returns the most relevant URL on that domain for that keyword.

However, when searching for just the keyword, the result in the SERPs shows a different URL on the domain.

for example, if you search for:

domain.com red widgets

You get the top pages for red widgets on domain.com

Let's say the first page is

domain.com/red-widgets.htm

however, if you search for jsut red widgets, the SERP might show domain.com/red-widgets-plastic.htm

Is this odd, or normal?

thanks

[apauto]

Anyone have similar experience?

thanks

[jdwaverly]

I was under the impression that a keyword search on a domain is:

site:domain.com keyword


domain.com keyword would give you search results that mention both domain.com and the keyword.

[apauto]

The results are the same (at least the first 5 or so) for me...

[AnkitMaheshwari]

A search for "domain.com keyword" is different from "site:domain.com keyword" as Google would treat the first search as two keyword search giving results for other domains as well that might be relevant to the query while in the later your search for "keyword" would only show results from "domain.com".

[piatkow]

Considering that "red widgets" and "widgets red" give different results I think it is neither unusual nor unexpected. If the searches are literally as described in the OP then there are two quite distinct arguements which will potentially give different results.

[apauto]

but a:

site:domain.com red widgets

should pull the first result back from the most important site on your page for red widgets, right?

If this is the case, why is it when you search for red widgets, a different page on your site is the ranking page?

Anyone know?