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The problem is that the domain name is expensive and I want to know if anyone has info on the difference in traffic that a #1 position gets compared to a #3 position, so that I can decide whether it will pay to buy it in the long run.
Thanks for all the info on this forum, its been a major help.
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My stats say a # 1 gets about 18 % more traffic than a # 3. This is sampled on more than 400 sites over a year.
Another thing is if you switch domain name, you will have to redo all the linking process again to the new one. Also, is the 'new' domain clean?
As far as the price of the domain and number 1-3 rankings I am not sure I understand your statement. If you think owning a particular domain will get you a good ranking you are wrong.
Our main competitor has a domain with the best KW for our niche. Since we came on the scene with an active linking campaign they have steadily dropped in rankings. We are over them in virtually all SERPs now.
Our domain is intended to create brand awareness in our products rather than KW benefit in the SERPs. I think personally that this is a better aproach.
These are my opinions only. It couldn't hurt to have a KW domain that also helped seperate your brand.
The only reason a keyword domain does well is because most people, when making a link to another site, use the domain name as the anchor text (link text). So, people with keyword domains such as widget.com have loads of links in for the keyword "widget".
You could have any domain, but if you get links in with the word "widget", you will rise up the rankings for that search term.
I would save your money. I suspect google is working on correcting this. Get links in using the keyword but pointing to your current site and the effect will be the same. However, getting a webmaster to link to you exactly as you want can be difficult. When you request a link, give them the code you want them to place on their page, or give them a graphic with the phrase in the 'alt' command.
Also, you could buy a new domain for a few pounds that has the keyword-keyword.com. Going for one keyword is not very effective, even on a competative search. Go for 100 less used keywords by tuning your whole site, the net result will probably be more traffic.
The sites that I've seen get top positions with the exact phrase in the url have been relatively new ones with only Dmoz and Yahoo links. They have leap-frogged others including mine that have lots more links and are more established.
Alternatively, you could maybe remanage your web site with a sub domain. (keyword.domain.com) You could benefit from it after getting links to it.
The only reason a keyword domain does well is because most people, when making a link to another site, use the domain name as the anchor text (link text). So, people with keyword domains such as widget.com have loads of links in for the keyword "widget".
I agree. Never really occured to me that way. (slap self!)
Good incoming link text is important and worth the extra trouble it takes to get a webmaster to post it. Many who are into linking will do it no poroblem in my experience.
I also frequently change the wording and structure of my requested text in case the big G ever starts assigning less importance to sites with carbon-copy inbound links.
This could be total Google paranoia but it helps me sleep at night.
I disagree. My main site is #1 at Google for a search on the keyword that is in the domain name. However, AFAIK nobody links to me with that keyword in the anchor text, but instead use the other critical keyword I focus on. With the second keyword, I'm only #6 at Google. And, all the sites above me have that keyword either in the domain name, or somewhere in the URL. I say this is not a coincidence.
One point here: I also notice that keywords seem to help anywhere in the URL, not just the domain name. Thus, if you also sell doohickeys at widgets.com, sell them at widgets.com/doohickeys/doohickeys.htm.
I think you are right. I should not have said 'only reason'. I've noticed the same thing, and file names are important as well. I was exagerating to make the point. :)
Keyword domains creating relevant anchor text have helped, but there are lots of other on site factors as well which can give you a top ranking. Another possibility is that Keyword domains may help establish a theme for the site, giving it high relevancy, even without links in. I suspect they have the same value as a title tag, with the 'anchor text' potential on top.
In your case, it's amazing how many links to your site (using the domain name as anchor text) are probably out there, and even if they are not listed as links by google (less than pr4), they may have an effect. Your on site optimisation may be better than you are aware, giving you the high positions
I think the benefits of keyword domains will slowly fade out over the next few updates. Possibly google will decide..."if the anchor text includes www. then ignore text!" That should do it! Taking that a step further, google keeps saying it dislikes over optimised sites, so perhaps it will also decide that a domain with no obvious keyword in the domain will be ranked higher... now there's a scary thought!
Going back to the original question, keyword domains have been great in the past, but I think those days are numbered. A cheap keyword domain can still have an impact, but spending a lot of money on one is probably a waste..... it was good while it lasted!
Definitely don't pay a lot for a keyword domain unless it is a really juicy one. As in, the basic widgets.com if you are a seller of just widgets. Besides, those wanting a keyword in a domain name, if widgets.com is taken, can always choose something like cheap-widgets.com or wuch that can be bought at Godaddy for $7.99 a year.
I definitely have noticed that Google gives a boost so long as the keyword is is the URL. I plan on redoing a part of my website, and definitely will use at my keyword.com type domain the trick of keyword.com/keyword2/keyword2.htm trick top try and get a boost.
The problem here for Google is that when it comes to information sites, they tend to very likely to use these sort of keyword domains. Also, these information sites aren't doing this to be "spammy", but just because that is what the site is about. My guess is that Google considers commercial SERPs a lot less important than non-commercial ones, as most searchers on the web aren't looking to buy things. Thus, Google may be reluctant to change the algo.
In the future it makes sense to me that they will have value....how long this will be in coming is anyone's guess!
They are by far the most important thing. Exact matches rank #1 for everything in the topics I focus on. Nothing else comes close, and it has little to do with link text since some example sites have few links.
And, were there a material number of people then howling other than commercial webmasters who didn't have keyword-stuffed domain names? And for the average surfer, if fuzzy-blue-widgets.com comes up #1 on a search for fuzzy blue widgets, since that domain sells what he wants he may think Google is doing a great job.
It's saved me some money at least. :-)
One more question, I own the exact-phrase.info, does anyone know how .info's are performing in Google versus .com etc.
Whereever you are hosted you will appear in that countries regional search, e.g. hosted in UK you will appear in the 'UK Only' searches. As for the states, and/or worldwide searches, it is a level playing field.
I've heard rumours that Aol filter quite agressively so I'm not sure how .info will perform there.
