Domain name correlation to search engine placement

Domain names and search engine rankings

[jgold454]

I am helping out a drug and alcohol treatment center with trying to get some search engine exposure. They have a really good program and help alot of people and I would like to do something nice for them. In your opinions do you think it would be worth $2500 to buy the domain <with keywords in it, unhyphenated> to help them get increased traffic?

p.s: I would also try to optimize their pages for ranking as well, as best I my novice skills will allow. :) Thanks in advance for any insight and/or suggestions.

[edited by: Marcia at 1:38 am (utc) on June 14, 2003]

[Marcia]

Nice thought jgold454, it's great when webmasters or promoters donate their services and talents to worthy non-profits. Those organizations too often go without the exposure they need and deserve. However (aside from which we don't do specifics here) - if there's a good domain name available, we're always wise to keep it to ourselves or else it might not be available for too long. ;)

If a domain name is relevant and represents what would be a popular search phrase for a site it can be helpful. If it's the domain name and title of the site it can get into the title of an ODP listing, for a bonafide non-profit it can be the title of a (free) Zeal listing and be included in Looksmart - then MSN, and possibly a free Yahoo listing, and be used as link anchor text with inbound links. All have value, not only for rankings, but for helping surfers find relevant sites.

If it's unhyphenated, it might help to take the hyphenated as well in the event that someone else might take the hyphenated and eventually cause confusion.

[jgold454]

Thanks for the input. Is there a difference in search engine ranking ability in getting a domain with a .com suffix compared to a .org suffix? Basically, I have the ability to get the same $2500 .com domain for $15 on the open market with a .org suffix.

[kevinpate]

I'm no expert but I can't imagine a NFP being willing to pay 2485 more for a .com instead of a .org addy, and I can't see where it would be of any benefit to the org to do so.

But as you're asking on this in a faiurly well established public forum, if it were me, I'd be grabbing that .org before someone else does, as in go do it right this second. Otherwise, tomorrow or the next day you may be discovering it's gone, unless you have 2900 to spare.

Good luck

[edited by: kevinpate at 2:18 am (utc) on June 14, 2003]

[digitalghost]

Personally I'd go with the .org You won't have any problems getting that .org to rank well and you can spend the $2485 on promotion.

[jgold454]

I guess I didn't move fast enough someone just took the .org...I think I just learned a lesson...:(

[Marcia]

jgold, go check the Overture keyword suggestion tool for other popular derivatives of the same type of domain name.

[inventory.overture.com...]

And watch where you check for the domain name availability.