Branded vs. Keyword Rich?

are branded or keyword rich domains better

[aQuatell]

I am expanding my business internationally very soon. My existing web business <snip> which operates in Canada/USA has decent brand association. As I move to launch websites in UK/Australia, where I have little/no brand association, I have a dilemma: do I launch in those countries using my brand as the domain or do I go with a domain that is chock full of keywords?

My real question is this: is there a distinct SEO benefit to having keywords in the domain name?

By the way, my international sites will be .co.uk and com.au respectively.

[edited by: engine at 9:23 pm (utc) on June 8, 2009]

[gpilling]

go with the brand. People that live in the US/Canada have friends in the UK/Australia and sometimes move there. Copy Richard Branson and use your brand globally.