SEO Tycoon

**ddzc** · 07-22-2009, 12:43 PM

Hi all,
I have a generic question regarding SEO and domain names. I will make up a very similar example.

For eg, I buy a domain name called cardcenter.com. I want to target the longtail keywords "baseball cards, hockey cards, etc). Will I get any boost in SEO via domain name from the word "card" in the domain name, even though it doesn't end with an s "cards"?

I have two examples like below:

cardcenter.com
totalcards.com

So one name has "card" and the other has "cards". My realistic scenario is the domain with card sounds better and is easier to remember and related to my niche. In comparisson to the cards domain, its a few characters longer...also easy to remember but not as good as the card domain and the word before cards doesn't make much sence of the niche...the actual generic word is "total" An example would be totalcards.com....

I have tons of longtail keywords to target...all of the keywords end in card or cards...cards gets double the traffic so I will be targetting those longtail keywords.

My niche is not comparable to 'student loans", etc...the niche has a bit of competition and the top rankers have been around since 2003-2004 and are PR5 websites. I'm going to use all of my ability to rank it and possibly beat these sites or even rank on page 1, but I want to ensure I did the most I can SEO wise, to choosing a great domain. The issue I have is that theres no turning back when I choose a domain, i'll be stuck with it and I will be optimizing the domain i'm choosing for a long long time and probably for years to come.

I really want to ensure i've made the right decision with the domain name purchase. I'm definitely going to kick myself if I later find out that I could have received a little boost in the rankings with the cards domain over the card domain....possibly even a boost that could bring me from #2 to #1 for example.

If I receive the same SEO benefits with card or cards in the domain name when targetting keywords ending in cards, then i'm going to get the card domain b/c its shorter and makes more sence regarding the niche.
I can't buy both because I can't afford them (i'm buying an aged .com domain) and I don't want duplicate content due to the penalties associated to it.

Thank You

**chrishirst** · 07-22-2009, 12:54 PM

No you won't

**ddzc** · 07-22-2009, 01:24 PM

Chris,

So i'll receive a bigger SEO boost with cards in the domain as opposed to card?

**chrishirst** · 07-22-2009, 01:27 PM

No

You'll simply receive no "boost" at all for the hostname. It's just a long standing myth that is perpetuated by so called experts

**ddzc** · 02:16 PM

Really....interesting, your the actual first person to state that and i've ready a ton of threads on multiple forums on this topic...I wonder if it's really true.

When you google something and the domain name and meta is bolded with the keyword highlighted...isn't this a good thing for SEO? Everything I google, the keywords are in the meta name and description for the top sites...and also in the domain name if it includes it. I thought maybe all 3 parameters (meta name, meta desc, domain name) are observed together when ranking via google.

Chris, for ex. If I google "people counting system" your #6 with "system" bolded in your domain. I always assumed system being bolded would give you some sort of boost.

**chrishirst** · 07-22-2009, 02:44 PM

Nope.

Look around properly it's ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the hostname but EVERYTHING to do with the anchor text used.

Using the erroneous hypothesis of hostnames being vital for SE "benefit" search for cram-system or cram system. If the idea holds any fact the same site should top of page 1 for either query.

Search for nightclub capacity neither word appears in the hostname.

The right anchor text is far, far, far more useful than having the "right" hostname

**chrishirst** · 07-22-2009, 02:46 PM

AND BTW Ignore the SERP bolding it's merely a display feature

**blue-dreamer** · 07-22-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddzc

Really....interesting, your the actual first person to state that and i've ready a ton of threads on multiple forums on this topic...I wonder if it's really true.

Unfortunately that's because there's a huge amount of bullsh*t wherever SEO is mentioned. Sorting the wheat from the chaff isn't always easy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddzc

When you google something and the domain name and meta is bolded with the keyword highlighted...isn't this a good thing for SEO? Everything I google, the keywords are in the meta name and description for the top sites...and also in the domain name if it includes it. I thought maybe all 3 parameters (meta name, meta desc, domain name) are observed together when ranking via google.

I though that done for the benefit of the person doing the search

**rahahm33** · 07-23-2009, 09:47 PM

yeah its pretty much a common myth. no hard fact on it tho.

**jamiestone** · 07-24-2009, 11:56 AM

Does any of the 'definately not' people have any evidence? Search engines can separate words right? and exact match domains are good? so why not this?

**edgray** · 12:20 PM

I would agree with everything ChrisHirst has said.

When it comes to domain names, think less of SEO, and think more about the human factor. Apply the "radio test": will the name be easy to read in a radio advert and will it be memorable. Steer clear of hyphens and keep the name short and sweet.