When searching for seo domain names, you need to be patient as this is not an easy task. You should go for a domain name that is short, simple, and self-explanatory making it easier for people to remember it. With so many domains already registered, you really need to bring out your creativity at work to come up with a remarkable name that people will come to love.
However, aside from being catchy, domain names should also be optimized. Of course, this is not a requirement and it will not help you rank higher in search engine results unless it’s supported with unique content and quality back-links.
Importance of keywords in domain names
People often ask if it’s important to include keywords in their domain names and the short answer is yes! Having strong, relevant keywords in your domain help get traffic to your site, but this is not all there is. The amount of traffic due to an optimized domain address is insignificant if you don’t also put effort into optimizing your site.
When you work hard to optimize your site, you can get traffic to your site no matter if your domain name includes keywords or not. Just look at big companies such as Apple or Microsoft. Their aim was always to build a brand, so if you’re looking for a domain with a branding value, be creative and don’t worry about having to include keywords in your domain name. Try to come up with a memorable name and then use your marketing budget wisely to promote it accordingly.
Do hyphens affect your domain?
In terms of SEO, it’s doesn’t really matter if you choose to include hyphens in your domain names. If the non-hyphenated version of your chosen domain is not available, you can get the one with hyphens. Search engines such as Google do not differentiate between the two types – hyphenated and non-hyphenated. However, try not to include more than two hyphens to separate three words because it might be too long for people to remember, and it can also be considered a spammy site.
Which domain extension helps me rank higher
Most people choose to buy domain names with a .com extension. This is the most popular domain extension and web users are so accustomed to it that they tend to type .com after your brand’s name in order to visit your site. So, we can say that .com sites have this advantage, thus they can get traffic easier.
However, if your chosen .com domain is not available, you can also go with the alternatives, such as: .net, .co.uk, .info, .pro, etc. These domains are usually cheaper and if you put some effort into optimizing them correctly, you can still get a considerable amount of traffic to your site, although it might take a little longer than if you’d have a .com.
One other thing to consider when choosing a domain extension for your site is your location. If you are a local business and you are targeting a specific area, it’s actually recommended to go with specific domain extensions, such as .co.uk, .asia, .de, etc.
Adding suffixes and prefixes to domain names
From a SEO point of view, including a non-keyword in domain names can decrease the keyword density. This technique is often used when the desired domain name is not available as is, and so you choose to include prefixes such as “my”, “your”, “buy” or suffixes like “online”, “blog”, “search”, etc. In this case, it’s advised you use suffixes so that you can place the keyword at the beginning of the domain name.
In conclusion, when buying domain names, it’s best to find a balance and try to get domain names that are both catchy and easy to promote. If you happen to include a keyword that is relevant for your business, it’s for the better.
About the Author: Alexandra Gavril writes for the 123-reg.co.uk blog – a blog about domain names, web hosting and the Internet. When she’s not writing, she’s on Twitter so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
