What do domain names have to do with SEO? I know this has been discussed a billion times already, but you can’t get enough of a good thing, can you? Search Engine Optimisation, especially with regards to a new site with few links, can be dramatically affected by good domain names.
Often referred to as exact match (keyword) domains, they have fallen out of favour.
A good domain can convey a lot of meaning. If a domain contains keywords, it helps to give linguistic cues to the content of the website itself. This can help not only in search engine ranking but also with building brand recognition. Search engines rank sites with keyword domains highly. In some instances, when the domain itself is the keyword, it can quickly rise to the top of the first page.
Sometimes domains do not contain keywords, but are memorable, unique brand names instead. For example, Mint Dental London is an extremely popular dental website that focuses on cosmetic dental treatments.
The name evokes an image of being in London (which they are) and achieving a better fresher facial aesthetic, as in the taste of Mint, minty freshness etc. Names are important. Brands, however small and unknown, are used to convey quality. If you have one customer, you have a brand. All brands start with a name, and all companies have a website. Names need to be sensical if you want people to understand and remember them.
A domain should ideally be pronounceable, short, and meaningful. Certain unpronounceable domains can be successful in their own right if they are short. CNN.com is one such example. Three-letter domain names are extremely valuable due to their limited availability and the fact that they can be typed in rapidly. Google is another, it is an often stated fact that Google’s website is google.co.uk not searchengine.co.uk!
That domain was registered in 1996 and remains unsold. That might have more to do with Google’s runaway success.
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