Exact Match Domain Names SEO Myth

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There are a number of common SEO misconceptions or myths. Some of these include the belief that SEO is all about stuffing keywords into content, your keyword density, that link building is the only important SEO tactic. And many, many more,  but let's first talk about domain names. 

I'll start off by saying you can rank any site with any domain name. Within reason. Names should be memorable and easy to remember, and that isn't an SEO thing.

Listen on to get an idea of why you don't need an exact match domain, and why it is better to consider the branding aspect than a descriptive aspect of your domain.

Episode Transcript

Phil (00:00):
Welcome to the opinionated SEO, where we talk about recent
news and updates in the digitalmarketing world of SEO paid
advertising and social mediathat impact you as a marketer.
Also throw some of myopinion into the mix.

(00:21):
There are a number of commonSEO, misconceptions or myths.
Some of these include thebelief that SEO is all about
stuffing keywords, intocontent, your keyword density,
that link building is theonly important SEO tactic.
And many, many more, but let'sfirst talk about domain names.

(00:41):
I'll start off by sayingyou can rank any site
with any domain name.
Within reason.
Names should be memorableand easy to remember, and
that isn't an SEO thing.
That's just a general statementfrom a marketing standpoint.
Domain name should not lock youinto a specific small segment
of anything, unless that'sultimately your business plan.

(01:03):
It's important to think longterm, let's say that you
are an agency and you'reworking with a specific
group, and as you continueto evolve your business,
you find that more and morefrom a different segment are
requesting your type of work.
And it's the similarkind of thing.
Does your domain namekeep you from being
able to properly market?

(01:26):
If not, then maybe your domainname, wasn't the best choice.
You don't need to have yourdomain name, say what you do.
It should just be memorable.
John Mueller responded to a userabout domain names recently and
they asked what would be best.
And he basically said,doesn't really matter.

(01:46):
Let's just do one thing here.
And remember that a nameof a business and a domain.
Are usually the same.
And from a business perspective,a memorable name is better
than a descriptive one.
So let's do a littlethought exercise here.
The number one bookstoreonline is Amazon not books.

(02:08):
The number one auction siteis eBay, not auctions.com.
The number one socialnetwork is Facebook.
the number one searchengine is Google.
The number one residentialreal estate website is
Zillow, not books, auction,social network, search.com.
You don't need adescriptive domain.
You need a brandbuilding domain.

(02:31):
This is what John wrote.
There's no difference also.
There's no difference.
If you used saber toothtedtalk.com, pick a
domain name you can buildon for the long run.
Maybe you're doing webdesign now, but what will
you be doing in five years?
10 years pick somethingthat lets you grow or
go with a domain name.
That's more like a brand,which you can build out

(02:54):
and which people canfind you with directly.
That would be my recommendation.
creating separate sitesfor sub businesses.
Ideas is a hassle mergingsites is a bigger hassle
moving domains is a house.
All of these things, takea lot of time, some money
and more go with somethingyou want to keep for longer,

(03:15):
which gives you room.
There's no secret or publicSEO bonus for having your
keyword in your domain.
And for those comingwith, but there are
keyword domains ranking.
Well, of course you canalso rank well with a domain
that has keywords in it,but you can rank well with
other domain names too.
And a domain won't rank.
Well, just because ithas keywords in it.

(03:38):
So folks really takethe time when you're
working with your domain.
It's not too late to changeit, but think of the branding
behind it and build it that.
All right until nexttime, have a great day.