Please help me choose a domain for SEO

[ryanb5]

Hi all,

SOME QUICK FACTS

********************************************

1. I've built a piece of web software called Tax Reports (that's not the actual name, but I hope it will do as an example)

2. The software is hosted in the UK

3. I would like to sell world-wide, but certainly in the UK and US to begin with

4. I would therefore like my site to appear in the UK and US search results for "Tax Reports"

5. The search results for "Tax Reports" are dominated by companies that only have that exact term as a page or directory name... or just one of the keywords in the name. None of the results have the exact match term as the domain name. E.g.

Listing 1: software.com/tax-reports
Listing 2: maxisreports.com
Listing 3: johnsmith.net/.../tax-reports-have-changed (Blog)
Listing 4: unite.com > Features
Listing 5: reports.blogspot.com/blog/.../reporting-your-tax (Blog)

6. The following domain names were already taken:

* taxreports.com
* taxreports.org
* taxreports.net
* taxreports.co.uk

7. None of the domains above are being used though. They all go to dead sites.

8. I've purchased the following domain names:

* taxreports.co
* taxreports.uk.com
* tax-reports.net

9. I'm not sure which domain to use. Should I use one of the domains I've purchased? Or should I purchase something like:

* advancedtaxreports.com
* justtaxreports.com
* taxreportsglobal.com

10. Please help!

********************************************

Thanks,

Ryan

[zico82]

Can I ask if you expect to rank by simply purchasing an EMD?.

I see you have checked the TLD's for taxreport and see that the .com, .co.uk etc do not rank for the term so that should tell you that simply purchasing a similar TLD is not going to help.

You need to concentrate more on creating good content and attracting high value back links to give you some help in your goal to rank for that term. I see some decent sites (.gov, .org, lloyds etc) that you are going to have to go head to head with so you will have to work hard to rank for that IMO, some may tell you different, but picking a domain name should be the easiest of your tasks.

[ryanb5]

Before we go any further can I ask if you expect to rank by simply purchasing an EMD?.

I see you have checked the TLD's for taxreport and see that the .com, .co.uk etc do not rank for the term so that should tell you that simply purchasing a similar TLD is not going to help.

You need to concentrate more on creating good content and attracting high value back links to give you some help in your goals to rank for that term. I see some .gov and .org sites that you are going to have to go head to head with so you will have to work hard to get ahead of them.

Hi Zico,

Thanks for your reply.

Tax Reports is not the actual name of my company or software. I was just using it as an example.

My site will have lots of quality content for the exact match keywords and I hope to be able to generate some good back links. I'm just wondering if I should go for the exact match domain using .co ...or... I should go for something like advancedtaxreports.com (which is an additional word in the domain but also a .com)?

Ryan

[KernelPanic]

EMDs are a small part of SEO, learn the trade.

edit: sorry will post more later client just walked in

[zico82]

Hi Zico,

Thanks for your reply.

Tax Reports is not the actual name of my company or software. I was just using it as an example.

My site will have lots of quality content for the exact match keywords and I hope to be able to generate some good back links. I'm just wondering if I should go for the exact match domain using .co ...or... I should go for something like advancedtaxreports.com (which is an additional word in the domain but also a .com)?

Ryan

Sorry, yes I saw that after.

You can go for the EMD, but Google does say it is hitting 'low quality EMDs'. You can do a search for this and find out more about it yourself, then make a choice.

Then refer to KernelPanic's post above.

[PhilipSEO]

Don't worry about sticking "relevant keywords" in the domain name. Especially since a Google update of last September, exactly matching domains (EMDs) no longer have the ranking power they once used to have. Instead, come up with a great product name and use that as your domain name.

Ideally, the name should be
1. short
2. musical and memorable, not
3. relevant and appropriate
4. evoke the emotions that you want to associated with your product.

In other words, think branding, not keywords. Think about why "Google" and "Yahoo!" are great names for the products they name.

[ryanb5]

Don't worry about sticking "relevant keywords" in the domain name. Especially since a Google update of last September, exactly matching domains (EMDs) no longer have the ranking power they once used to have. Instead, come up with a great product name and use that as your domain name.

Ideally, the name should be
1. short
2. musical and memorable, not
3. relevant and appropriate
4. evoke the emotions that you want to associated with your product.

In other words, think branding, not keywords. Think about why "Google" and "Yahoo!" are great names for the products they name.

Thanks Philip,

Great advice. The branding side is the fun bit!

Personally I like taxreports.co

(Again that's not the name of my real software)

I know the .co domains are a bit controversial... but they seem fresh to me... and quite cool. Plus the best name for my software and brand really is the exact match domain.

Does that make sense?

[ryanb5]

Just to summarise, my options really are... (A) exact match .co (B) exact match .uk.com (C) hypenated .net (D) exact match plus one other word .com

[PhilipSEO]

Personally I like taxreports.co

.co is the country extension for Colombia. I assume you don't want Google to think that your site is relevant only to Colombia, that would not be at all good for your business.

[PhilipSEO]

Hah, I see that here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_code_top-level_domain
It says: 'The .co domain of Colombia has generated significant interest as a potential competitor to generic TLDs for commercial use given its possible use as the abbreviation for the word "company".[7] In June and July 2010 .co was opened for public registrations.'

I wasn't aware of this and I'm an SEO. Live and learn! I still wouldn't use it though, but I dunno.

[KernelPanic]

.co is the country extension for Colombia. I assume you don't want Google to think that your site is relevant only to Colombia, that would not be at all good for your business.

Google would not assume that provided you set your WMT properly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...=k0sCnzzVtNs#!

[PhilipSEO]

Free tip:

taxzilla.com is available on Godaddy auctions right now. The current bid is $60. I would grab that one if it doesn't go too high.

[joshz]

Brandable domain name > EMD/domain for SEO

[KernelPanic]

PhilipSEO agrees: Thanks for the ref. But this limits you one country.

Yes, but that country is not Columbia, is it

[PhilipSEO]

Another free tip:

taxgator.com is also available on Godaddy auctions, current bid $60, seemingly from the same owner.