How to choose the right domain for SEO?
This is the very important step for SEO consultants, which means the out selection of ideal domain for the whole internet marketing. Sometimes it may be very easy, but sometimes it is very time and money demanding step.
What to take in to consideration?
There is few factors which has to be considered during the process of choosing the domain including the domain age, domain length, key words and memorability.
Domain age
Google take this factor as very important in such way, that you do not have a chance to take the top ranking with the new domain without falling into the sandbox or supplemental index. Google simply does not trust the new domains. Who actually would…? Therefore it is not important to register the new domain, but to look around for already registered domain with some history.
Sure that find the domain you will like and will be old enough at the same time is kind of difficult. Check the digitalpoint.com or sedo.com for the beginning.
Let’s say that we will search the cars word with Google.com and all top ten results will represent domains by WHOIS of age from 3 to 13 years. You can try different competitive words and the results will be almost the same. According to my experience, one year old domain have no chance for big success in competitive field. This way or another be prepared for some investment as good .com domains with some history costs at least 10.000 USD. If you are taking the whole internet marketing seriously, this investment would be absolutely necessary, but ROI priceless.
Domain length and memorability
It is not just about the domain age, but also about usability of given domain defined also by the length and memorability. The type of domain like great-car-for-my-wife.com is absolutely useless. It is disaster if the customer see domain like that or if it is necessary to write it down or to remember it. It is considered as phenomenon called negative branding, which also appears with poor design or poor usability of pages.
Domain has to have adequate length for easy memorability. It can be long, but it is necessary to contain phrase which is easy to remember.
With or without dash?
This question appears across the forums all the time. The answer is subjective, but if you include in the domain your main key word the dash would be appropriate. However, from the marketing point of view it is better not to use the dash. It is more elegant and tidy. The only reason for using the dash is the linkbuilding; dash separates the words. Not sure if the search engines still take into the consideration this or if they can separate the words independently (which would be no surprise). You can not be wrong with the dash if the domain is suitable for that and is somehow connected with the brand you trade under.
Key words in the domain
Again it is factor mostly connected to a linkbuilding, which is one of the most important factors influencing SEO. According to the last pronouncements, the anchor text is still one of the most important factors in Google algorithm and will be. This means that if you have the keyword in your domain it is big plus. There will be always someone linking by the domain and therefore if that word will be there you have there quite quality anchor text.
