Why do some websites that have hardly any backlinks, poorly optimised get placed above sites that are doing all they can with SEO?

[ThePod]

For example take these two websites.  www.rfasecurity.co.uk is a site that Iam working on and have had some success with yet snifferdogs.org.uk seems to be poorly optimised with little backlinks and still gets place higher.  is it due to the key word in the domian name?

The key search word is sniffer dogs

New at this so any help would be appreciated

regards

Dave

[CPU]

I do some local SEO work and regularly see exact match domains with little or no other SEO positives (relevant links, great content etc) outperforming much better, optimised sites.

That is why people believe that exact match domains have to be knocked down a peg or two at some point although it doesn't seem to have happened yet.

My advice is to continue to ensure you have relevant, keyword targetted, unique content and to build up your link profile so that even if that isn't enough currently to overtake  the exact match domain site, when the expected algorithmic tweak occurs the site is perfectly placed to leapfrog its rivals.

Likewise where I manage/advise sites with exact match domains I tell them not to be too complacent and that they have to follow the best practices so that if they lose their domain name advantage at some point in the future that the site will still remain number 1 on merit.

[ThePod]

Thank Barry for your comments which are taken on board.  Dont you just love SEO? We must of jumped a place overnight how weird is that?

[StalkerB]

I see you ranking higher than them.

However, that video the EGOL linked to and the exact match domain are definitely things to recognise.

[ThePod]

Hi, had a look at the video, and understand whats being said, but still doesnt stack up in this case.  If the site had great content then OK that combined with the domain i could live with.  I need more evidence somehow

[ThePod]

thanks I will have a look now and come back to you,

[EGOL]

ExactMatch.com keyword domains tend to rank a little higher than optimization and backlinks warrant.

However, watch Matt Cutts in this video....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STpCM-3K3KY