Exact Match Domains Post Penguin

[comancsm]

I was wondering if it is still worth it to use exact match domains to rank for a desired keyword after the last penguin slap and if so, what would be the best strategy.

Thanks!

[TakeshiYoung]

Exact match domains are definitely still worth it.  Check out this case study on a couple thousand sites, which shows that exact match domains suffered LESS from Penguin than other sites:

http://www.jonathanleger.com/anchor-text-optimization-how-much-is-too-much/

Penguin tends penalize sites that spam anchor text exact keywords, instead of a more natural link profile that includes your branded keywords.  However, when your brand IS your keywords, then it's very hard for Google to penalize you.

[comancsm]

Thanks!

[EGOL]

From my experience, the best way to get links with an exact match domain is to create some of the best content on the web for that topic.  When people see that an an exact match domain they tend to link to it more readily than similar content on JoesWidgetShop.com.

I build content instead of links so I can't answer your question.  As a result, most of the anchor text pointing to my site is stuff like....

exactmatch.com      here        this site      etc.

[comancsm]

Thanks!

Would it be ok if i build links only with branding anchor text (which is the actual keyword) and with the URL as anchor text?

Or should i vary them more?

[EGOL]

Most of my domains are exact match and penguin didn't bother them.  I my opinion, penguin was more about anchor text and low-quality linkbuilding jobs.

In my opinion exact match domains lost a little value about February 2011... but otherwise they are good domains and worth paying extra to get them.  They convert better for me than other domains and when I own a nice domain it gives me energy to work on the site - and that is the secret of those domains for me.