What shall I call my site?

[Llanero]

With all the google changes and social media focus on seo, I am in a bit of a dilemma and any opinions welcome.

My husband has a very small horseback riding company based in a tiny mountain town of Costa Rica and I cannot decide whether to call it by the company name or by a more generic name that is likely to be picked up by the search engines ( I do believe the importance of domain name is less than it used to be in terms of search with all the new google changes).

The two names are  www.horsetrekmonteverde.com   (bear in mind that his customers come from the States and horse trekking is not commonly used)

and www.horseridingcostarica.com

One mentions Costa Rica, the other not as you can see. Also not many people have beard about Monteverde. However I am trying to do some strong branding! What would you do?

[Llanero]

when you say the local keywords you mean horse riding costa rica or horse trek monteverde?

The company name is Horse Trek Monteverde

There are other companies with more general names such as horseback riding costa rica and costa rica horseback riding,

[Llanero]

Yes, indeed there is another web site that a friend started called www.costaricahorsebackridingvacation.com    years and years ago. The name is way too long (!) and she does not do anything to do it, in fact she has moved from the area and does not reply to my letters. But the site ranks so well!! She never really knew anything about seo or linking, she started doing it for a hobby.

Hence I decide to start a new web site and link tripadvisor and horse trek monteverde facebook to that.

I wanted from the start to use horsetrekmonteverde.com as the company is called Horse Trek Monteverde. But as soon as I started asking around and mentioning that I also own a domain called www.horseridingcostarica.com most people advised I should use this as more customers will put that in a search.

Horse Trek Monteverde is known only by people who do a search on tripadvisor and by the local hotels in Monteverde.

My gut feeling is to go with Horse Trek Monteverde as I could market/brand it better but maybe I am wrong? I feel that Costa Rica and horseback riding will be mentioned so much in the site's content that the actual domain name won't be too significant. But others are telling me different!

[Alex-Harford]

I don't agree that 2 separate websites is the best way. It would mean double the costs and effort - would there need to be 2 logos because there are 2 websites? It's definitely not "strong branding". It could be potentially confusing to customers and you'd be competing against yourself. Would it stop at 2 websites if another market opened up?

Which is the biggest market?

I wouldn't be sure about calling yourselves horseridingcostarica.com as a horseridecostarica.com already exists - so if you're giving the URL out/printing it on leaflets etc. there's more potential for confusion e.g. as the latter is already established, Google AutoSuggest might autofill the latter URL as people are typing and you're giving business to a competitor.

I've also noticed a "Horse Trek Monteverde" on TripAdvisor and a standalone website with the same name - I'd guess that's you? My gut feeling is to go with your company name (although you're small, are you well established?), though not knowing your company name I can't be 100% sure (for example if it's difficult to spell).

Edit - and safeserps makes a good point - what if your business expands? How big do you aim to be?

And I've heard of Monteverde! I'm hoping to visit Costa Rica in the next few years.

[AutonectGlobal]

''In theory, it is better to walk before you run - so depending on your aims and targets, you should start with targeting the local keywords.''

That is unless, you are prepared to fork out a lot of money for PPC.

[AutonectGlobal]

Dilemma indeed!

In theory, it is better to walk before you run - so depending on your aims and targets, you should start with targeting the local keywords.

Once you have got all hooves on the ground, you could then start to incorporate wider, unlocalised keywords to help with the growth.

To make use of this, I would find a domain that makes use of a search query as well as a localised keywords. You want to find a combination where it is obvious that you are based in this location, but so that you aren't tied to it when you try and take off!

Hope it helped.

[dotfly]

ok, then both domain names are "appropriate" ...

the best way would be to take one to target the "tourists who book last minute" and the other one to target those who book from the States in advance ... You would gain a very good range then and ensure to use two good domain names in the right way...

[Llanero]

We have 2 markets..... dedicated horse riders who are looking for a multi day horse riding vacation and book from the States well in advance.

The other market is tourists who book last minute once they are in Monteverde and for short rides.

[dotfly]

Have you answered yourself the question if you want to advertise more local or within a wider range?

I would use the 2nd one... I like that more because it seems to be "accurate" ...

You might be very right that the name of a domain is no longer "the most important thing" according to all those changes which already took place and all those changes that might take place...

BUT

It is still a relevant ranking factor if you can use a domain name that fits for the proper keywords... and it CAN help you to make things a little bit more easier.

Experts will tell you that you should focus on unique content and all those things closely associated with that and they are absolutely right!

AND in addition to that It won`t hurt and it will have a significant impact if you choose the right domain according to the content you will focus on... do a keyword research and take the results into your consideration...