URL for a new website

[danieldunn10]

Hi, I am creating a new website for a client.

Is it best to include the keywords from the most common search in the domain name, they would like:

forenamesurname.com

but should I be recommending:

weddingmakeupbyforename.com

Does it make much difference to search rankings if the keyword is in the domain name?

Thanks v much

[RobMay]

My advice is to purchase a domain you can/will build a brand around. Stick to the brand URL/domain as exact name match domains have been flagged by Google for top rankings. Optimize the site for both targeted traffic and local and national/international search traffic. I'm a big believer now of brand domains, and developing links to those sites with links that reflect, brand mentions, KW mentions for correlation, social mentions and inbound related marketing content development to strengthen the domain's total overall market presence.

Another reason to keep the domain 'brand related' is about the UI/UX for recalling it. If it's some crazy long typed domain name with KW's and brand mentions, it becomes tedious to remember and type out Using the brand name as the focus and URL will keep it straight to the point for the user and marketing behind it. NOTE: Make sure to research out the social profiles of any URL you are looking at, to build up around as you want to ensure you can lock them all up prior to purchasing anything

Either way, your best bet with a completely new domain will be to focus on developing out a local SEO strategy and supporting that with targeted content and social media profiles. This way, when you are ready to gain and target a larger audience (national?), you have the backbone profile on the site to reinforce the effort.

Hope some of that helps

[iugac]

I agree with Erwan. There is of course another option which I think would get you the most results and that would be combining the brand with your keywords. I don't know if that is a possibility, but you could try to figure something out. If the company is focused on makeup let's say, then what if the brand was called "themakeupcompany", "perfect makeup".. you get the idea. Again, I do not know about your possibilities and my examples were written in about 2 seconds so I don't expect them to work, I just used them to make my point.

[johnny122]

1/ Short term answer : EMD.

2/ Long term answer : forenamesurname.com

I vote for 1/ if :

• You have a limited budget / a limited time to rank.

• Your client is not able to help you to produce great content.

I vote for 2/ if your client is patient and willing to build his brand.

According to MOZ ranking factors, EMS is 7 or 8% advantage and I read that partial EMD is useless.

IMO, weddingmakeupbyforename.com is too long anyway.

[Paul-Paquin-Golden-Financial]

Just don't make it exact match. I like the name you picked because it includes your keywords and the brand name.  The only suggestion I want to make is that I would go more general.  Include just your primary keyword which is "wedding.  What about weddingneeds.com.  I would lose the word makeup.  Do you specialize more in weddings or makeup? Just  include that primary keyword and that will create a great base for your clients Seo needs.

[danieldunn10]

Thanks for your reply thats helpful.

Could a compromise be:

makeupbyforename.com

Do you think that helps a bit with Google but also not too bad for the users trying to find a site?

Thank you

[iugac]

Hi,

it really does make a difference if you have keywords in the domain name. The problem, however, is not that simple. You have to take into account the users that need the website. How easy is it for them to access the page? You do not want to only stuff keywords in your domain name and let the users satisfaction and ease of access apart. This would not be a good marketing decision.

That being said, my advice would be to try to find out the best way to please the users and Google as well. Per general, I would think about the users more, since Google is trying to update its algorithm in order to please the users.

Cristian