Choosing a domain name

When choosing the domain name for your website it can help your search engine ranking if you include keywords related to what you do in the name.

For example if you sell cars the ultimate domain name would be:

cars.com or cars.com.au

However at this point in time most domain names that contain single dictionary words, if not all, are already taken or are for sale at exorbitant prices.

It often makes sense to use your business name plus a keyword in your domain name i.e if your business name is Acme you could use:

acmecars.com or acemcars.com.au

This way you push your business name plus the product or service you deal with. Google will see the word cars and give you a ranking boost because you have used the keyword in your all important domain name.

Another strategy is to use your location keyword plus your service in your domain name. For example if you are located in Melbourne and want your website to appear for people searching for cars in Melbourne you could use:

carsmelbourne.com or melbournecars.com (even if your business name is Acme)

Additional keyword rich domain names

Website owners inevitably will consider registering more than one domain name to cover a range of rich keywords.

i.e.

acmecars.com and carsmelbourne.com and carsaustralia.com etc.

It is important to understand that registering the domain name alone will not give you any Google ranking benefits unless you also build a website to go along with the new domain name/s.

Domain name speculators (who used to known as cybersquatters) will also try and sell keyword rich domain names to existing website owners. The domain name speculator will often contact all businesses in a specific area and try to have them out bid each other for a keyword rich domain name. Selling keyword rich domain names can be a lucrative business for the "domain name entrepreneur".

Five reasons why people register additional keyword rich domain names

1. Buy a keyword rich domain and build a feeder website. The website should have enough unique content to be engaging and so that Google rates it as a valid website. Then fill this website with links that drive traffic to your main website/s. These new incoming links can also increase the SEO score of your main website.

2. Buy a keyword rich domain and build a website to make money from advertising. The website should have enough unique content to be engaging so that search engines rate it as a valid website.

3. Buy a keyword rich domain name to prevent your competitors from buying it and taking traffic away from you. (Build a monopoly domain portfolio)

4. Buy a keyword rich domain name for any of the above reasons and keep it for re-sale/auction later or add it to your business' asset list.

5. Buy a keyword rich domain name to replace your existing website.

So should I or shouldn't I buy more domain names?

There are now so many domain name extensions that buying all keyword rich variations can become an expensive proposition. i.e. cars.info, cars.world, cars.sales, cars.club

(The .com variety of domain names, and perhaps the com.au if you are in Australia, still hold the greatest value) 

The best way to increase traffic to your main website is to continually build upon it by adding new pages and blog posts with fresh, relevant and engaging content. However savvy internet entrepreneurs can register and use keyword rich domain names for a number of purposes which can be profitable.

Related:

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