In a recent episode of the ‘Search Off The Record’ Podcast, Google’s Search Relations Team, composed of John Mueller, Gary Illyes, and Martin Splitt, weighed in on a topic often discussed among website owners and SEO practitioners: the impact of keywords in domain names on search engine rankings.
The Keyword Controversy
The discussion was initiated with Mueller asking, “Moving on to domain names, should I put keywords in my domain name, or should I pick a brand?” Illyes responded with a chuckle, indicating that the answer wasn’t simple.
“From Google’s perspective or Search perspective… Well, I can’t say if it’s a Search perspective. But from Google’s and Steve’s perspectives, I don’t think it matters,” Illyes stated.
The User’s Perspective
Illyes elaborated that while the presence of keywords may not necessarily impact search engine rankings, it could influence user behavior.
“For example, if I want to take a passport photo, I have the weird sites that will target any kind of photo. And then you have passportphoto.com. And I’m more likely to click on passportphotos.com for some reason as a user,” Illyes explained.
The Role Of Dashes & Exact Match Domains
When Splitt questioned whether the presence of dashes in a domain name or exact match domains would make a difference, Illyes responded:
“Anything that’s in the URL can be technically manipulated by the site owner. So we probably don’t want to put that much weight on that kind of input. Which means that in ranking, it might not help as much as people think it does.”
In other words, from a search engine perspective, whether a dash is present in the domain name doesn’t matter.
However, Illyes added that from a user experience perspective, “having the domain name with a dash is probably more readable.”
Looking Beyond Keywords: The Branding Perspective
As the conversation steered towards the long-term implications of choosing domain names, Mueller advised focusing more on the brand than the keywords.
He explained, “Your website will probably evolve over time. And you could be selling potato peelers now, but maybe you’re also selling avocado peelers in a year from now. And if your website is called bestpotatopeeler2023.com, starting to sell avocado peelers would be awkward.”
Ultimately, the Google Search Relations team suggests incorporating keywords in domain names should be a business decision rather than an SEO strategy.
As Mueller pointed out, “You should think long-term because changing your domain name is always a hassle. And you want to keep it for a long time if you can.”
For more on domain name selection best practices, check out the full episode of Google’s podcast.
Featured Image: Dmitry Strizhakov/Shutterstock
Do Keywords in Domain Names Impact Search Engine Rankings? Google Sheds Light
In a recent episode of the ‘Search Off The Record’ Podcast, Google’s Search Relations Team, composed of John Mueller, Gary Illyes, and Martin Splitt, discussed the controversy surrounding the impact of keywords in domain names on search engine rankings.
The Keyword Controversy
When asked about the choice between including keywords or picking a brand for domain names, Gary Illyes from Google’s Search Relations Team indicated that, from Google’s perspective, it doesn’t matter much.
The User’s Perspective
Although keywords in domain names may not directly affect rankings, they can play a role in influencing user behavior. Users may find domain names that include relevant keywords more appealing and trustworthy.
- Keywords in domain names can make them more clickable and increase the likelihood of attracting users.
The Role Of Dashes & Exact Match Domains
Regarding the presence of dashes in domain names or exact match domains, Illyes highlighted that search engines do not assign significant weight to these factors when ranking websites. However, from a user experience perspective, domain names with dashes may be more readable.
Looking Beyond Keywords: The Branding Perspective
John Mueller emphasized the importance of considering long-term implications when choosing domain names. Focusing on branding rather than keywords allows websites to adapt and expand their offerings without the limitations imposed by specific keywords in domain names.
Ultimately, the decision to incorporate keywords in domain names should be based on the long-term business strategy, rather than relying solely on SEO tactics.
For more insights on domain name selection best practices, listen to the full episode of Google’s podcast.
Looking for expert SEO services in Augusta? Visit SEO Augusta to learn more!
Featured Image: Dmitry Strizhakov/Shutterstock
