The importance of a good domain name
January 9th, 2008 by Dan
What do domain names have to do with SEO? I know this has been discussed a billion times already, but you can’t get enough of a good thing, can you? Search Engine Optimisation, especially with regards to a new site with few links, can be dramatically affected by good domain names.
A good domain can convey a lot of meaning. If a domain contains keywords, it helps to give linguistic cues to the content of the website itself. This can help not only in search engine ranking, but also with building brand recognition. Search engines rank sites with keyword domains highly. In certain cases, when the domain itself is the keyword, it can rapidly rise to the first page.
Sometimes domains do not contain keywords, but are memorable, unique brand names instead. For example, BoingBoing is an extremely popular website about technology applications. The name invokes an image of bouncing, perhaps on a spring or a pogo stick. Vaguely albeit subtly, it alludes to the human aspiration to build mechanical contraptions. Of course, the actual website relates to more than just mechanics. But the idea is served well.
A domain should ideally be pronouncable, short, and meaningful. Certain unpronouncable domains can be successful in their own right if they are short. CNN.com is one such example. Three letter domain names are extremely valuable due to their limited availability and the fact that they can be typed in rapidly.
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[...] Domain names are like a pointer to potential customers and these should be as appropriate as possible. Over and above the appropriateness of a domain name, it should also be easily remembered. [...]