I was browsing some other domain blogs this morning and saw Michael Berkens’ post of an article by a popular SEO (Search Engine Optimization) publisher, SEOmoz.

SEOmoz examined a number of variables tied to achieving high search engine rankings, and they found that an exact match domain name carried more weight in high search engine placement than any other contributing factor. It is important to note that this was an objective study by someone outside of the domain name industry (not a domain industry insider).

A correlation analysis was performed using accepted scientific methodology and based on a sample of 11,351 search results pages in both Google and Bing. The conclusion included such observations as  …

Just by itself, exact match is remarkably high in correlation to rankings. No other on-site/on-page factor we examined even came close.

This conclusion mirrors not only the long held view of many domain name investors, but also represents a certain inherent logic that has often angered those late in the game to the power of generic, exact match domain names.

Exact match domain names describe the business, service, product, or location that a buying consumer is interested in. This exact match appeal did not originate from within the domain industry, but has been in existence for many years in all areas of society and business. Public libraries provide category headings. Yellow page directories use pure search words. And any search performed in a major search engine is built upon the exact match keywords which describe your search query.

In domain industry circles, this has been commonly referred to as generic domains or pure keyword domains. One is simply more likely to find the information & products relevant to their search when the domain name is an exact match to their search query. This is why Hotels.com or Spain.info are so popular. They deliver what is described within the domain name itself.

Will exact match domains names continue to be regarded as highly relevant in search engine optimization and ranking? My forecast is a definite … yes. The domain name system, and entire internet structure, is built on the power of language and the meaning of words. There is no better replacement. It’s just that simple. And exact match domain names sit right in the middle of this time proven universal truth.

Incidentally, this blog is not named PremiumDomains.biz by accident.

Site Development domain name investment, generic domain names, seo

Edwin Hayward is a long time domain investor who specializes in the .co.uk (United Kingdom country code) domain space. He just published a nicely designed study to test the hypothesis that generic domain names perform better than non-generic domains in eliciting user click-throughs when viewing identical ads triggered from identical keywords.

He used Google Adwords which allowed for multiple comparisons between domain names via their click-through rates (CTR) & other measures. The domains used for the study were:

• ElectricBicycles.co.uk (matching generic)
• YourBikes.co.uk (somewhat generic)
• InAHurry.co.uk (non-generic)

Achieving a good click-through rate means that advertisers are successfully reaching consumers in search of their products and services. This is monumentally important.

Edwin wrote in his conclusions –>

A generic domain name outperforms a non-generic name by delivering a higher CTR and an even higher number of total clicks.

More specifically, he found that the generic domain received 45% more clicks than the somewhat generic competitor. Most impressive, the generic domain achieved 105% more clicks than the non-generic domain.

Experienced domainers have known this for a long time, but Edwin has now provided some statistical evidence to support this very important distinction. Generic domain names have always commanded a premium above the ocean of inferior domain alternatives, and for good reason.

I hope to see more compelling examples of Edwin’s work as the larger business community discovers the powerful advantage of generics in capturing consumer attention.

Fact: Targeted generic domain names outperform other domains in eliciting consumer interest and consumer behavior.

Internet Domains advertising, generic domain names