Has Google Killed GEO and KEYWORD Domains

[Aussiejob]

Concerned, Just had a end user keen as, wanting to buy my GEO domain that match their business exactly with keywords for mid $x,xxx.

UNTIL they got their SEO guys involved who told the buyer, GEO and Keyword domains no longer are any benefit to a sites ranking, it's now only about content. They told the buyer they would be wasting their money.

As a newby, I did not really know how to respond, so I asked the question on a SEO forum! And I got the same answer that Domains no longer have any benefit to page ranking, it's now all about content.
The SEO Forum also added that Brandable Domains are now only worth investing in.

Is there any truth in any of this.

Anybody help here, how do I respond to the buyer? to save this deal.

Appreciate your help.

 

[Kuffy]

Google isn't the only search engine, It's starting to become useless with its emphasis on selling advertisers products, and promoting its own ans associated sites. Its also censoring content for its own political ends. I'm starting to use DuckDuckGo for any real searches that I need to do.

Google is still massively important, but I wonder how long it will stay like that. I've always said that we should educate surfers about direct navigation, That would help the domain industry if more domainers persuaded surfers to use domain names for site access.

 

[MR Harrist]

yep! it's true! and it's old news! if I were you I will move on, and find another buyer!

 

[premkumar]

Not fully true, If your domain rank in 1st page or 2nd page for the keyword "Newyork roof repair" and your domain is Newyorkroofrepair.com . Then Google Bold your domain for matching and also people mentality is such that, they search for "Newyork roof repair" and your domain have same keyword, they click your domain more likely than others. In other word, GEO domain will have High CTR(click through rate) compare to others.

Also this benefit helps in SEM(adwords etc) because again bolding factor increase the CTR

 

[Mister Funsky]

Prior posts contained sound info...giggle has stiff competition coming from around the corner from more than one source. The seo 'experts' that gave the bad advice don't have a clue.

 

[bmugford]

There is far more value to a keyword or targeted GEO than just SEO.

For instance if you offer roofing services in Boston, BostonRoofing.com is a short credible domain that looks great on advertising. People are going to be more likely to do business with you than with a company who has some terrible domain.

Lots of SEO people have no idea about marketing and branding.
Having a good domain + good content is a formula for success.

Brad

 

[EmotiveDomains]

Not fully true, If your domain rank in 1st page or 2nd page for the keyword "Newyork roof repair" and your domain is Newyorkroofrepair.com . Then Google Bold your domain for matching and also people mentality is such that, they search for "Newyork roof repair" and your domain have same keyword, they click your domain more likely than others. In other word, GEO domain will have High CTR(click through rate) compare to others.

Also this benefit helps in SEM(adwords etc) because again bolding factor increase the CTR

Didn't Google stop putting matching keywords in the domain name in bold?

 

[Furquan]

You have asked it here, everyone will tell you the "SEO Guys" are fool, but the truth is right. Even Google just started targeting exact match keyword domain name.

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/choose-a-domain-name-maximum-seo/158951/

Also,
Someone here told you Google isn't be a single search engine, but ask him what percent of traffic other search engine send?

Company made a good move not going with exact match keyword domain aka EMD but you should try to tell them not every EMD domain get penalized, also try to tell them about advertising impact with EMD domain. I have seen great CTR rate when you try to advertise on Google search with exact match keyword domain name.

 

[premkumar]

Didn't Google stop putting matching keywords in the domain name in bold?

Yes, it is. They stop bolding headline but description still get bold for searched keywords. Still, the user behavior generally favor's URL with matching keywords, that make them feel, this link definitely have "what I am looking for"

 

[Furquan]

Yes, it is. They stop bolding headline but description still get bold for searched keywords. Still, the user behavior generally favor's URL with matching keywords, that make them feel, this link definitely have "what I am looking for"

And you get exact match keyword desorption on any domain.

 

[DomainVP]

UNTIL they got their SEO guys involved

Once the SEO or "Web Guy" gets involved the deal is dead...

There are a litany of reasons why this happens, seek previous "web guy" posts.

As a newby, I did not really know how to respond

Show them comparable sales, and let them know why other companies made the decision to acquire those similar names. Maybe even link them to a 'web guy' thread discussing how they get in the way of their employers.

Alas... in most cases the deal is dead once it hits "Web Guy" and you just move on.

 

[Smiles76]

Yes, it is. They stop bolding headline but description still get bold for searched keywords. Still, the user behavior generally favor's URL with matching keywords, that make them feel, this link definitely have "what I am looking for"

Actually, users pay very little attention to the actual domain name. They see the title tag and description and click on the link.

 

[SpareDomains]

A debate can be made how much of an advantage a matching domain name has. But what can't be debated is that it's an advantage. In 2017 any advantage you can grab over your competitors helps.

Example...

(InsertCityHere)TreeService.com

How many tree services exist in that city?
How many (InsertCityHere)TreeService.com exist=1

So if that domain can be purchased for $750-$2000 it's a steal.

You have 1 upfront payment and then your looking at $8 year renewal.
So if that domain sells for $800 and you intend to be in business for 10 years before you retire...

$800 Purchase Price
$80 10 Years Of Renewals
$880 divided by 10 years, drum roll please...
$88/Year=Chump Change

How much would it cost to have a tree removed if I called them?

Drive a work van down the road with bigjoesbesttreeservice.com or (InsertCityHere)TreeService.com

What's easier to remember?

Matching domain helps across the board in advertising/branding, PPC etc...

Any chance you can grab your dead on keyword domains that relate to your business or you can grab geo/service that relate to your business you grab them as you don't look at this as 1 year you look at purchase price divided by how many years you intend to be in business and watch that purchase price turn into chump change on a yearly basis.

Cheap insurance to keep them out of your competitors hands.

Feel free to pick what ya want from my rambling. Or if ya don't wish to debate with them simply...

We will move forward contacting other (service here) in (city here) since you are not interested. Thanks for letting us know. Take care.

 

[Donnyd]

Questions to ask them some basic questions.

1. What name are they going to advertise on TV with. Will it be something they can remember.

2. Do they want a shitty name to advertise on the radio with "Think Radio Test" If the can't remember it then they have just wasted $$$$$

3. The SEO guys still have to play to pay. The first 4 positions are reserved for Google adwords. If lucky you will get in position 5-8 for organic rankings. Plus it takes 3-6 months just to get ranked 1st page.

4. If the SEO guys are advertising on google they should know that a simple easy to spell domain will get a higher CTR than a shitty .net or domain that does not make sense.
Example CaliforniaPlumbers-com vs greatratesplumbing-net. It is all about TRUST. Which one would a customer click.

Many studies have been done on this and it is just common sense that people will always click the .com and more easy to understand domain. Plus google bolds the name.

5. Are they planning on advertising on any billboard. Hopefully the is short and easy to remember.

6. Bing still uses exact match worth at least 10% of searches.

You hold the cards not them. The life time value of one client is worth how much for the product? They should not be crying over the money. Put a time limit on the offer and tell them after it expires we are going to send out 10 certified letters to nearest competitors for a higher price if they don't accept.

 

[DnEbook]

S.E.O = Spam Everyone Online
~
The best seo is called Adsense

 

[Type-In]

Let's hope VR/AR glasses and voice assistant give people the option to go directly to a domain / website shortcutting the evil Google. They just want all the market and give some broad crumbles to some lucky people trying hard to get in 5th position... good luck competing with amazon, the big tubes and casino / cam sites...

 

[DnEbook]

Let's hope VR/AR glasses and voice assistant give people the option to go directly to a domain / website shortcutting the evil Google.

Let's just say I like my a d g l a s s e s

 

[1Darko]

Simple answer to them:

- exact geo+keyword is only one domain available (premium .com). Now is the time to get it and if not maybe lost forever to competition

- brandable with the same content as geo+keyword - countless combos available - therefor worth much less than geo+keyword

Customer will trust exact geo+keyword and therefor conversion rate will be significantly higher.

For a smart manager, ceo or director the choice should be easy.

Give them some example of developed geo+keyword domains, so they can have a taste what it looks like to be located on the best online spot .

Good luck!

 

[doc24]

GEO is not dead by any means

 

[Omar Negron]

Geo domains don't ONLY offer seo value. If it's a great geo domain that describes their business, then that's incredibly valuable right there.

SEO value isn't the only reason someone should buy a domain name. Actually, I wouldn't even think about the SEO aspect of it because 1 change in the google algorithm can crush your website rankings overnight.

Trust me, I know. lol.

-Omar

 

[Jamesshek9]

So is it wise to continue regging geo domains or just drop 'em?

 

[toughdomains]

i think the emphasis google places on keyword in domain has been reduced. used to have alot more weight...think it still does but less.

 

[EZPZYO]

Concerned, Just had a end user keen as, wanting to buy my GEO domain that match their business exactly with keywords for mid $x,xxx.

UNTIL they got their SEO guys involved who told the buyer, GEO and Keyword domains no longer are any benefit to a sites ranking, it's now only about content. They told the buyer they would be wasting their money.

As a newby, I did not really know how to respond, so I asked the question on a SEO forum! And I got the same answer that Domains no longer have any benefit to page ranking, it's now all about content.
The SEO Forum also added that Brandable Domains are now only worth investing in.

Is there any truth in any of this.

Anybody help here, how do I respond to the buyer? to save this deal.

Appreciate your help.

Search engines can't do this!

 

[Business Brands]

Google has not killed anything.

It seems they cannot get their business together.

They use abc.xyz for Alphabet, Inc
They use domains.google for domain name registrar.
They use gmail.com for email service.
They use google.com for search service.

They established domain name parking but could not manage it.

They should hire our firm to consult on domain name operations.

Kind regards,

DomainNameBroker.com

 

[ivey]

Bad SEO Kills, not Google.