Keyword vs. Brandable Domains

[xxmlrxx]

Was just browsing around and found this new video from Google regarding the differences in keyword-filled domains and made-up brandable ones.

He mentions that they are considering adjusting the algorithm to not give so much wait to domains with keywords in them...

Check it out

 

[pcp]

From the comments:

"I've waited years to hear Matt Cutts say "Buy Viagra Online". Finally fulfilled."

Lol...

 

[alien51]

Brandable names, are good for people who have a solid business, with solid infrastructure in place to actually invest in marketing that will cost money. (In short: Brandable domains are for end-users)

Keyword domains, are good for lazy people (you can include myself, lol) whose primary business is to get people to click on their adsense and affiliate links. (In short: Keyword domains are for domainers)

Brandble domain owners may also use their money to bid on keyword domain squatters and use those domains to "redirect" the traffic to their brandable domains.

p.s.

Kinda funny that of all the thousands of possible examples he could use, he actually chose Buy Viagra Online as an example. Maybe it's something closest to his heart, in a more 'personal' level?

 

[DubDubDubDot]

Keyword domains, are good for lazy people (you can include myself, lol) whose primary business is to get people to click on their adsense and affiliate links. (In short: Keyword domains are for domainers)

So what happens when Google no longer gives special treatment to keyword domains?

 

[alien51]

It just means keyword domains with "low quality" content, will go down the order of search results. I have several keyword domains myself that rank on top, even trampling websites that have lots of content in them. So i've been trying my best the couple of days to improve the quality of my keyword domains before the algorithm bug bites me anytime soon.

 

[futuretaster]

"some people have complained we're giving too much weight to keyword domains"
that'll be the Google shareholders...

 

[dungdenvn]

if you have budget and want to make it big, brandable name is your choice, but if you just want some income, highly searches keyword is your choice I usually going for the keyword since i don't have time to build a big website

 

[steveteva]

For consumer trust: Brandable

Everything else (SEO, type in, nice name...): Keywords

But you can have a branded name with keyword mix like Pizza Hut or Burger King and pure brand like google, yahoo.

 

[DomainOutlaw]

I love keyword domains. But brandable ones can bring in so much money to end users...

 

[ecalc]

What do you think about WorldClockHQ.com vs. CLOCQ.com ? [time and date website] I'm strongly for the clocq.com - shorter, easier to remember and has some partial-keyword-core [if that's worth anything].

I'd favor a hand reg such as timeanddatecalculator.com, descriptive keywords arranged in logical order, GAKT global monthly exact match search volume [time and date calculator] = 2900.

For consumer trust: Brandable…

How did you reach this conclusion? Not saying you're right or wrong, I've just never seen a study concluding that people trust made-up names more than real word names. Most 'brand trust' surveys focus on established brands, making it tough to separate name influence from multi-million dollar product development and marketing outlays.

Year 2009 Trust & Recommendation Survey - source
Amazon.com
FedEx
Downy
Huggies
Tide
Tylenol
Toyota
WebMD
Pampers
UPS (United Parcel Service)

Would consumers trust Tylenol less if it was branded "Pain Pills"? Would consumers trust Amazon more if it was branded Amazn? Strip away product and marketing, give the consumer a search engine results page with a mix of unknown made-up and real word URLs, all other variables being equal, which will he/she pick? I'll bet on descriptive keyword names.

Car marketers have been refining their art for 100+ years but if their experience with names is typical, domainers will be debating what is a good name well into the future.

Chevrolet Nova ("doesn't go" in Spanish)
Daihatsu Charade
Dodge Swinger
AMC Gremlin
etc.