Keywords vs. Branding in a Domain...

[jasongreen]

I see a lot of people keyword stuffing domain names when making a new site.

For example.

PlasmaHDTVReviewSite.com

To me this just lacks any branding, has no punch and is not catchy. While the keywords will give an SE benefit it just is not worth it compared to the lack of bradning and memorability.

After all there's a reason why Google is called Google, eBay is called eBay, and Yahoo is called Yahoo.

Short and sharp is very good for branding.

The above keyword stuffed domains would be good for spam and MFA sites, but a real site you want to keep it short and sweet, including maybe just one keywords in the domain for the SE benefit.

Like HDTVHouse.com or PlasmaPlace.com or TVtank.com

I know lots of the domains will be taken but if you use a thesaurus and look hard enough you will find a good short domain containing one of your keywords that is also short, punchy and brandable.

I always manage too.

What do others think?

 

[Name Trader]

The advantages of having your keywords in your domain name are minimal. Good content and seo is far more important. Short and memorable names are way better than a 3-5 word domain names. Although it is still better to have the domain name related to it's content. If there is no relationship, then that's when the branding kicks in.

 

[Kate]

...
Short and memorable names are way better than a 3-5 word domain names.
...

Highlighted by me
Well put :tu:

 

[Redleg]

Keywords in domains was of much greater importance for SEO a few years ago then it is today, but even if the direct advantages today aren't the best then there's one good indirect advantage of having good keywords in domains today and that is getting your keywords in incoming links..
If someone links to your site using only your domain name as a link name/anchor text then the keywords in the domain name will add SEO value to that link.

But today the SE algorithms are getting better and better so the advantages of having keyword domains aren't that good anyway, so I do agree with the above posters that Short and memorable names are way better than a 3-5 word domain names.
But 1 and 2 (key)word domains can still be great...

 

[Albert]

I think 3 words domain is still fine as long as it is below 15 character. Branding is good but those only with well know ending like zone, town, city, site, net
eg: InvestmentZone, TravelNet...
Branding like TravelKiki won't be as good as keywords domains, just my opinion.