Should I use an Exact Match Domain or a Brand Domain for a new website that I'm about to build?

[Beklink]

Yes, it is a bit, isn't it.....

I remember reading that a domain shouldn't be any longer than 16 letters long... maybe that's true.

I mean, if you are targeting long-tail KWs for your blog posts, Google will hide your site title/domain if its too long. How many characters would your branded domain be?

 

[homeriscool]

I mean, if you are targeting long-tail KWs for your blog posts, Google will hide your site title/domain if its too long. How many characters would your branded domain be?

Branded domain would be 11 characters (2 words)

 

[SEO Sparton]

I would go with the branded domain for all long term projects.

Even though an exact match domain has relevance, this does not mean that it will be easy to rank.

 

[elysiariddle]

I’ve run both. EMDs can give you a nice head start when the keyword is very specific, but I’ve seen brand domains age much better once you start expanding into related topics, products, and building links beyond the original keyword.

 

[homeriscool]

I’ve run both. EMDs can give you a nice head start when the keyword is very specific, but I’ve seen brand domains age much better once you start expanding into related topics, products, and building links beyond the original keyword.

This is great feedback - thanks

 

[sisabov]

Hi all, I just want to know your thoughts about building a new niche website on an exact-match domain versus building on a branded domain?

The exact match domain has 3 keywords in it.

The brand domain has 2 words.

Do you think the exact-match domain will make SEO easier?

Or do you think people prefer branded domains?

imo for the longer run a branded website will do better than the exact match one. though an exact match site may look more relevant it does not mean that ranking becomes easy for them as well. a branded website can be easily exppanded in different fields as well.

 

[gregstereo]

I’d go with the branded domain. An exact-match domain can give some initial relevance, but it doesn’t make SEO automatically easier. A brandable domain gives you more flexibility to expand the site.

 

[homeriscool]

Brand. Three keywords is where it starts to hurt.

Two-word EMDs still read like normal businesses. Something like citycarpets.com is fine, nobody thinks twice. Three keywords in a row start sounding like a doorway page, and that's a problem with people before it's a problem with Google.

The ranking edge mostly went years ago anyway. Google ran an update aimed at low quality exact match domains and whatever survived is too small to decide anything.

What actually costs you is later. A brand lets you expand into whatever you add next year. An EMD locks you into the three words you picked at the start, and if you ever sell the site, the brand is worth more.

Links too. People link to names. Nobody's sending a mate a link to bestcheapemergencyplumbers.com without a small apology attached.

Keywords still work in titles and content. That's where to put them.

To quote your example of a good or bad exact match domain.....

How would this look to you - newyorkcitycarpets.com

or kentuckykitcheninstallations.com

 

[sharifawan]

To quote your example of a good or bad exact match domain.....

How would this look to you - newyorkcitycarpets.com

or kentuckykitcheninstallations.com

Both of those are fine, and honestly they're not the case I was warning about.

Place plus service is how actual businesses get named. Kentucky Kitchen Installations sounds like a company someone registered in 1998. Nobody reads that and thinks doorway page.

What trips is stacking modifiers instead of a place. bestcheapkitcheninstallers.com is the same length and lands completely differently, because best and cheap aren't part of a name, they're search terms someone bolted on.

So it's less about word count and more about whether those words would go on a van. Place, name and service all pass. Superlatives don't.

Two small things. Newyorkcitycarpets is a bit of an awkward read, since city is doing double duty and you have to work out if it's New York City Carpets or New York City-Carpets. Say it out loud before you commit to it.

And with a place in the domain, what bites is later. Kentucky Kitchen Installations is a great name right up until you're taking work in Ohio.

 

[SEOForger]

Hi all, I just want to know your thoughts about building a new niche website on an exact-match domain versus building on a branded domain?

The exact match domain has 3 keywords in it.

The brand domain has 2 words.

Do you think the exact-match domain will make SEO easier?

Or do you think people prefer branded domains?

I feel one should lean toward the branded domain. An exact-match domain can help with relevance and user expectations, but it doesn’t automatically make ranking easier. Google relies much more on content quality, topical authority, links, and overall site trust.

 

[homeriscool]

Both of those are fine, and honestly they're not the case I was warning about.

Place plus service is how actual businesses get named. Kentucky Kitchen Installations sounds like a company someone registered in 1998. Nobody reads that and thinks doorway page.

What trips is stacking modifiers instead of a place. bestcheapkitcheninstallers.com is the same length and lands completely differently, because best and cheap aren't part of a name, they're search terms someone bolted on.

So it's less about word count and more about whether those words would go on a van. Place, name and service all pass. Superlatives don't.

Two small things. Newyorkcitycarpets is a bit of an awkward read, since city is doing double duty and you have to work out if it's New York City Carpets or New York City-Carpets. Say it out loud before you commit to it.

And with a place in the domain, what bites is later. Kentucky Kitchen Installations is a great name right up until you're taking work in Ohio.

Ok, it seems you have the same perspective as me with the EMD domains then.....

Basically, they are ok if they look and sound like a brand name instead of a spammy EMD (which do look crap)

I have an EMD which has an easy keyword difficulty and decent search volume.

And sounds brandable.

Only negative is the length.... (25 characters )

Example: fridgefreezerrepairs.com

(Thats a bit shorter than mine) but its a good comparison to what I have.....

 

[BlackShield]

Hi all, I just want to know your thoughts about building a new niche website on an exact-match domain versus building on a branded domain?

The exact match domain has 3 keywords in it.

The brand domain has 2 words.

Do you think the exact-match domain will make SEO easier?

Or do you think people prefer branded domains?

I'd personally choose the brand domain unless the EMD is a perfect, natural fit for the business. Google does consider words in a domain, but specifically has a system to prevent EMDs from getting too much ranking credit.
For a long-term project, I'd rather build a memorable brand and let the content, relevance, links and authority do the SEO work

 

[homeriscool]

I'd personally choose the brand domain unless the EMD is a perfect, natural fit for the business. Google does consider words in a domain, but specifically has a system to prevent EMDs from getting too much ranking credit.
For a long-term project, I'd rather build a memorable brand and let the content, relevance, links and authority do the SEO work

After some careful pondering........ I have decided to buy a two word exact match domain which is brandable.

The domain has cost me a chunk of money, but I'm pretty sure that will pay for itself many times over.

 

[Vi_Prince]

I'd probably choose the brand domain if the goal is to build something long term. An EMD can make the topic obvious, but a brand name gives you more room to expand into other keywords later.

 

[homeriscool]

I'd probably choose the brand domain if the goal is to build something long term. An EMD can make the topic obvious, but a brand name gives you more room to expand into other keywords later.

I ended up buying a brandable, 2 word domain that was for sale.

Its a niche website so buying a brandable EMD seemed like the best option.....

 

[LufySeoBacklinks]

Hi all, I just want to know your thoughts about building a new niche website on an exact-match domain versus building on a branded domain?

The exact match domain has 3 keywords in it.

The brand domain has 2 words.

Do you think the exact-match domain will make SEO easier?

Or do you think people prefer branded domains?

the branded domain if you’re planning to build the site for the long term.

Having 3 exact-match keywords in the domain can give you some relevance, but it doesn’t automatically make SEO easier or guarantee higher rankings. Google relies much more on content quality, topical authority, backlinks, user experience, and overall site trust.

A branded domain is usually more memorable, easier to build into a recognizable business, and gives you more flexibility if you expand the niche later.

If the exact-match domain is short, natural, and genuinely brandable, it can still be a good choice. But I wouldn’t choose it just for the SEO advantage.

My vote: branded domain for long-term growth; exact-match domain only if it also sounds natural and trustworthy.

 

[homeriscool]

Having 3 exact-match keywords in the domain can give you some relevance, but it doesn’t automatically make SEO easier or guarantee higher rankings. Google relies much more on content quality, topical authority, backlinks, user experience, and overall site trust.

A branded domain is usually more memorable, easier to build into a recognizable business, and gives you more flexibility if you expand the niche later.

If the exact-match domain is short, natural, and genuinely brandable, it can still be a good choice. But I wouldn’t choose it just for the SEO advantage.

My vote: branded domain for long-term growth; exact-match domain only if it also sounds natural and trustworthy.

Thanks!

I decided to go with a brandable EMD domain.

I had to buy it from someone, but I think it solves both issues.

A memorable 2 word exact match domain that is brandable.

 

[Inamqadir]

Best choice is branded domain. An exact match domain might help with relevance, but it doesn’t make SEO automatically easier.

A strong brand, good content and topical authority matter much more in the long run.

 

[Subtle_Signal]

Personally, I’d go with the branded domain. Having the keywords in the domain might help a little with relevance, but I wouldn’t expect it to make SEO significantly easier.

 

[picapiedra18]

Why not develop the 2 domains and make a case study to see which will work better in the long run? You have an interesting case here!