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

homeriscool

homeriscool

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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?
 
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i still prefer exact match domains
unless it's something extremely long, like bestmechanicalengineersinmassachusetts.com, xD
 
I would choose a brandable domain for a long-term project. An exact-match domain can make the niche clearer, but it won’t give you a significant SEO advantage by itself. If the two-word brand is relevant and memorable, I’d go for it.
 
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.
 
homeriscool said:
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?
Click to expand...
imo i would choose the branded domain name for a more permanent project. EMD could make it clear about the theme but i do not think that having those keywords in the domaiin will make it easy for u to rank. have u bought both the domains yet?
 
alarichaye said:
imo i would choose the branded domain name for a more permanent project. EMD could make it clear about the theme but i do not think that having those keywords in the domaiin will make it easy for u to rank. have u bought both the domains yet?
Click to expand...
Yes I have registered the EMD and the brand domain names I'm just trying to decide which one to use now. Based on these comments so far, it looks like the branded domain is the winner.
 
seoworld983 said:
EMD is much better, go with it. I am using same techniques for all my niche sites.
Click to expand...
That's good to hear that you're doing well with your niche sites......do you find they perfom better in search engines?
 
Brand domain is usually better for long-term growth. Exact match can work too, but I prefer a brand name that gives more flexibility as the website grows.
 
Venusaur said:
i still prefer exact match domains
unless it's something extremely long, like bestmechanicalengineersinmassachusetts.com, xD
Click to expand...
Yeah, those domains are ugly as hell.

My EMD is 25 letters, so that's quite long isn't it
 
I prefer an exact match domain because as a new site, it will help you with brand visibility and rankings if you develop the site correctly
 
On small niche site definitely exact match.

Ideally you should have primary hub with brand name.
Supported by multiple exact matches.
 
EMD will restrict you to the same niche. If that's your aim, to keep it a niche blog, EMD is okay, but a brand name will help you pivot/expand later.
 
NirvanaWolf said:
EMD will restrict you to the same niche. If that's your aim, to keep it a niche blog, EMD is okay, but a brand name will help you pivot/expand later.
Click to expand...

My aim is a niche.....and I have a really good 3 word EMD......but I also have a good 3 word brand domain I can use too.

The EMD probably isn't good for word of mouth referrals though.

But its good for seo traffic.

This is my dilemma....
 
Easier to pivot : you can add related products/services without the domain feeling overly keyword-focused.
 
homeriscool said:
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?
Click to expand...
I will go for exact match domain unless it's too long and not brandable. Remember any name/words can be turned into a brand name.
 
exact match domains lost most of their ranking advantage years ago and a three keyword EMD can actually look spammy to Google now.
 
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