changing domain name

In your experience, what impact does changing one's domain name have on SEO? My domain name is currently an exact domain match, but i think the anonymity of that domain is hurting business. at the same time, my seo is great, so i don't know what to do. any help appreciated!

OP you need to search in Google or BHW about shifting old sites from old domain to new domain without loosing traffic and ranking.

what do you mean by "anonymity of that domain"?

randybishop said:

what do you mean by "anonymity of that domain"?

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it's basically a domain like "nycmattresses.com". the issue is that my brand's name doesn't match the domain name, so it's a little weird to prospective clients, especially since I'm expanding into LA.

OP, assess the risk and consider your goals. You might want to check this: https://www.hobo-web.co.uk/how-to-change-domain-names-keep-your-rankings-in-google/

Then read more about site migration.

Redirect each page of the existing domains with an equal matching page in your new domain. This way you should pass the benefit of power of your old site to new site and help in rankings. Search in google how to do it and you will get tons of guides on this.

lindamarry said:

Search this on Google

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Thanks for the help everyone. It's a tough internal debate, but this has given me some useful food for thought.

bubba_babba said:

In your experience, what impact does changing one's domain name have on SEO? My domain name is currently an exact domain match, but i think the anonymity of that domain is hurting business. at the same time, my seo is great, so i don't know what to do. any help appreciated!

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no need to change you domain, just change the title and do the seo again for the KW you want. If your site is good then the KW will increase faster

Make some more content with your keyword and do it seo again

Would be nice to have everything under one "hood", but make sure you know what you are doing before you proceed.

I think that OP is afraid of losing the exact-match leverage on the domain that he has, becouse of the moving.
So I will answer on that... (Insted of showing articles and links of 301 redirects)

bubba_babba said:

In your experience, what impact does changing one's domain name have on SEO? My domain name is currently an exact domain match, but i think the anonymity of that domain is hurting business. at the same time, my seo is great, so i don't know what to do. any help appreciated!

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1. If you consider that move with your customer mind, Obviously it would be benefical. A brand is always better in real eyes than an exact match domain name.

2. In SEO aspect, I think that wont cause any problem to move.
The key is, that you had the EMD for ages, you built up a site on that, long ago, backlinked etc...
So google will knows what you are doing.

And you wont waste your leverage, because the EMD will still be yours (just keep the domain, and 301s, no matter what), and no one could get it.

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The problem is, what I see ridiculously often, is when someone get his hands on an EMD, and redirects it for his branded website. In that case, the EMD is totally wasted. No seo factor, no real searches pointed to his branded site...

You are trying to do the opposite, that souldnt be a problem.
(Sometimes webmasters and business owners overthink the brand issue, and maybe the domain is hurting just YOUR eye)
For example cheapflights.com has no problem that he is an EMD instead of some brand.

So If you checked, and asked your real costumers and visitors on a poll or something, that your domain name is a real turn-back point... than you should make the move. Just use the google change of address tool too.
Otherwise I wouldnt bother myself, and I would stick to the original domain. Its clearer in googles eye...