Too late to change domain name?

[keyon]

I've been developing a new website for the last year, and now I'm starting to wonder if should have used a better domain name - that is, a domain that includes one of the specific keywords I'm targeting. I own a few of the keyword-specific domains I'm talking about, but when I set up the site last year I decided to go with a shorter, more catchy-sounding domain that might be easier for people to remember.

I guess my question is this: does anyone think the value of a keyword-specific domain name is worth me starting over? My current site isn't heavily indexed yet, and most of my traffic is coming in via article submissions and forums.

It would be some work to go out and edit all my incoming links, but I'd be willing to do it if the more keyword-specific domain name would serve me better in the long run.

[davebarnes]

You need to be more specific.

[keyon]

Okay, Dave....let me put it another way....

All things being equal, which has more potential to drive traffic - a domain name that includes a targeted keyword - or a domain name that is more unique and easier for customers tro remember?

thanks

[hostchecker]

Well buy the other domain and use it also?

[incrediblehelp]

Either or really. The domain should be chosen for branding purposes, not for the SE, but hey if it makes sense to have the keywords in the URL then go ahead. But if you company name doesnt have the keyword in it then why confuse your end buyers?

[bhartzer]

Both have a potential to drive traffic. But, what you really probably should go after is the "category killer" domain name. If your topic is "web hosting" then webhosting.com would be the ideal keyword: it's the "category killer".

[SEO]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Either or really. The domain should be chosen for branding purposes, not for the SE, but hey if it makes sense to have the keywords in the URL then go ahead. But if you company name doesnt have the keyword in it then why confuse your end buyers?

I agree with incrediblehelp.
However... I have quite a few domain names that I am not trying to brand and are there purely to attract S/E traffic via keyword related searches.

It can take years to build brand recognition for your domain.

[edhan]

Yes I do agree with incrediblehelp. But then if your company has a specific niche, you can use it as your domain name example: toyplane.com (if your company is dealing with toy plane). As for the existing domain name, you can redirect using 301 to this new domain name.

It is never too late for online business.

[confettiguru]

Originally Posted by bhartzer

Both have a potential to drive traffic. But, what you really probably should go after is the "category killer" domain name. If your topic is "web hosting" then webhosting.com would be the ideal keyword: it's the "category killer".

My problem is similar. I have an ecommerce site at www.chicoparty.com. I've owned the domain name for more than 10 years. What I sell is Confetti in unique shapes. I also own the domain name www.partyconfetti.com which is also more than 10 years old. Right now partyconfetti forwards to chicoparty.

ChicoParty has good Search Position. Should I create landing pages for www.partyconfetti.com under a seperate hosting account to try to become a category killer? If not should I leave it as a forward? Should I change my main domain...I fear losing my search position.?

Any help would be very much appreciated

[edhan]

Originally Posted by confettiguru

My problem is similar. I have an ecommerce site at www.chicoparty.com. I've owned the domain name for more than 10 years. What I sell is Confetti in unique shapes. I also own the domain name www.partyconfetti.com which is also more than 10 years old. Right now partyconfetti forwards to chicoparty.

ChicoParty has good Search Position. Should I create landing pages for www.partyconfetti.com under a seperate hosting account to try to become a category killer? If not should I leave it as a forward? Should I change my main domain...I fear losing my search position.?

Any help would be very much appreciated

Since the current redirect is doing well for ChicoParty with search position, then you should leave it alone. For me, I will create another new domain name for the landing page instead.

[confettiguru]

Edhan...
I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean leave partyconfetti as a redirect to chicoparty and create landing pages that are specific...like trainconfetti.com....?

Or do you mean leave chicoparty as is and make partyconfetti a landing page

[cbosleeds]

Personally, once the domain name is bought and established, I'd leave it out of my consideration of the SEO work that needs doing from then on. You can get a some mileage out of naming logically web pages and folders, and that would be my next option - e.g. confetti_shapes.html confetti_for_weddings.html confetti_for_parties.html - this gives you a lot of flexibility and leverage for well-tagetted pages.

[SEO]

Originally Posted by confettiguru

Edhan...
I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean leave partyconfetti as a redirect to chicoparty and create landing pages that are specific...like trainconfetti.com....?

Or do you mean leave chicoparty as is and make partyconfetti a landing page

If it's not broken... Don't fix it.

Let sleeping dogs lie... Register a "category killer" or two and dominate Google for your chosen search terms.
You did it once (ChicoParty)... you can do it again.

How hard is it going to be to rank for "maple leaves confetti" with the domain "mapleleavesconfetti.com" or "sweet sixteen confetti" with "sweetsixteenconfetti.com" or even "sweet-sixteen-confetti.com"?

Visit Keyword research service for search engine placement, Google keyword tracking tools, web site promotion software find out what keywords people are typing into the search engines to find your products, register your domains, build yourself some very niche specific sites, get some decent keyword specific backlinks and watch your sales soar.

Easy peasy...

Why not build 2 or 3 more sites using domain names like confetti-guru.com, party-confetti.com or buypartyconfettihere.com and hold 3 or 4 spots for "confetti" or "party confetti"? Just make sure each site has unique text and can stand alone as a unique site. You could become the 7-11 confetti man with a store on every corner of the internet.

[edhan]

Originally Posted by confettiguru

Edhan...
I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean leave partyconfetti as a redirect to chicoparty and create landing pages that are specific...like trainconfetti.com....?

Or do you mean leave chicoparty as is and make partyconfetti a landing page

What I meant was leaving your existing domains alone.

Then create a new domain name for the landing page. That way, you will not lose out the existing search traffic.

[keyon]

Originally Posted by SEO

Why not build 2 or 3 more sites using domain names like confetti-guru.com, party-confetti.com or buypartyconfettihere.com

I've asked this multiple-sites question a lot....and have gotten conflicting answers. Some say you're better off to invest what time you have (which is finite for everyone) into one domain - which supposedly adds a bit synergy to your efforts because all your work is going into one site. I guess the idea being that one website with 100 pages is better than 100 websites with one page each.

Yet, I still hear some people say, like in this thread, to go ahead with the multiple-site strategy.

Is one approach any better than the other?

[SEO]

Originally Posted by keyon

I've asked this multiple-sites question a lot....and have gotten conflicting answers. Some say you're better off to invest what time you have (which is finite for everyone) into one domain - which supposedly adds a bit synergy to your efforts because all your work is going into one site. I guess the idea being that one website with 100 pages is better than 100 websites with one page each.

Yet, I still hear some people say, like in this thread, to go ahead with the multiple-site strategy.

Is one approach any better than the other?

keyon,
Not knowing more facts about your circumstances makes it difficult to make an accurate assessment however, I will take some key points from your original thread opening post and condense it down to just the important factors that I can see in your particular situation:

Originally Posted by keyon

I've been developing a new website for the last year, and now I'm starting to wonder if should have used a better domain name, most of my traffic is coming in via article submissions and forums.

If you are in a profitable niche... It is always better to completely dominate that niche rather than just hold one of the top 3 positions. When you hold one of the top 3 positions for a chosen keyword, you still have strong competition. When you dominate Google for your chosen keywords you have cornered the market. You have what is called a 'Monopoly':
Monopoly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Your first step...

Rank in the top 3 for your target keyword...

Then think about monopolizing the market!

12 months is a lot of time invested for a return of half a dozen visitors per month via article submissions and links in forums.
You need to get your site ranking.

A good strategy to follow is.
1. get your site ranking
2. get your site converting
3. repeat steps 1 + 2

Note: It is possible that you are targeting too broad a market with very competitive competition for your targeted keyword. You need to really do your homework and set achievable goals.

[keyon]

Originally Posted by SEO

It is always better to completely dominate that niche rather than just hold one of the top 3 positions.

Wow...are you saying that an individual who dominates a niche is a person who owns all three websites that show up in positions 1-3 in Google search results? I guess I'm not sure what the definition of "dominate" includes exactly.

[full house]

I think its still possible just use proper 301 redirect.