Do you have an exact-match domain?
Most webmasters have domain names which are exact-match keywords to reap the benefits of SEO. Because, till today, Google has been ranking exact-match domains higher in SERPs.
That’s why webmasters were always looking for their niche-keywords while registering domain names. Suppose, I’m a an SEO service provider and based in INDIA. So, my exact-match domain name will be like SEOServiceIndia.com. If somebody searches for a phrase like SEO-Service-India, then Google was giving higher rank to my website in SERPs.
But now, Google has changed the rule. The search giant will no more give higher ranks to low quality exact-match domains.
On Sep 28, 2012, the head of Google’s web-spam team Matt Cutts announced it officially via the below tweet…
Minor weather report: small upcoming Google algo change will reduce low-quality “exact-match” domains in search results.
— Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) September 28, 2012
Point to be noted here is – Google will only demote exact-match domains with low quality content. If the exact-match domain is authoritative, reputed and having quality contents, then it will continue ranking higher in Google SERPs, despite the algorithm change.
This EMD (Exact-match Domain) algorithm will affect 0.6% of English-US queries. Again, he also cleared that, this algo is not related to Panda and Penguin. That means, if some webmasters are loosing traffic due to exact-match domains, then there is no involvement of Panda or Penguin.
For your info – Panda algorithm is designed to fight against low-quality content, where as Penguin for web-spam. Checkout the below tweet…
New exact-match domain (EMD) algo affects 0.6% of English-US queries to a noticeable degree. Unrelated to Panda/Penguin.
— Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) September 28, 2012
INFERENCE: So, there is no SEO value left in exact-match domain names. No need to look for your favorite keywords or niche keywords while registering your domain names.
Actual fact: Google had actually added the exact-match domains ranking in its search algo years back. And it was giving higher SE rankings for the keywords also.
Due to the SEO advantage lots of webmasters purchased exact-match domains. Now Google has decided to dump the algo.
Now, the question is – If Google had to dump the exact-match domain, why it had included the algo in SE rankings years back? To waste the time, energy and money of webmasters or what?
About Nandita B.
My name is Nandita B, and I’m a SEO practitioner and part-time blogger. My sheer passion for sharing knowledge a webmaster needs drove me to create “A Webmaster’s Magazine” called SEOHour.com
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Well I think it is reasonable. It is not a bad idea to rank EMDs high in the search rankings however they need to have something valuable inside. That’s the key point.
The problem with ranking EMDs higher in SEs is – They (webmasters) were exploiting the Google algo, offering no or little quality content.
Yes i agree. Because most of the webmasters are just purchasing exact keyword matched domain to promote their site in SE’s even though they have little amount of content on their page.
Blogging Tips recently posted…Does E-business really work?
Google Sucks… All my Amazon MNS EMD sites were ranked on 1st and 2nd page for its main keyword but after update they are on 5th and 6th page…
sanyam jain recently posted…Everything About the Expired Domains
We do a very hard work on our EMD ( http://www.fogyokura.com ) since last december, when the site has started. Fogyokura means Diet, or weight loss in Hungarian. We almost post new, unic articles in this niche, the site got 5 PR from Google, but all this is worthless, the site just falled back from the 11th position to the 20th since the new intruduced algo got out.
So what shall we do now? Thanks for any idea!
Fogyokura recently posted…Alacsony fehérjetartalmú kenyér
It is really great thing, when exact-Domain match ranks in the fist of Google search. It brings more and more traffic, but the point is EMD should have rich and interesting content.
I do have an EMD that is still ranking 2nd for my main keywords in South Africa, with 0 backlinks. I better start creating some backlinks before I get hit,
I think this is what the update was all about, EMD’s ranking high in SERPs with little or no quality backlinks, and barely any SEO work done.
Its not the website on my comment luv.
Jason recently posted…Creative Writing Ideas
I think this is more of a push to get more adwords revenue. Big G is greedy, and I must say in my niche the first page is loaded with one page crap and pointless articles. It may come back somewhat, but I had a top 3 spot and 50 plus pages of GOOD content and links. Lot of work for a year and now tanked. Is not EMD either
Charles recently posted…Free Dominos Pizza Gift Cards
Well, this is already almost impossible to find any free, short domain names exact matched in english, so probably most of us are not really involved in this changes. The “only” positive aspect can be in case EMDs fall back, so we can get in their position. I was looking for a week to find any dogs related .com TLD domain, but finally had to be happy with http://www.dogsbybreed.net I hope, .net will bring success as well.
Gabe recently posted…Yorkshire Terrier
great article about a problem which has engulfed some of the webmasters…..however the issue at hand is with low quality EMD’s the high quality content still has its value and will continue to thrive…
For more people I do not think you can force the search engine to change,you are batter off doing what they like and reward.
Linda recently posted…How Do You Tell Someone You Love Them – 27 Creative Ways updated Mon Dec 3 2012 1:09 pm EST
Does using hyphen(-) in exact match domain name is beneficial for seo purposes? like seo-services.com
Ankit recently posted…Missing You SMS For Friends in Hindi
great article about a problem which has engulfed some of the webmasters…..however the issue at hand is with low quality EMD’s the high quality content still has its value and will continue to thrive…
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I was going register seo-company.com Then Goodaddy shows that domain already exist. and Suggested me seo-company.ca/org.biz etc etc. Then I decided to look who is registered that domain i search on Google with “seo company” and and observed that there is no seo-company.com or EMD like this in listings.
I was shocked and visit your blog for information. 
Better late than never.Google did very right thing by deciding to give less importance to domain name than to content