The importance of the domain name and your web hosting cannot be undermined when you are blogging. If using search engine optimization is important when you write articles and do link building – then your web hosting and domain name play an equally important role.
Domain Name
While choosing your domain name it is advised that you use keywords that you are targeting for in your URL. This will help you get an edge in search engine results. Moreover, it is always better if your domain name is short and catchy. A long domain name can cause your visitor to forget it soon. Another important point regarding domain names is the extension – always try and get a .com domain name. Avoid even .net as much as possible; this is because in the sub-conscious mind of the reader your domain name is memorized as .com. Moreover, it is always easy for a person to hit ctrl+enter after typing the domain name. This is why a .COM is always preferred.
A Note about hyphens
This is a little side note regarding the usage of hyphens in your domain name. As far as SEO is concerned, using hyphens will help boost the Search engine optimization aspect of your blog’s link. But using hyphens is generally avoided by many people- mainly because it is difficult to remember and a visitor tends to forget the hyphen while typing. But whenever you are opting for a longer domain name then it is always better that you use hyphens.
Web Hosts
Web hosts play an important role in the SEO of your blog and the rating of your blog in the eyes of the Google spider. The main issue regarding the web hosts is that some web hosts although allow WordPress software – they are not very compatible and leave a lot of rough edges which can make the Google spider unhappy. So make sure your web hosts are optimized for blogging software like WordPress.
Also ensure that they have a quick customer service as most web hosts do not give a helpline number. Suppose your web hosts server goes down for a couple of days, then for these days Google will find the message “Site Not Found”. This will damage your link value and Google can blacklist it. It has happened to many before – so ensure that a quick customer care rep from the web host can fix your issues.
I would suggest you to go for HostGator as it is fully compatible with WordPress and their customer service is amazing as they are providing 24X7 Live Chat facility and also can use their Toll Free helpline number to get your problems fixed.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Great points on Domains and Hosting Anil! These are the first steps when starting a web business.
I agree with your points on domains and hyphens.
Also, regarding HostGator, I have read many reviews and recommendations by bloggers online.
Kindest,
Nabeel
In regards to hyphens, I would say first try to get a domain name without it, and as a last resort then you can get the domain with the hyphen, I find that the domain name without the hyphen will often outrank its counterpart. That has just been my experience though.
Till then,
Jean
Hey Anil
You wrote about some of my favorite topics today. I agree that try and pick your domain name to match up with your keyword niche. The closer the match, it will give you that edge that may mean the difference between #1 or #5. Since #1 gets approximately 42% of the clicks, where do you want to be?
I have a hyphen in this domain name about-internetmarketing.com and it doesn’t hurt me in the least.
As far as hosting, I have used Hostgator for years and they have an excellent customer service. The big thing for me is uptime of my websites. I have virtually had zero problems in the 3 plus years other than a couple of very minor things, but was quickly fixed.
If any of your readers are looking for hosting, then click on Anil’s link above. You will not go wrong. They are really that good.
Cheers and make it a great day everyone
I don’t think so. Although if the domain had a lot of previous content and authority then maybe yes with a 301 redirect.
Great tips, Marko! The keyword suggestion is probably the most useful, imo. Having keywords on your pages help, but it’s valuable to have keywords in your actual domain name as well.
I completely agree with all of those tips. And you make a very good point. Even if something is optimized for SEO and Google, it may not necessarily be optimized for the user. And your site needs to have both.
Do you use HostGator?
A website’s domain name plays an important role in terms of optimization for search engines. Most of the time, a website’s domain name can help it to go up high in search engines page rankings because of the keywords.
@ SEO link vine and Anil:
The importance of using keywords in a domain name are debatable. I have heard rumblings that the effect on Google rankings is not nearly as significant as it used to be and almost negligible. Additionally, some experts suggest that it is more important to create a name that has branding value as opposed to a keyword-laden domain name. I tend to agree with this. If you are in it for the long haul, it is advisable to go with a name that has brand potential. In the long run the benefits of this branding will be invaluable.
–Alden
I own a small business marketing firm in Pittsburgh and we help our clients get online exposure mainly with video. However we could use some help when comes to facebook advertising.
Please feel free to share any ways that you have to monetize facebook. Feel free to call me direct at 724-263-8812