Promote on Search Engines With a Long Domain

You can now get a domain name (yourname.com) with up to 67 characters. The most popular use for this is to list your top keywords in your domain name.

Search engines tend to list sites higher if the keyword people search for is listed in the domain name. If you type "shortcake" into a search engine, you will probably get sites like shortcake.com and Lilas-shortcakes.com.

Search engines have a slight preference for domain names where the words are set apart with dashes. It is easier for their computers to parse the name into recognizable words.

Many savvy entrepreneurs are hurrying to register longer domain names that include their most important search words.

I wasn't sure if the search words I would use to find my site would be the same as the words prospects would use. Fortunately, Goto.com has a free service that lets you type in your keyword. It comes back with all the related keywords Goto visitors have used including the number of times the term has been used. They keep moving this page, so surf through the Goto site in the area for people who want to advertise with them.

Turns out people search a lot for internet, marketing, and marketing plan. They also like website promotion. Of all the things I offer, press releases are their favorite search term.

My new longer domain is:

internet-marketing-plan-website-promotion-press-release-writer.com

Keep in mind I won't direct customers to this site, just use it for getting listed on search engines. "Keyword-rich domains are very effective as secondary sites," says Jerry West of Web Marketing Now. Just make sure you don't use it for your main site. Explaining that domain to a prospect over the phone would not be a good experience!

Kevin Nunley provides marketing and copy writing. Read all his free tips at http://DrNunley.com Reach Kevin at kevin@drnunley.com or 603-249-9519.

Feel free to use Kevin's articles on your website or in your newsletter or sales materials. Include contact info at the end. No spam.