When Google is chosing which website to rank on their search engine, they use around 200 ranking factors in their Algorithm. Therefore, you need to be cooperating with their length list.

We’ve put together a blog series to explain all the rankings factors to help you with your SEO strategy.

Part 1 – Domain Factors

Domain names are readable to search engines making these an important part of the algorithm.

1. The age of your domain

The age of your domain can affect your rankings. If you have a domain that’s ten years old vs a domain that’s brand new, Google will prioritise the older domain. This is an important factor to consider if you’re considering changing your domain name.

2.Having your keyword in your domain name

Having your keyword in your domain name used to be a key ranking factor, however, Google have clocked on to companies buying domains for ranking purposes e.g a few years ago a digital marketing company may buy several domains such as www.digitalmarketingnottingham.co.uk, www.digitalmarketingderby.co.uk www.digitalmarketingleicester.co.uk in order to appear for those keywords. Therefore. Although this does still have ranking influence, it does not give it the boost it used to.

3.Keyword as first word in the domain

Similar to above, a domain that starts with your target keyword has an edge over wesbites that either don’t have the keyword in their domain or have the keyword in the middle or end of their domain.

4.Think about the length of your domain

Although this is not a ranking factor, you should think about the length of your domain. Shorter domain are easier to share, easier to remember and decreases the change of typos.

5.Subdomains and Subfolders

Search engines have different ranking factors for core domains than they do subdomains. We always recommend for your content to stay on your main domain to build upon your current domain authority. We see some website push areas such as their blog onto subdomains which is mot recommended. For example, we’d recommend a URL such as www.digitalmarketingleicester.co.uk/blog rather than blog.digitalmarketingleicester.co.uk. Obvious exceptions to this rule as language specific websites.

6.Avoid hyphens

Hyphens can detract from credibility and can act as a spam indicator. Therefore, try and avoid more than one hyphen.

Keep an eye out for part two where we talk about onsite factors!