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A WebmasterWorld thread is speculating that Google has recently shown more interest in ranking domain names that have keywords that match the searcher's query.
One member explained:
This could just be a regional thing, but G.ie seems to be giving a lot of weight to having the keyword in the domain.
Another member is supporting the original post by adding:
I've just started seeing two-keyword parked domains showing up on the first and second pages of the Google search results for competitive two-word keywords. These pages have nothing but ads and "related searches" on them.
The thread is still new, so it is hard to validate without seeing specific examples.
A HighRankings Forums thread discusses a similar topic, asking if keywords in the URL or domain help. Most people in that thread say it does not help directly, and they don't hurt. Of course, like I always say, it is great to have your keyword phrase in your domain name, so that when people link to you, they give you a keyword rich link. For example, if my company was named ABCWebDevelopment.com, I would get links to me that had "ABC Web Development" as the anchor text. But since my company name is RustyBrick, I get to rank number one for rustybrick.
Related discussion: - Keywords in URLs the New Google Search Optimization Winner? - Comprehensive Study on Importance of Keywords in URLs - Keywords in File Names & URLs Do Help
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and HighRankings Forums.
