I’ve seen opinions on domain name configuration on both sides, just like politics…one expert says don’t worry about keywords in your domain….the next expert says make sure you have a keyword in your domain. I’ve seen this flip flopping over the last 4 years.

However, I think most seo experts will tell you to include part or all of your keyword(s) in your domain name. You have to remember though, if your blogging in an effort to get your url passed around, I think its important to have something that can be easily remembered. In other words, if you make bumper stickers with your domain name in it, you don’t want a 4 or 5 word domain name.

When blogging keywords become really important when you name your categories. So, make sure your category names are keyword rich. For instance, Bush a Great President or Bill First Man.

Next and most important is the use your keyword phrase in the title of your post. No matter how difficult, you’ll gain much traction if you put your keyword in your blog post title. This ultimately is how the search engine spiders figure out what your post is about and will send traffic when that keyword or keyword phrase is searched on.

Finally, try to use your keyword or keyword phrase in the first sentence of your post and also in the end of your post. Seems the search engine spiders look at the beginning and end of each post…if its a long post make sure you stick it in the middle ofthe post also.

OK…thought of something else. If you have comments enabled and people began to post comments on your posts….make sure you respond and in your response make sure you use the keywords that a relevant to that individual post. In other words if you make a post of Bill Clinton possibly being the first first lady/man. Respond the the comments using Bill Cinton and first lady.

Here’s another thought that is controversial but I just heard someone of authority speak on the issue. If you haven’t purchased your domain name yet, you have the option to purchase for a year or any lenght of time. Supposedly you get seo points and It’s better if you purchase for anything other than 1 year. I’m pretty broke so I do all mine for a year, but it makes sense if you think of the past years how guys would buy 100’s if not 1000’s of domain names and mass create adsense sites….all these domains would always be purchased for only a year since they could get dropped at any time.

Bottom line, keywords, keyword phrases, and/or long tailed keywords are always important, but beware of how you use them and always use them judicially. In other words, don’t compose a 200 word post and put the keyword in 20 times. Write your articles/posts as any type of normal writing but keep the subject matter focused by the proper use of keywords.

Hope that helps,

Scott