Google advises against cheap TLDs due to spam risks, says TLD keywords don’t improve SEO.void cheap TLDs. They attract spammers, which impacts search rankings.
Matching keywords in your TLD doesn’t improve SEO.
Consider branding and marketing, not just SEO, when choosing a TLD.SE Ranking’s award-winning SEO suite delivers advanced SEO insights without draining your marketing budget. Easily scale as your business grows.Google advises against cheap TLDs due to spam risks, says TLD keywords don’t improve SEO.
In a recent podcast, Google’s Search Relations Team discussed how website owners should approach choosing a top-level domain (TLD).
The discussion weighed the dilemmas of expensive .com domains versus affordable alternatives like .xyz, emphasizing the need to balance cost, credibility, and spam risks.Team members John Mueller, Gary Illyes, and Martin Splitt advised against going for the cheapest TLD options, warning that spammers tend to target free and low-cost domains, which can negatively impact search rankings.
Additionally, they debunked the myth that TLD keywords provide SEO benefits, stating matching keywords in the TLD does not directly improve rankings.
This article delves into Google’s Search Relations team’s guidance on choosing the right TLD to boost your brand’s visibility and reputation.
The Perils Of Cheap TLDs
In response to Mueller’s question about whether to use a more affordable domain like .xyz or invest in a more common one like .com, Illyes stated:
“My gut reaction is people should stay away from the cheapest TLDs, especially if they are free.”
The reason behind this advice? Spammers.
Illyes explained that cheaper and free TLDs attract more spam, potentially impacting your legitimate site’s visibility on search engines.If a TLD] is overrun by spam, and over 99% of the content there is spam, we might not want to pick up sitemaps from those domain names because the chances of leading to spam is way too high.”
Illyes advises spending more on a TLD that isn’t overrun with spam.
However, he added that making a heavy investment in a .com domain name should be a business decision focused on branding and marketing rather than SEO.
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