Hotel website domain

[reisefm]

I work on a project for a hotel website and look up domain names right now. But I am now not sure wether I should go for a branding of the hotel name in the domain name (e.g. "bellavistahotel.com") or pick the location ("berlinhotel.com")  or a mix (e.g. "bellavistaberlin.com). What would be your recommendation?

The content (text, photos, videos) I have is a lot about the location and the hotel itself. I want to connect the Hotel page afterwards with Knowem to hundreds of social networks. My tendency is to go for a branding. Is that a good idea?

Thanks for the help.

[donford]

My Opinion...
Brand provides avenues for longevity.

Localized pigeon holes you into local results and relies on EMD or PMD to get rankings. It also appears (to me atleast) a very flaky way to name a business.

[reisefm]

The problem is that in this area are no proper addresses with house numbers. They only refer to a beach and an island. No postal code nothing. Was already thinking, I just invent a proper address for this place that i can optimize the branding.

The other thought is that people are searching mostly in google for "hotel XXX island". Then a domain which looks like the keywords is maybe better, don't you think?

[donford]

Hi Falk,

What I am seeing from your response is you want to target a keyword which includes a location. Do you feel that the only way to accomplish this is by getting that exact domain name, or a partial domain like this keyword?

I believe. if you concede the domain name to the brand and target the keyword on the homepage you'll have the same results. With the benefit of not sounding like a fly by night joint.

[reisefm]

No, i think there are many ways to reach the same thing. But a simple calculation: When I check on google other hotels on the island, then all unbranded with a domain like "XXX Island Hotel" with the same keywords in title, texts, etc. are on top and the branded follow on the bottom.

I know that google is now pushing branded sites but the branding is difficult because of a lack in addresses. Does someone has a solution for that?

[donford]

Hi Falk,

I was not trying to be critical rather trying to gather information so I may give the best advise I can.

I will admit that having the keywords in the domain name will help, but in the long run from a corporate perspective it isn't ideal.. or perhaps it is for this area / culture / region. You sound like you have considered pretty much all my advise previously but appear to be in a unique situation.

Perhaps, it is common for this country / area / island however you refer to the place.. to use this logic simply because of the unique situation without an address. In such case I would look at the big competitors, and some of the other local businesses and see what they do, I learned not to argue with local cultures.

Hope that helps and good luck

[reisefm]

Hi Donford,

no, no, no - I find your answers very helpful. Thanks for that. We are in a discussion. Maybe other people have also ideas, which way might the best for a Hotel in a remote area without addresses!

My competitors are branding but with less success agains the non-branded pages with local name in the address. I was now considering to use subdomains like: "hotelname.location.com". Might this be an idea to mix both ways?

And before I forget: There is another problem. The branding itself with the name of the hotel. The name is already 10 letters long and it is not valid anymore on domain search. Need to be very creative today to solve this