Could Google Update Be Good for City .com Domain Names?

I read about another recent Google update  that favors fresh content, and I want to speculate about something. I think the update could prove to be beneficial to owners of developed city .com domain names. Although this is a generalization, I’d like to share my rationale and welcome your feedback.

From what I’ve read, this most recent update seems to favor websites that have fresh information and new content. Blogs, for example, seem to be benefitting from the changes, although I haven’t personally  analyzed  any of my websites yet.

Over the past couple of years in speaking with owners of developed city .com domain names, most have daily, if not hourly updates. The articles include local news, events, and other relevant information. Lowell.com might not be a primary news source, but I update the site daily as events and articles are submitted by local businesses and residents. This helps drive traffic, but it also shows Google that the site is updated frequently.

From my perspective, many “official” city websites are updated irregularly. Although the city government makes news every day, they often send their news to local newspapers for publication online. Their websites are still good resources, with phone numbers, addresses, policies, laws, and other important information. However, they aren’t always good sources of fresh information.

With the most recent Google update favoring fresh content and websites that provide this content, I would imagine some city .com domain names will see a Google ranking boost, and it will consequently drive additional traffic.

What do you think?

Elliot Silver
Elliot Silver
About The Author: Elliot Silver is an Internet entrepreneur and publisher of DomainInvesting.com. Elliot is also the founder and President of Top Notch Domains, LLC, a company that has closed eight figures in deals. Please read the DomainInvesting.com Terms of Use page for additional information about the publisher, website comment policy, disclosures, and conflicts of interest. Reach out to Elliot: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn

13 COMMENTS

  1. While I personally am not an SEO expert, our company stays on top of all new developments, and we also have The Lavidge Comany here is Phoenix as our SEO consultants. Lavidge is a PR/Advertising agency that in recent years has entered the digital market in a big way, and their SEO department is one of the best. So, as it is probably too early to accurately discuss Googles new changes, I am always confident that unique, relevant and fresh content especially on City.com brands remain the Number One SEO strategy that one could employ. For generic sites….one must do anything and everything necessary in the SEO world to get ranked and get traffic, however with the City.com brands, it seems much easier to accomplish. Some of our markets are better than others, and we continue to strive to get better rankings….

  2. Agree for the most part Elliot and content will help geo.com investments.

    The thing that worries me is google. Half the first page is all google and local listings.

    Google is not your friend of geo.com imo. They want to enter airline commissions, hotel commissions and the list goes on and on. Plus they acquired a huge review company

    Keep in mind the risk factors imo. Just like with any domain investment.

    But yes fresh content will help in short term for geo.com. Long term that’s the question and its kinda scary.

  3. Domainers….there is no doubt in my mind that Google would like to control all search and results to their financial benefit. But I remain convinced that if they don’t deliver relevant results, and continue to feature only “paying” search businesses, their model will suffer. Regarding City.com’s….during a meeting I was in last month, an associate of mine made a great observation….Google can favor a specific “brand” over another (such as Sony over LG when “flat screen TV” is Googled as an example) but they can’t favor geography. Meaning when someone Googles “Burbank” they aren’t going to display “Palm Springs or Scottsdale”…I believe this is true and relevant as it pertains to City.com versus generic domains…..

  4. @Fred you obviously know what your doing and I respect what your doing. You know the geo market and probably in top 3 for geo experiences

    Hear what your saying and makes sense. I still consider google a major issue.

    To good fortunes Fred. Cheers.

  5. Thank you for the kind comments…much appreciated. While I agree with you more than it looks regarding Google, since I am primarily a City.com developer….I have seen our City.com properties weather the storm over the years as each new algorythym takes place much better than many generics.

  6. I would not read too much into Google over-weighting adding new content. New content is too easy to game, plus in many cases constant new content offers no benefit or negative benefit to visitors.

  7. I don’t think that just updating a website or blog will make them more visible in the SERP. Updating with quality content is more important. And that element is usually not found in user generated content.

  8. Google is running PPC for Zagat for city restaurant searches, which is among the highest searched geo verticals. It is like bidding on your own domain at auction. To get the top spot I have to outbid Zagat, which Google owns and can bid to infinity since it is all their money.

  9. “Could Google Update Be Good for City .com Domain Names?”

    NO, because anytime you compete with Google you’re dead. You may do well for a while but that doesn’t mean much. The problem is Google that wants everyone’s money.

  10. I don’t think this is especially anything new to this update.

    Most of those “SEO experts” have always reckoned that fresh content is an important part of the G algorithm.

    Perhaps more important is that fresh content brings new links and bookmarks every day (if all goes well). The time profile of links acquired has long been recognized as a key part of getting to the the top of the rankings.

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