Google Ranking Factors

[ABS659]

If my url does not have my keywords can I add a directory to my site that is the keyword as a directory

i.e.

www.domain.com/keyword1/keyword2/page.html

Will this count with google or should a buy a domain
using the dashes that has my keyword in it?

I am talking about a high ranking keyword phrase

like dating services.

My domain is www.allaboutsingles.com

I am trying to see if it makes a difference to put

www.allaboutsingles.com/dating/service

will this rank just as high as a domain like this

www.dating-service.com

[jocelyn]

The words in the whole URL count, not just the domain.
So you can add the subdir to do this.

[scott659]

Should I do this:
www.allaboutsingles.com/dating/service
or
www.allaboutsingles.com/dating-service

is there a difference with respect to google's liking?

I would prefer this www.allaboutsingles.com/dating/service

over this www.allaboutsingles.com/dating-service

[scott659]

I was reading somewhere in this ever growing forum that I should not put special characters in the title

is this a special character - or :

i.e.

Abs - Online dating service for singles

should I just do this


Abs Online dating service for singles

[dilligaf]

Scott, hyphens and underscores are cool. I just have to stick my two cents in, I think file & domain names assist only marginally in SERPS. Time, IMO, would be more wisely invested in seeking links and modifying other on page factors. If you're putting up new pages, then it's worth the consideration.

Regarding allaboutsingles.com/dating/service vs allaboutsingles.com/dating-service the second would be in the primary level so it MAY be considered more important but I think it would be more a function of your internal linking strategy.

[scott659]

what do you mean
Regarding allaboutsingles.com/dating/service vs allaboutsingles.com/dating-service the second would be in the primary level

are you saying that the more levels I have in my directory structure
the less likely google.com will assign revelance to it?

[disgust]

hyphens, underscores AND commas are fine actually.

not that there's any valid reason to use a comma for a seperator, but still :)

[ezest]

Spending few dollars for getting new domain and linking all dating related pages to new site is also considerable option.

[seo guy]

why would you do that ezest?

Wait I should rephrase, ABS DONT DO THAT!

[dilligaf]

[QUOTE=scott659]what do you mean
Regarding allaboutsingles.com/dating/service vs allaboutsingles.com/dating-service the second would be in the primary level

are you saying that the more levels I have in my directory structure
the less likely google.com will assign revelance to it?[/QUOTE]
By primary level I intended not in a seperate folder/sub-directory. I really don't think it matters if you link appropriately but some-one mentioned here their firmly held belief (pages in the main level are better considered)