Domain names may be associated with something called an Overture score, which may be a factor considered when determining the worth of a domain. But what is an Overture score? How do you find out the Overture score for a domain and what does it mean? In this article we will cover the basics of Overture scores and how it can be used to help decide a domain's value.

Let's get started by defining what the Overture score actually is. Overture is a part of Yahoo's online advertising network. Each month, millions of searches are done over the many websites under the Yahoo/Overture umbrella. The search terms and keywords are stored by Overture as part of a pay per click advertisement system. The more times a keyword or term is searched for, the more popular that term is, and Overture keeps track of these numbers.

Now to get to the actual Overture score. The score is the number of searches for a specific phrase over a one month period, usually the previous month. Note, this is only the number of searches performed across the Yahoo network of websites. Searches on other websites cannot be tracked by Overture, so it is important to remember that an Overture score is only representative of searches done on one segment of the web.

So how does the Overture score relate to domain names?
First of all, keywords are important. The more people searching for a keyword that appears in your domain name, the more likely they are to stumble upon your website. The right keywords can make all the difference and an Overture score will give you a rough idea of the popularity of a term. Also of note is what are called "Overture with extension" domains. This means that the full domain name, including the extension, was searched for on the Overture network. For the right domain names, this can translate into quality type in traffic, since the visitors are searching for a specific term. An example of this is someone searching for a new printer might type in 'printers.com'. You may also run across an "Overture without extension" domain. This simply means that there is an Overture score for the full domain name, minus the extension.

Finding a Domain's Overture Score
Overture offers a keyword checking tool that will tell you the number of searches for a given term. Simply submit a phrase or domain name and the results, if any, are displayed along with the month and year the searches took place. The keyword checking tool can be found by performing an online search.

Remember, the Overture scores are usually from the previous month but this depends on when Overture updates their database. When searching, additional results may be displayed that include your search terms as well as other words. This may help give you ideas for related domain names to check out.

Overture score is not always good
Just because a domain name has an Overture score doesn't mean you should rush to register or buy it. There are many factors that go into a domain name's appeal and inherent value - the Overture score is simply one tool to use. It is also possible to artificially inflate an Overture score so watch out for suspicious domains or sellers. Along with the Overture score, other factors can be checked such as the domain's link popularity, website history, keyword strength, page rank, etc.

Tying it all together
When it comes down to it, never let an Overture score be the sole reason for buying a domain name. The Overture score can be a valuable tool, one that can provide some exceptional finds, but it is not everything. Be sure to do your research on a domain name and use common sense before committing to that purchase. The Overture tool is great, and there are thousands of profitable domains with overture scores. The trick is weeding through the fluff to find the best domains you can.

Good Domaining!