Hyphenated domain names and SEO

AdultMySpace · 11-16-2009, 02:02 AM

Hello All.

I did a search through this sub forum, but I had no joy finding what I was looking for. I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas or detail on how google reviews the domain you have?

If you have

traditional-greek-recipe.com, and someone searches for greek recipe or traditional recipe, will google rank it because that phrase has two words in its URL? Or would it only give the ranking boost if the phrase matches the exact search?

Likewise, if I had to use traditionalgreekrecipe instead, would Google be able to parse the text and rank it if only two words out of the domain where part of the search phrase?

Im new to this, but I am trying to get a domain that can pickup search engine traffic across more than one search phrase if possible.

No concerns about branding at all.

CliveG · 11-16-2009, 03:31 AM

The best way to get a good ranking is to have on topic content on the page and links from on topic pages pointing to the page.

As far as hyphens are concerned, search engines can parse domain names into their constituent words. Personally, I prefer non-hyphenated domain names because they are easier to communicate by word of mouth - for SEO purposes I'm not sure there is any difference.

In your example of traditional-greek-recipe.com, the domain should rank better for 'traditional greek recipe' than for 'greek recipe' or 'traditional recipe', but it should rank for all three if your content and links are good.

kkchoon · 11-16-2009, 03:48 AM

I use hyphenated domain all the the time, and they work for me

!

butters · 11-16-2009, 03:50 AM

They do work but something to keep in mind about hyphens, if you want someone to remember your website, then having hyphens is a bad thing.

gordi555 · 11-16-2009, 05:05 AM

I think they are the same, for Google anyway. Agree with zaizaices8, hyphens are better then underscores (yeah we know you can't have underscores in domains

)

Get both I'd say and see how you get on. Can always use the other one down the line and perform a site wide 301 redirect.

llamafier · 11-16-2009, 08:48 AM

Don't go with the hyphen if you ever want someone to manually type in the domain.

11-16-2009, 02:02 AM	#1
AdultMySpace e-pimp War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 29 Thanks: 2 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Hyphenated domain names and SEO Hello All. I did a search through this sub forum, but I had no joy finding what I was looking for. I wanted to know if anyone had any ideas or detail on how google reviews the domain you have? If you have traditional-greek-recipe.com, and someone searches for greek recipe or traditional recipe, will google rank it because that phrase has two words in its URL? Or would it only give the ranking boost if the phrase matches the exact search? Likewise, if I had to use traditionalgreekrecipe instead, would Google be able to parse the text and rank it if only two words out of the domain where part of the search phrase? Im new to this, but I am trying to get a domain that can pickup search engine traffic across more than one search phrase if possible. No concerns about branding at all.

11-16-2009, 03:31 AM	#2
CliveG Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom Posts: 656 Thanks: 14 Thanked 47 Times in 46 Posts	Re: Hyphenated domain names and SEO The best way to get a good ranking is to have on topic content on the page and links from on topic pages pointing to the page. As far as hyphens are concerned, search engines can parse domain names into their constituent words. Personally, I prefer non-hyphenated domain names because they are easier to communicate by word of mouth - for SEO purposes I'm not sure there is any difference. In your example of traditional-greek-recipe.com, the domain should rank better for 'traditional greek recipe' than for 'greek recipe' or 'traditional recipe', but it should rank for all three if your content and links are good.
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11-16-2009, 03:48 AM	#3
kkchoon Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Online World... Posts: 2,922 Thanks: 96 Thanked 530 Times in 269 Posts	Re: Hyphenated domain names and SEO I use hyphenated domain all the the time, and they work for me !
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11-16-2009, 03:50 AM	#4
butters Lee Bartlett War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Harlow, Essex, Uk Posts: 1,432 Thanks: 93 Thanked 178 Times in 136 Posts	Re: Hyphenated domain names and SEO They do work but something to keep in mind about hyphens, if you want someone to remember your website, then having hyphens is a bad thing.

11-16-2009, 05:05 AM	#5
gordi555 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 168 Thanks: 7 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Hyphenated domain names and SEO I think they are the same, for Google anyway. Agree with zaizaices8, hyphens are better then underscores (yeah we know you can't have underscores in domains ) Get both I'd say and see how you get on. Can always use the other one down the line and perform a site wide 301 redirect.

11-16-2009, 08:48 AM	#6
llamafier Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 35 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Hyphenated domain names and SEO Don't go with the hyphen if you ever want someone to manually type in the domain.