Domain name with or without hyphen?

LangeTroels · 01-11-2011, 08:24 AM

Hi all,

A quick question: If you have the possibility to choose between two domains both containing the keywords you are targeting; one with a hyphen in between and one without.. Which one do you go for?

Like this:

keyword1keyword2.com
or
keyword1-keyword2.com

Cheers..

DNChamp · 01-11-2011, 08:27 AM

If the domain you want is for sale BUY IT..dont skimp....On ther other hand as far as SEO goes there is no difference BUT it will make it hard for typein traffic and print marketing.

somacorellc · 01-11-2011, 08:34 AM

If the non hyphen is available, get it. It's the same price so there's no reason not to. The only caveat would be if the words don't look good together - expertsexchange.com comes to mind

BaloneyTony · 01-11-2011, 08:34 AM

I have seen domain with hyphens rank just as well as those without, but given the choice I would go without the hyphen. Looks more professional and trustworthy to visitors.

Bingo123 · 01-11-2011, 08:36 AM

Yup, google doesn't care about they hyphen. It is more just a visual thing if you intend on marketing your site offline.

HorseStall · 01-11-2011, 09:04 AM

I'm partial to domains with hyphens. It allows google to see the keywords in the domain which gives you a *slight* advantage with SEO.

Lady Carole · 01-11-2011, 09:16 AM

I've noticed almost as many #1 ranking key words with hyphens as without so it doesn't seem to bother Google. If someone looks for my website name, they would never remember to type in the hyphens, however.

I personally would go for the keyword without hyphens, if it's available. If it is a popular keyword that's not available, adding a hyphen might make sense. You can check to whether the exact unhyphenated keywords are used on active sites. If no, go for the hyphened one.

Best wishes, Carole

DJ DeMarco · 01-11-2011, 09:20 AM

I'll go with no hypens if its still available. Only use hypen as your alternative, not your main choice.

leopi · 01-11-2011, 09:27 AM

Thanks! Nice day!

LangeTroels · 01-11-2011, 09:56 AM

Thanks everybody for the valuable feedback.. I've bought the domain without hyphen..

Thanks again..

paulgl · 01-11-2011, 03:18 PM

Hyphen work as well as anything. Why on earth would anyone think
there is some magic? Voodoo SEO, once again.

In fact, in many cases, you WANT to use hyphens. Especially in cases
where words slur together. Especially if you are looking for some juice
from the "right" domain. Many people end up with unwanted side effects
by not using a hyphen in strategic places. Especially when you have a words
ending in s, and the next one starts with ex. You don't want sex to be seen
as a word. This could trigger filters. If your words blend and one can make
new words out of the exact order, use hyphens.

If you want type-in traffic, watch out for consecutive letters. Watched a show
last night and a woman kept reiterating that her website was
halloffame-yadyada.com TWO F's! It is quite awkward for people to type that
in using double letters. Not a factor if you are looking for search engine traffic.

Use hyphens. They are needed in quite a few cases.

Paul

Lady Carole · 01-11-2011, 03:24 PM

LOL. Didn't think of that. A lot of times I look at a domain name and try to figure out what it says with much difficulty. Hyphens would certainly clear things up like you said! Thanks for your post. Carole

discgolftraveler · 01-11-2011, 05:40 PM

Interesting discussion. I think our fellow warriors are correct. The hyphen will not deter google, only those who want to type in your URL. I considered buying a hyphenated domain the other day, but stayed away because I did not want to deal with copyright issues with the un-hyphen domain (if that makes sense)

01-11-2011, 08:24 AM	#1
LangeTroels HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 107 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Domain name with or without hyphen? Hi all, A quick question: If you have the possibility to choose between two domains both containing the keywords you are targeting; one with a hyphen in between and one without.. Which one do you go for? Like this: keyword1keyword2.com or keyword1-keyword2.com Cheers..
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01-11-2011, 08:27 AM	#2
DNChamp Domain Invester War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hot Ass AZ Posts: 1,353 Thanks: 88 Thanked 100 Times in 99 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? If the domain you want is for sale BUY IT..dont skimp....On ther other hand as far as SEO goes there is no difference BUT it will make it hard for typein traffic and print marketing.
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01-11-2011, 08:34 AM	#3
somacorellc Mike Heath War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 520 Thanks: 270 Thanked 435 Times in 123 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? If the non hyphen is available, get it. It's the same price so there's no reason not to. The only caveat would be if the words don't look good together - expertsexchange.com comes to mind
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01-11-2011, 08:34 AM	#4
BaloneyTony Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 48 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? I have seen domain with hyphens rank just as well as those without, but given the choice I would go without the hyphen. Looks more professional and trustworthy to visitors.

01-11-2011, 08:36 AM	#5
Bingo123 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 354 Thanks: 6 Thanked 34 Times in 32 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? Yup, google doesn't care about they hyphen. It is more just a visual thing if you intend on marketing your site offline.

01-11-2011, 09:04 AM	#6
HorseStall Advanced Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 830 Thanks: 10 Thanked 45 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? I'm partial to domains with hyphens. It allows google to see the keywords in the domain which gives you a slight advantage with SEO.
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01-11-2011, 09:16 AM	#7
Lady Carole Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas USA Posts: 30 Thanks: 13 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? I've noticed almost as many #1 ranking key words with hyphens as without so it doesn't seem to bother Google. If someone looks for my website name, they would never remember to type in the hyphens, however. I personally would go for the keyword without hyphens, if it's available. If it is a popular keyword that's not available, adding a hyphen might make sense. You can check to whether the exact unhyphenated keywords are used on active sites. If no, go for the hyphened one. Best wishes, Carole

01-11-2011, 09:20 AM	#8
DJ DeMarco HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 127 Thanks: 13 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? I'll go with no hypens if its still available. Only use hypen as your alternative, not your main choice.
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01-11-2011, 09:27 AM	#9
leopi Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 46 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? Thanks! Nice day!

01-11-2011, 09:56 AM	#10
LangeTroels HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 107 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? Thanks everybody for the valuable feedback.. I've bought the domain without hyphen.. Thanks again..
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01-11-2011, 03:18 PM	#11
paulgl Plundering the Web War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: , , . Posts: 4,849 Thanks: 804 Thanked 1,199 Times in 886 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? Hyphen work as well as anything. Why on earth would anyone think there is some magic? Voodoo SEO, once again. In fact, in many cases, you WANT to use hyphens. Especially in cases where words slur together. Especially if you are looking for some juice from the "right" domain. Many people end up with unwanted side effects by not using a hyphen in strategic places. Especially when you have a words ending in s, and the next one starts with ex. You don't want sex to be seen as a word. This could trigger filters. If your words blend and one can make new words out of the exact order, use hyphens. If you want type-in traffic, watch out for consecutive letters. Watched a show last night and a woman kept reiterating that her website was halloffame-yadyada.com TWO F's! It is quite awkward for people to type that in using double letters. Not a factor if you are looking for search engine traffic. Use hyphens. They are needed in quite a few cases. Paul
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01-11-2011, 03:24 PM	#12
Lady Carole Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Dallas, Texas USA Posts: 30 Thanks: 13 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? LOL. Didn't think of that. A lot of times I look at a domain name and try to figure out what it says with much difficulty. Hyphens would certainly clear things up like you said! Thanks for your post. Carole

01-11-2011, 05:40 PM	#13
discgolftraveler WordPress Guy Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 94 Thanks: 8 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Domain name with or without hyphen? Interesting discussion. I think our fellow warriors are correct. The hyphen will not deter google, only those who want to type in your URL. I considered buying a hyphenated domain the other day, but stayed away because I did not want to deal with copyright issues with the un-hyphen domain (if that makes sense)
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