Which domain ranks better?

[art72]

Fellow Warriors,

While I have been buying up domains like crazy, I stumbled upon a catchy two word domain that I am planning to buy.

My question is which is better...

1.) http://twowords[dot]net (no hyphen)

or

2.) http://two-words[dot]com (hyphen)

While I happen to like the hyphen separating the 2 words, it appears they don't seem to have any real value on domain auction sites (like Sedo)... compared to two word non-hyphenated domains.

PS- This is more over a domain I am purchasing for "easy memory" over that of an SEO, or keyword traffic issue, as it will be solely used for a "Video squeeze page" teaser for now.

[Warrior Ben]

If you are purchasing a domain for easy memory then definitely go without the hyphen. When most people here a two word domain name, they will not put a hyphen. Even better you could register both names and redirect one to the other!

[danclarkie]

From what i heard/experienced the domain with the hyphen will rank slightly better in google for the two word keywords. Google tends to view the hypen as a space when it comes to domains

[Jermaine Tabor]

Go for the none hyphened domain name.

[JasonGiorgini]

Which domain ranks better you ask? The one with the most high quality, targeted backlinks will rank the best. For resell value, I would recommend not going with the domain name with the hyphen.

[Spyder77]

There isn't much difference anymore when it comes to a hyphen. You get a slight edge without it, so all else being equal, the choice without it is the (slightly) better choice.

-Spyder

[Alexa Smith]

Neither hyphenation nor TLD extensions make any difference at all to SEO.

In some of the many other threads here discussing this point, there are links to a video of Google's Matt Cutts clarifying both these points in some detail. But however much he - and they - clarify them (and they do that a lot and very consistently), there will always be people who believe otherwise, maybe because they read it in a forum thread.

For resale, of course, it can be a very different matter, because of buyers' perceptions, which are more important than the reality.

Those frequently-repeated urban myths of internet marketing have a lot to answer for.

[art72]

Thanks all...

My theory was that by separating the words with a hyphen the potential visitor's 'perception' would remember the two-word (hyphenated) name easier, as it is relevant to the content, and the type of 'product' I am assembling.

Strangely enough, when researching keywords the [exact] matches always seem to favor the hyphenated words, as I believe; few people run words together when searching "G".

Yet, the non-hyphenated domains almost always seem preferred among seasoned marketers...as would imply; the resale value is higher.

*Which is what spawned my above question.

Naturally, I bought them both...LOL, chalk it up as a mild addiction I have no intention to cure anytime soon.

My sole purpose for this domain is a (squeeze page) and honestly doesn't concern any SEO. *Unlike that of a niche site.

However, EMD's (exact match domains) do seem to catch a boost in getting ranked higher and faster when combined with proper on-page & meta SEO techniques.

As Alexa mentions, I too believe that domain names are like artwork, and the "perception" of potential buyers lies in the eyes of the beholder.

All the Best,

Art

[Sabrina178]

go for the .net its easier to recall

[yonkdigio]

better take .net
it's 100% keyword density

[warrich]

I think that having a hyphen between the domain name doesn't that much effect SEO or the ranking of the site in the SERPs. SEO is all that matters, if the domain name also contains the keywords for which you want to rank for then that is big plus.