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Domain question

by dorim
14 replies
Is it always bad to have a domain with a hyphen in it? The domain I want is taken, but I can get it with a hyphen and I don't know what to do. :confused::confused:
#domain #question
  • Profile picture of the author Linda Van Fleet
    Lots of domains have hyphens. IMO, it isn't the best scenario but it certainly isn't the worst, either. I wouldn't want more than one hyphen, though.

    Linda
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
      There used to be two schools of thought on this.

      One was that a hyphen was good for the delivery of SE traffic, the other, that it was detrimental.

      I don't know what the current thinking is at the moment, but if I have a good two word prefix, I buy the two word domain (together as one, of course) and I purchase them again, but separated by a hyphen. I also obtain the appropriate suffixes too.

      More to prevent someone mimicking my website(s) as opposed to SEO though, I think.

      Then perhaps I'm just paranoid

      Regards,
      Jeff.
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  • Profile picture of the author seantanmarketing
    To me, I won't go with hyphen for domain because people will not know there's a hyphen when they want to go to your website. I prefer go with longer keyword domain name if I can't get a shorter name.

    You might want to avoid numbers for domain as well because people might not know if the number is 4 or four. This will lose traffic if they went to the wrong domain.
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  • Profile picture of the author LKKnecht
    If it's a good domain name, I would go for it. I wanted PLRprofitseasyas123 dot com, but it looks better broken up by the hyphen AND I got quite a bit of SE traffic before I even put up the site!
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  • Profile picture of the author Edgar Moreno
    I would assume that many people would forget the hyphen and therefore the traffic would be redirected to the other site that already had the name. I would say to change the name to be original.
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  • Profile picture of the author Floyd Bogart
    I prefer no hyphen but have many with hyphens as I would rather have relevant keywords with a hyphen than not...
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  • Profile picture of the author QuanEscobar
    I feel as if I hyphen wouldn't be that detrimental depending on what you are going for. It is plus and minus I guess because the domain name I want is already taken but instead of adding a hyphen I picked another domain name that just rocks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Troy_Phillips
    The hyphen could get you in trouble . People think different ways but try magnetic-sponsoring .com and see if Mr Dillard doesn't have a lawyer changing your mind pronto
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    • Profile picture of the author dorim
      Originally Posted by Troy_Phillips View Post

      The hyphen could get you in trouble . People think different ways but try magnetic-sponsoring .com and see if Mr Dillard doesn't have a lawyer changing your mind pronto
      Ok I tried it; magnetic-sponsoring .com is being forwarded to magneticsponsoring .com
      That's the only use for a hypen domain?
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  • Profile picture of the author new2ebiz
    The only time I buy a hyphen domain is when I want both versions for some reason. And then I only use the nonhyphen version and forward the other to the first.

    Are your customers likely to remember the hyphen? generally no. Also you have to brand the domain much more. You'll actually be making someone else money in all likelihood.
    And if you're like me you make a typing mistake and have to fix links too often.

    You're better off with a easy to spell, easy to recognize name your customers will remember.
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  • Profile picture of the author dorim
    Thanks for all your replies. I can get the .US version of the domain I want without a hyphen, but I want the .com version which is taken.
    Would the .US version be better than the .COM hyphen version?
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  • Profile picture of the author jobscreation
    i will opt for a no hypen domains as alot of your hardwork will go to the no hypen domain or the .com domain as most internet users will forget if you have hypen or is it .us , they will just try the more commonly know name which are domain names without hypens and the .com
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    • Profile picture of the author zimzalabim
      The very first domain name I bought approx 10 years ago is hyphenated.

      I've done nothing with it for at least five years and remarkably it's still got first page rankings, brings in reasonable traffic and a few quid here and there.

      My view would be that a domain name doesn't look "right" with a hyphen and if the unhyphenated domain you want is taken think of something similar.

      All down to personal opinion I guess. Most of the domains I currently own I've bought via a registrar/hosting company with a hyphen in their domain name.....go figure.

      ATB,

      Andy.
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      • Profile picture of the author Muhammad Hassan
        Another thing to consider is cybersquatting.

        Could the hyphenated name be considered that you are trying to get traffic from the name without the hyphen.

        Would be more of a problem I think if the name has trademarked word(s). Would be less of a problem if using common names.

        microsoft-store.com - big problem I would think.

        software-store - less of a problem.

        If it could be considered cybersquatting then the person without the hyphenated name may take legal action.

        I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice.
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