21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Are Hyphens SEO Friendly?

by Jake Howard
18 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi All,

I am trying to target the keyword "Corflute Signs" for the URL www.plasticprinting/corflutesigns

My question is, from an SEO point of view, should I looking to change the URL to /corflute-signs instead of /corflutesigns ?

Does adding the hyphen make any difference and is it worth me changing it?

Cheers

Jake
#friendly #hyphens #seo
  • Profile picture of the author jovykhan
    It does make a difference. Google sees hypen in the URL as a space.

    It should have a "-" on it in order Google to take it as a two-word keyword which the one you are targeting compared to corflutesigns. These are two different things.

    But that would give you just a bit of benefit I guess.
    Signature
    LocalFinder.net Australia's Leading Online Business Directory
    Australian Local Citation Service
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6966355].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jubu
    I don't believe it makes a difference. Because, when people talk about exact match domains, the're several words together without a -. So no I wouldn't go through the trouble of changing it.
    Signature


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6966356].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Green Moon
    I don't believe it makes a difference if the two words are words that the search engines will parse correctly. If the string is ambiguous, a hyphen can tell the search engine where to break the string.
    Signature
    Find an Accountant | Tax Help
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6966386].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author chemo38
      I agree with Jubu. It doesn't appear to make much of a difference.

      chemo38
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6966396].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author nik0
    Banned
    Exact EMD's without hypers do seem to rank better then those with but could also just be a feeling, always hard to know. It's time someone starts to do some real scientific tests as there is always a lot of guessing going around.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6966900].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author sanjayyadav
    I think that hypens are used to increase readability of a url.
    Signature
    Computer Tech Support | Software Troubleshoot
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6968215].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Eugeanne
    In Google, hyphens are just like word separator. Don't hurt and don't help at all. Google has recommended to use hyphens and underscores to separate words in URL not in domain names but in URL's in general
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6968314].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by Eugeanne View Post

      In Google, hyphens are just like word separator. Don't hurt and don't help at all. Google has recommended to use hyphens and underscores to separate words in URL not in domain names but in URL's in general
      Google does not recommend using underscores. (You can't use one in
      a domain anyway)

      Why? Because people do not know what you mean with an underscore.
      They are used to hyphens.

      Originally Posted by nik0 View Post

      Exact EMD's without hypers do seem to rank better then those with but could also just be a feeling, always hard to know.
      Complete bogus assumption. Man, I dunno about the WF. Feelings are
      not SEO.

      Paul
      Signature

      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6969472].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seofirst8
    I guess for sub pages you should first focus on the readability of URL and in your case it is best when Hypen is used.

    I would recommend you to use Hypen, and yes hyphens are SEO friendly.

    Hope this helps
    Signature
    SEO Money Back Guarantee Offer #SEO Services India
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6968444].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ksetu
    In most of the cases it won't make a difference. As long as G can differentiate that it's two words, it makes no difference in seo terms.But say you have some non-standard word like senukex then it makes a difference whether you use senukex or senuke-x.
    Signature
    Are You Still Selling SEO Services to Local Businesses?You Are Mistaken. Learn What They Need in This New "Local Goldmine" Course. Use Coupon: 15PERCENT
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6968515].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author rahulbangar
    Hyphen = space

    You should be using a hyphen where you think you should have used space. I always use hyphens in the URL.
    Signature
    Barbie Games | Make up Games
    http://www.dressupforcharity.com/
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6968559].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jake Howard
    Thanks for all the feedback guys. Might just keep it the way it is at the moment, rather then changing the link and starting again fresh.
    Signature
    www.inksigns.com.au
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6969045].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MrDougJay
    I don't think it makes a difference. If you Google something with hyphen and do the same without a hyphen the result is still the same.
    Signature
    Youtube Plugin Wordpress
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6969065].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author vajra123
    The URL which is without hyphens is considered better than the URL which is having hyphens in it.I think there is a little bit difference between hyphens and non-hyphens.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6969127].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alina Tru
    Both are same, Do not make any difference. We can use hyphens as a space, Hyphens only improve url readability. I have check your keyword completion. You can easy get top position in minimum time. Thanks
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6969209].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jasontim86
    Hyphen or not doesn't really matter.

    It's how you treat the content within your site that matters.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6969535].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jipolis7
    For your kind information hyphens are not seo friendly .So you do not need to change your domain .
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6971314].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author lich
    hyphens is good to use and it is readable from both search engine and people
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7143292].message }}

Trending Topics