Domain Name: Hyphen or No? 1 better than 3-4?

[frustratedcomputeruser]

I wrote an article last year about: .....

Hope this helps!

Are H-Y-P-H-E-N-S (dashes) - In Your Domain Name -Acceptable?

Before we can actually make a decision on the use of dashes (hyphens) in our domain names we must first understand how your typical search engine (parses) or looks at information. Many search engine algorithms are designed to separate the words in a string and look at them separately.

By understanding that, it should be perfectly acceptable to use a domain name with hyphens in it because the search engine is going to separate the words anyway. Right?

We think so anyway! We have had great luck with hyphenated domain names and so have many other online marketers. I guess the main thing is to have your own domain name rather than using a sub domain.

There are defiantly some benefits to using hyphenated domain names and they are:

- - - It's easier to read the words in a domain name

- - - The domain name you want is probably available with hyphens in it

- - - Search engines can interpret every word in the domain name

- - - If another site links to you using your site as an anchor link they can better interpret your link, thus giving you a higher ranking.

I guess the main thing we need to understand is that using a domain name with hyphens is not going to hurt your website search engine ranking any. They may be a little harder for your customer to remember though.

All in all we have used both hyphenated and regular string domain names and they have both worked well for us over the years. There needs to be at least one specific keyword in your domain name, how you achieve that really isn't relevant - use either or for your domains and you should be just fine!

FD

[sukosaki]

Originally Posted by frustratedcomputeruser

I wrote an article last year about: .....

Hope this helps!

Are H-Y-P-H-E-N-S (dashes) - In Your Domain Name -Acceptable?

Before we can actually make a decision on the use of dashes (hyphens) in our domain names we must first understand how your typical search engine (parses) or looks at information. Many search engine algorithms are designed to separate the words in a string and look at them separately.

By understanding that, it should be perfectly acceptable to use a domain name with hyphens in it because the search engine is going to separate the words anyway. Right?

We think so anyway! We have had great luck with hyphenated domain names and so have many other online marketers. I guess the main thing is to have your own domain name rather than using a sub domain.

There are defiantly some benefits to using hyphenated domain names and they are:

- - - It's easier to read the words in a domain name

- - - The domain name you want is probably available with hyphens in it

- - - Search engines can interpret every word in the domain name

- - - If another site links to you using your site as an anchor link they can better interpret your link, thus giving you a higher ranking.

I guess the main thing we need to understand is that using a domain name with hyphens is not going to hurt your website search engine ranking any. They may be a little harder for your customer to remember though.

All in all we have used both hyphenated and regular string domain names and they have both worked well for us over the years. There needs to be at least one specific keyword in your domain name, how you achieve that really isn't relevant - use either or for your domains and you should be just fine!

FD

Excellent information and I am glad I could get this response. It will make my (bid to take over the world) decision an easier one, thanks!

[PaulR]

Skleiner (Sue) has a very popular blog on Pencil Sketches that has two hyphens in it.

[ffnstuff]

Well anything with a double SS is hard to tell apart sometimes

socksshoes.com looks funny

socks-shoes.com easy

[egonitron]

I wouldn't recommend it. Yes, hyphens are cleaner and show keywords better, but this is a marketing issue.

If you want any sort of name recognition, you need to go with the domain WITHOUT the hyphens. If you prefer the name with hyphens, then 301 redirect the "no hyphens" domain to the one iwth hyphens.

For example...go to Text Link Ads - Smart Link Marketing (noticed the no hyphens.) It redirects to the one with hyphens, because of the reasons people stated above.

Think about it...if someone wants to go to your website, they're going to type in the no-hyphen name. Basically all you're doing is marketing for the other guy without hyphens.

See what this guy wants to sell that domain for. If it's too much, get a different domain. It's worth it. I recommend bustaname.com for brainstorming.

[sukosaki]

Originally Posted by egonitron

I wouldn't recommend it. Yes, hyphens are cleaner and show keywords better, but this is a marketing issue.

If you want any sort of name recognition, you need to go with the domain WITHOUT the hyphens. If you prefer the name with hyphens, then 301 redirect the "no hyphens" domain to the one iwth hyphens.

For example...go to Text Link Ads - Smart Link Marketing (noticed the no hyphens.) It redirects to the one with hyphens, because of the reasons people stated above.

Think about it...if someone wants to go to your website, they're going to type in the no-hyphen name. Basically all you're doing is marketing for the other guy without hyphens.

See what this guy wants to sell that domain for. If it's too much, get a different domain. It's worth it. I recommend bustaname.com for brainstorming.

Very good point that I will certainly consider.

[Michigal]

Originally Posted by EverythingEverywhere

I have a hyphen, but honestly, I'd have used a non-hyphen version if it was available. It is very awkward to give people your URL when you meet them and have to remind them to put a "-" in the middle.

I now usually just tell them to search for "everything everywhere".

My thoughts exactly. The name I wanted was without the hyphen, but it's parked and for sale at over $3000. Not worth the money, even if I had that much to spend, which I don't. I do like you do, EverythingEverywhere, and tell them to search for Lighthouse News.

One other thing I did was get some of those free business cards from Vista Print so I can hand those out to people I meet instead. That way I don't have to say lighthouse hyphen news dot com.

[BLOG.TV]

Hyphenated domains are certainly a lot more tolerable today, than they were a few short years ago, given the limited amount of good quality domain names that are available today.