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About using the dash char in the name of a domain

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by tayiper, Jul 20, 2007.

  1. #1
    Basically I started thinking about this when I realized that there is an inconsistency in the naming of URLs provided to me (well, I've chosen them) by the 50webs free-host that I am using ...


    Namely, my main personal computing homepage has its URL named http://tadej-ivan.50webs.com/ (note the dash), while my other general personal "navigational" website has: http://tadejpersic.50webs.com/ (note there's no dash); oh and yes, Ivan and Tadej are my two first names, while Persic (or more correctly Peršič) is my surname/second-name.


    Therefore I am curious what do you think would be the best: to change the URL of my computing homepage to: http://tadejivan.50webs.com/, or rather change the URL of my general personal "navigational" website to http://tadej-persic.50webs.com/??!


    So if there is any true in this (i.e. naming with or without dashes), then what's the best from SEO point of view: the variant with the "-" character, or the variant without the "-" character?? And also, what about the use of "_" (IIRC it's referred to as "underline") char, I mean is it more or less the "equivalent" to "-" char in such cases of naming the domain/URL??!


    tayiper
     
    tayiper, Jul 20, 2007 IP
  2. SEMSpot

    SEMSpot Peon

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    #2
    For SEO purposes it does not matter if you use a domain name with a "-" in it or not. Now if you make a domain name long-and-not-natural-to-stuff-keywords.com then that domain name is useless. For branding a website and name, you want to try and avoid using a "-" so it is easier for people to remember your web address.
     
    SEMSpot, Jul 20, 2007 IP
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  3. just-4-teens

    just-4-teens Peon

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    #3
    a dash makes no real difference.

    in print advertising a-name-that-can-be-read (compaired to anamethatcanberead) is better for things like ads, flyers etc, however the dashes are not so good for things such as word of mouth, trying to tell someone your url can be a nightmare (my site is a(hyphen)name(hyphen)that(hyphen) . . . etc)
     
    just-4-teens, Jul 21, 2007 IP
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  4. tayiper

    tayiper Active Member

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    #4
    OK, thanks both for your replies ...


    tayiper
     
    tayiper, Jul 22, 2007 IP
  5. Gatorade

    Gatorade Peon

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    #5
    There is no difference between the two for search engines. It is however easier to tell and for someone to remember a domain without the hyphen.
     
    Gatorade, Jul 23, 2007 IP
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