What domain would be better for SEO? Not sure about dashes

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by Mrmedia, Nov 10, 2009.

  1. #1
    .com domans targeting a 3 word keyword.

    Which domain is better?

    Not sure if google minds two dashes in a domain. Anyone have an opinion about it?

    Example!!!

    Really-Funny-Jokes.com

    VS

    ReallyFunnyJokesSite.com

    Which is the better domain to use when targeting the keyword "Really Funny Jokes"???
     
    Mrmedia, Nov 10, 2009 IP
  2. Dave McLovin

    Dave McLovin Guest

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    #2
    I.H.O it doesn't matter it just depends on how you build your site, content, backlinks, and things like that.
     
    Dave McLovin, Nov 10, 2009 IP
  3. Mrmedia

    Mrmedia Active Member

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    #3

    Yeah I Know content and backlinks are most important.

    A domain with keywords in it does help out a bit. Just wondering about the 2 dashes and what domain is the better choice? And why?:)
     
    Mrmedia, Nov 10, 2009 IP
  4. JessieJames27

    JessieJames27 Active Member

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    #4
    The first one with dashes seems to be the better one. It looks clean and formal. Anyway, dashes serves as spaces in the eyes of search engines. But of course don't just depend your seo campaign on your domain name.
     
    JessieJames27, Nov 10, 2009 IP
  5. dmvictoria

    dmvictoria Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Dashes are more user and SE friendly, dashes is going to dominate the next wave of domains.
     
    dmvictoria, Nov 10, 2009 IP
  6. newlogo

    newlogo Peon

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    #6
    dashes actually seperate out the keywords so search engine can easily identify them
     
    newlogo, Nov 10, 2009 IP
  7. freshersjobs

    freshersjobs Greenhorn

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    #7
    I would suggest go for the one without dashes. They are like any other character for search engine. So reallyxfunnyxjokes.com and really-funny-jokes.com will be the same for search engine. Go for the one without dashes, it will make your job easy for optimization.
     
    freshersjobs, Nov 10, 2009 IP
  8. simpseo

    simpseo Active Member

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    #8
    Totally agree. From what I understand, put dashes in and you may as well not even have that exact match domain name.

    Exact match domain names make it a LOT easier to rank for that exact phrase, so it's worth getting it right here if you want to rank for that term.
     
    simpseo, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  9. freshersjobs

    freshersjobs Greenhorn

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    #9
    Thanks ....
     
    freshersjobs, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  10. Pixelrage

    Pixelrage Peon

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    #10
    Domains with dashes are a nightmare for branding purposes because most won't remember to put dashes in when they type the domain in. Some sites have been successful with it though, like i-am-bored.com (just look at their traffic...wow)
     
    Pixelrage, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  11. sak

    sak Member

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    #11
    I suggest you to select a domain without dashes. Google treats URL with dash and without dash alike.
     
    sak, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  12. Canonical

    Canonical Well-Known Member

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    #12
    If you're trying to build a brand that you want people to remember, avoid hyphens and shorter is better... I recently posted about using hyphens in URLs which touches on considerations when selecting domain names, folder names, and page names. Perhaps it will help.
     
    Canonical, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  13. ontheroad

    ontheroad Greenhorn

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    #13
    I suggest going with a domain w/o dashes.
    Why?
    Google said they can identify and split the words up.
    The algorithms have improved so much they can identify things that many standard users can not comprehend.
    True, branding a name with dashes is not fun.
    When you deal with sub directories, then yes, use dashes.
    Plus, if someone visits your site, they're not going to type in a dash or remember to.
     
    ontheroad, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  14. Montreal Classifieds

    Montreal Classifieds Active Member

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    #14
    Google don't mind dashes.
    Today you can find available domains with dashes, that are not available without. Since most valuable 2 words domains already taken, you can still find plenty of them separated with dashes.
    I think to remember it also easier with dashes. It is easier to read 3 separate words, then 1 long combination of 3 words. Not everybody can easily recognize 4 words in your example. In addition if you will advertise your website, lets say creating sticker on your car, it will be easier to read and remember 3 words domain with dashes then reallyfunnyjokessite.com
    And if your visitors will like your website, they will most likely bookmark it, than remember.
    I would go with 3 word dashes, than 4 words without.
     
    Montreal Classifieds, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  15. zgerm

    zgerm Peon

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    #15
    as long as your website content is unique, quality backlinks, the rest you no need to worry about.
     
    zgerm, Nov 11, 2009 IP
  16. miles2go

    miles2go Peon

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    #16
    it doesn't matter all depends on the SEO and backlinks. But it its a three word prefer to use hyphen its make your visitor easy remember your url.
     
    miles2go, Nov 12, 2009 IP
  17. Lynnb

    Lynnb Peon

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    #17
    I agree with Dave McLovin and Mrmedia
     
    Lynnb, Nov 12, 2009 IP
  18. Canonical

    Canonical Well-Known Member

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    #18
    We know Google doesn't "mind" dashes... It's not for Google. This is a usability, branding issues.

    The most important URL on your site (and most likely) that you want users to remember is that of your home page. To make it easy to remember you want it short, easy to remember, and easy to type. Using hyphens in the URL make it longer, harder to remember, and harder to type. If it's easier for you to remember with hyphens, you are the exception.

    So hyphens are a bad idea IMO for domain names... and 3,4,and 5 keyword domain names are terrible if you want to brand your site. but I HIGHLY recommend using hyphens as word separators in folder and page names.
     
    Canonical, Nov 12, 2009 IP
  19. r0y1993

    r0y1993 Peon

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    #19
    I would got with the domain that has the hypens in them rather than getting a domain with other words added into it.
     
    r0y1993, Nov 12, 2009 IP
  20. Curt92

    Curt92 Peon

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    #20
    But domains with dashes also are better for SEO because the search engine can pick out keywords easily
     
    Curt92, Nov 13, 2009 IP