SEO dilemma

I've got a client that I've been doing SEO for almost 9 months now. We've built a bunch of links, created a bunch of content, achieved high rankings and most importantly, achieved the client's business goals.

The client recently decided that he would like to change the domain name of his site. Now, I strongly urged him to reconsider but his other 'SEO consultant' told him that his domain name should have dashes in between each word. For example, the URL now is www.mycompanyname.com and he wants it to say www.my-company-name.com. Not only is risky for SEO, I told him, but you're going to have a hell of time getting your customers to remember that.

I guess my question is this. Do any SEOs out there think that changing a domain name to include dashes in between the words is worth the risk of having to redirect urls and 'hope' that the link juice also redirects to the new domain?

Thanks in advance.

 

Good question...I think Matt Cutts has an article talking about it on his blog.

 

I would advise against it. It's a moot point.

Nigel

 

SE's can destinguish the words as seperate without the dash, so changing his domain means startimg the SEO all over for no reason.

 

It is a waste of time to do that. But if you do make that change, the ALL links, SEO, Ranking, etc. must start over. To save some of this, you will need to do a 301 Redirect for each old page to the new page. This is not fun.

Finally, I think domains without the hyphens do better.

Ask you client if it is worth 6 months and starting over. (It really is a dumb idea)

 

Thanks for the feedback. Glad to know I'm not too crazy...

 

very silly promoting a domain name all year then deciding later to change the domain name later on. plus, the dashes do make it look less professional. i would highly advise against it.

 

Google is able to read words without any hyphen. Yes, google is able to do that. There is no reason to change the domain.

 

If you've already achieved the rankings then surely a hyphenated domain won't make any difference?

Either way it's a stupid idea. Ask your client if they had a busy shop with lots of repeat business would they close it down and not tell anyone where they moved to?

 

I agree with this. I can't BELIEVE starting over, just because someone said hyphens might help.

 

If I'll be ask, it would be better if you'll stick on the original domain. (since you've mention that you are ranking well on your KWs).

 

your client is really stupid...good thing he has you.

Even if the juice does pass, the new name is so much harder to remember and it will look ugly on publications....show him this thread and he will learn that most people are against it.

 

you work with poeple that actually recommended changing it... or did i read wrong??? That is the stupidest idea ever, you spent 9 months building links to the site you have so KEEP THAT DOMAIN. And you don't need dashes between the words, SE read urls just fine... whatever you do DON't CHANGE THE DOMAIN!

 

Domain name can be a point scored. But compared to all the points that you are going to lose, it's rediculous. Domain name is really not that important in SEO.

If we are talking about domain names, I wonder if companyname.com is helpful anyway? Nothing to do with SEO. More with marketing. An SEO would choose keyword.com for only search engine purpose. Choosing companyname.com has more to do with branding and traditional marketing than with SEO. (which of course is more important than SEO)

Last point: A domain name without the hyphens is usually the first option. All large companies try to buy domain names with hyphens. The hyphen thing is more like a second option if the original one was taken already.

Your client's other SEO guy is wrong on all fronts. But that's just my opinion...

 

charge him double for the new domain for inconvenience

 

Nice. I'd love to but I'm sure it will lead to my departure.

 

There is nothing wrong with hyphenated domain names per say...I have several and they work fine for me.

In this case (aside from all of the SEO work that you have done) its all about branding and looking professional...AllOneWord.com domains lend an air of professionalism and confidence...most people will type AllOneWord.com into a browser before they would even think to type All-One-Word.com.

In the end "why fix what ain't broke!?"

 

I don't agree, the goal has been achieved, what's the point of changing?

 

Continue with u r won regular work..........

 

Not a Great Idea. Not only its a stupid reason (changing domain just for hyphens) but it may also cause dip in serps a little. People say Google is fine with 301 and they are, but I have often seen slight dip in serps, so unless you can get your backlinks to point to new domain, prepare for dip in serps too.