Are hyphens OK in the domain name

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by crazydiva32, Feb 10, 2011.

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  1. #1
    Hi guys,

    I am about to buy a new domain and I wondered if it will be ok to have a hyphen in it like: domain-name.com

    What kind of impact would a hyphen have on SEO?

    Thanks!

    P.S. Do you know of any popular sites which use such a domain name?
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2011
    crazydiva32, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  2. Tuxxy

    Tuxxy Guest

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    #2
    I've bought loads of domains with hyphens in them, never noticed any difference in ranking what so ever, so I'd say it's safe to with a hyphened domain :)
     
    Tuxxy, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  3. pictureboarduk

    pictureboarduk Well-Known Member

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    #3
    I believe they are interpreted as spaces, so mydomain.com and my-domain.com are similar in a way.
     
    pictureboarduk, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  4. itsallwhite

    itsallwhite Peon

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    #4
    The exact match with no hypen is the best, then in my option exact match .net and .org and then exact-match.com with hypen etc. Its strong but not as good as exact match. Probably carries similar weight to putting a short suffix or pre-fix before or after domain name,
     
    itsallwhite, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  5. clickbumped

    clickbumped Greenhorn

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    #5
    there's really no difference. The only impact you will have is people typing in your domain directly (it's hard to find the hyphen button). Other than that, it doens't matter. Plus, unless you're just going for small keywords, what they domain says doesn't have to replicate exactly what you're trying to rank for. Just use good techniques and you won't have to worry about ranking at all. I'd advise building one, large information site and adding articles with keyword research every day. :)
     
    clickbumped, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  6. deseased10

    deseased10 Peon

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    #6
    I dont think it would do much difference however I would avoid them if possible, allot easier for users to type domainname.com then domain-name.com
     
    deseased10, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  7. byronc

    byronc Peon

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    #7
    it makes no difference, the search engein programmers arnt dumb - the keywords in your domain have some juice, but in the end you have to seo it up
     
    byronc, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  8. dynamicseoservices

    dynamicseoservices Peon

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    #8
    I think you will be fine, I have personally had sites with hyphens which ranked well for the keywords I was targetting. I didn't really find myself having to do any extra SEO work to the site purely because it had a hyphen in the domain. If you have a good SEO strategy and you stick to it, you should be fine :)
     
    dynamicseoservices, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  9. Kiranraj

    Kiranraj Well-Known Member

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    #9
    i think it is ok, if you have hyphen in the domain name
     
    Kiranraj, Feb 10, 2011 IP
  10. agravity

    agravity Guest

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    #10
    Its one and the same thing, first go for exact keyword without hyphen, if not available then go for exact keyword with hyphens.
     
    agravity, Feb 11, 2011 IP
  11. crazydiva32

    crazydiva32 Peon

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    #11
    Thanks for your replies! So unless the exact match is taken I will skip the hyphen.
    Thanks again to everyone!
     
    crazydiva32, Feb 11, 2011 IP
  12. rwsseo

    rwsseo Peon

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    #12
    I think first prefer without hyphen, if it's not available then you can go with hyphen but do not use more hyphens in domain name.
     
    rwsseo, Feb 11, 2011 IP
  13. australiacampervan

    australiacampervan Greenhorn

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    #13
    I think that with hyphens and without hyphens is the same meaning, hyphens interpreted space...
     
    australiacampervan, Feb 11, 2011 IP
  14. bruce_robart

    bruce_robart Member

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    #14
    just concentrate on keywords when you buy new domains... hyphens is no matter in domain but it is matter in title...
     
    bruce_robart, Feb 11, 2011 IP
  15. Tuxxy

    Tuxxy Guest

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    #15
    Why not? It would look stupid, using a hyphen to indicate a space (Google can split up keywords, you don't need to use hypens as spaces in domains) for one space, then not using it for the second?
    TheBest-KeywordToolEver.com looks stupid
    TheBestKeywordToolEver.com or The-Best-Keyword-Tool-Ever.com

    Of course if you've only got the option of going with something like TheBest-KeywordToolEver.com, it's fine because search engines don't have eyes :)
     
    Tuxxy, Feb 11, 2011 IP