A dash (-) in domain - Any affects on ranking?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by An_igma, Oct 20, 2008.

  1. #1
    I need to launch a website and the domain i was looking to register is already acquired. But the domain with a dash (-) between those two words is available. Will it affect my seo campaign? If yes, then to what extent?

    Say i m looking to optimize my website for the term "web developer" and www[dot]webdeveloper[dot]com is taken.

    Should i go for

    www[dot]web-developer[dot]com
    or
    www[dot]webdeveloper[dot]com.pk (.in, .uk, .ca)
     
    An_igma, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  2. serialCoder

    serialCoder Guest

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    #2
    although the domains without dashes looks better, google looks at them the same way :)
     
    serialCoder, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  3. mit

    mit Well-Known Member

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    #3
    If this domain is available, you should go with it even with the hypens..
     
    mit, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  4. sultanofseo

    sultanofseo Notable Member

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    #4
    dash doesnt matter in terms of ranking but domain without dash is good for branding
     
    sultanofseo, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  5. kpatelseo

    kpatelseo Peon

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    #5
    dash doesnt matter in terms of ranking, but more than 2 dash seems spammy website.
     
    kpatelseo, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  6. An_igma

    An_igma Peon

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    #6
    True, but i m confused between

    1)Choosing a brand name and then working on it
    2)Going for the highly searched key phrases (as my domain) and trying to get the maximum traffic from search engines

    What would you suggest?
     
    An_igma, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  7. vickyseo

    vickyseo Banned

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    #7
    i think no matter against SERP
     
    vickyseo, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  8. Kneoteric_eSolutions

    Kneoteric_eSolutions Banned

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    #8
    Keywords in domain name has a minuscule effect on search engine ranking, if any. So when looking for domain name you should try and get one that can be easily remember, conveys something about your brand or product/service and the TLD is relevant to the area you wish to target. That should be it then.
     
    Kneoteric_eSolutions, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  9. An_igma

    An_igma Peon

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    #9
    How can you say that? If you are optimizing for the phrases like "web designing services" ... Don't you think a domain like

    www[dot]webdesigningservice[dot]com

    gets an immediate advantage over others?
     
    An_igma, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  10. jzarante1231

    jzarante1231 Guest

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    #10
    It does not matter what your domain name is as long as it does not look rubbish. Any domain name is treated by the search engines the same ways as the others. But it is good to have your main keywords on it. That can give the users an idea of what your site is all about.
     
    jzarante1231, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  11. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #11
    Hyphen domains are good for SEO.
     
    dcristo, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  12. An_igma

    An_igma Peon

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    #12
    They are? How come?
    Do you mean they are ok for seo or they are better than no-hyphen domains?
     
    An_igma, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  13. dcristo

    dcristo Illustrious Member

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    #13
    Hyphens act as word separators, so good for SEO. Although google also favors exact match domains. If you had a choose, go with exact match domain because it could get type in traffic, but often it's already taken.
     
    dcristo, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  14. SonnyCooL

    SonnyCooL Peon

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    #14
    yah i believe so ...
    cause i have a keyword domain + extension (bitching dot asia), i started to pose photo gallery for a week and start rank top 10 in google serp n after a month rank 13 google , rank 3 yahoo n rank 1 in msn, the best is all related name (asian bitch, bitch in asia, asian bitching) all rank well ......
    I done the serp with out any promotion or back link build :)
    So i believe in domain keyword ... :)
     
    SonnyCooL, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  15. seodilip

    seodilip Active Member

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    #15
    It does not have any effect with SERP but it depends upon your mind that do u want to separate your domain keyword if yes, then domain with "-" will be good otherwise without "-" is also fine.
     
    seodilip, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  16. justinlorder

    justinlorder Peon

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    #16
    In my opinion, hypens in domain doesn't affect ranking at all.
    I have managed a site with hypens, it ranks in first SERP pages .
     
    justinlorder, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  17. catanich

    catanich Peon

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    #17
    Hyphens in your domain name is ok but keep it to one if possible and no more than two.

    Note: In a tie where everything else is equal, the no-hyphen will be better but links will overcome this quickly.
     
    catanich, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  18. zeruel

    zeruel Peon

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    #18
    It certainly wouldn't affect the rankings. I believe it will base on how well you work hard in optimizing your site. Doing well in on-page optimization could certainly get a better results during off-page optimization.

    Also, even if a domain name has wrong spelling of the keyword, i can still rank well.

    Just my [​IMG]
     
    zeruel, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  19. wsitehelp

    wsitehelp Guest

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    #19
    no effect on SEO, same as domain without dashes, like said above avoid more than one dash for the domain name.
     
    wsitehelp, Oct 20, 2008 IP
  20. An_igma

    An_igma Peon

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    #20
    What about using hyphen to target two phrases

    Say i have to target the following key phrases

    1) buy clothes
    2) sell clothes

    What about www[dot]buy-sellclothes[dot]com

    :rolleyes:
     
    An_igma, Oct 20, 2008 IP