Question about word grouping

I am not sure why, but when I run a search for "artcontests" on Google, I am #1 on the list. When I try "art contests", I am nowhere to be found. My title is "Art Contests - A Singular Creation" so I am not sure why such a disparity from one result to the other.

thanks for any suggestions

 

how is your url structured?

is it art_contests or artcontests (which can be seen as artcontests)

or art-contests (which is "art contests")

Just one idea.

 

I am very glad you mentioned that, because that is what I thought the issue could be. It is artcontests. Is a "-" better than "_" ?

thanks

 

It is better to use "-" over "_"

 

artcontests is single word with no specfic meaning or value.art contests are 2 words for search bots.Try to give space between then in content or anc txt and use - in URLs.

 

Thank you so much for all of your replies. I changed all of my important pages to reflect a '-' instead of a '_'

I guess it will now take a bit of time for Google to find the new pages.

best regards,
Joe