Which is better?

gray929 · 07-31-2008, 02:57 PM

Which is better?

www.buycars.com or www.buy-cars.com

Thats just a random example but is it better to have a domain with a dash or without?

Thanks

Zepia · 07-31-2008, 03:04 PM

I'd say without, I don't like hyphens, they tend to devalue the domain.

shockie · 07-31-2008, 03:48 PM

without is usually best.

teelamph · 07-31-2008, 04:20 PM

Definitely without. Think of telling someone verbally. BuyCars.com=much easier to say.

weblord · 07-31-2008, 04:29 PM

if you can get your hands on the first one, then get that one, if you're branding it and with seo, get both.

Hurley4540 · 07-31-2008, 04:33 PM

buycars dot com is better

bloggernoob · 07-31-2008, 04:54 PM

seems like an easy choice considering people don't like - in their domains. i'll start another one. what's better, buycars.net or buycars.org?

Coastalguy · 07-31-2008, 05:59 PM

No dashes if possible and the .net is better than the .org in your example IMO.

ST

gray929 · 07-31-2008, 06:55 PM

Why is it easier to brand a domain with dashes for SEO?

Thanks for the answers. . .

bmugford · 07-31-2008, 09:12 PM

In this example BuyCars.com is clearly better, however that type of domain is out of the price range of most domainers.

If you are an average domainer then Buy-Cars.com would be fantastic domain to develop.

Hyphenated domains are awesome to develop and very underrated (Look at the hypenated sales thread). As long as they have decent Word Tracker, Google Results, and PPC Ads.

The hyphenated domain indexes the same way in Google. The downside is you won't get type in traffic. However, 2-3 Word Domains rarely get type in traffic in the first place. You will also lose some traffic to the non hyphen version

But, it is much easier to develop a domain with natural search, than to use a "Brandable" domain, especially for someone with a smaller budget.

Originally Posted by bloggernoob

seems like an easy choice considering people don't like - in their domains. i'll start another one. what's better, buycars.net or buycars.org?

For a profit generating site .NET is always better.

waynej · 07-31-2008, 11:01 PM

From what I've heard so far, com beats net, net beats org, and no dashes are preferable.
BuyCars.com...wouldn't mind having that one

bmugford · 08-01-2008, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by waynej

From what I've heard so far, com beats net, net beats org, and no dashes are preferable.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/domain-newbies/498813-which-is-better.html
BuyCars.com...wouldn't mind having that one

Com is always the king, but NET/ORG the content matters.

I would rather have BuyComputers.net, but QuitSmoking.org

Vilice · 08-01-2008, 12:50 AM

I prefer the first one .I don't like the dash.Without it ,spell will be more easy and simple .May be I am lazy

ezimedia · 08-01-2008, 06:19 AM

HI

Yes without the dash is better...

Tom

netzilla · 08-01-2008, 07:47 AM

I would never use a domain that includes a hyphen UNLESS the non-hyphenated .com domain happens to be taken and the keyword(s) are a must have. I would attempt to find other keyword combinations available instead of using a hyphen though.

Pichichi · 08-01-2008, 08:28 AM

i prefer buycars all together

***Practical*** · 08-01-2008, 08:31 AM

99.999% of the time, the non-hyphen wins. There are only a few cases where it wouldn't, such as for high-end SEo situations for indexing. Bottom line is the non dash always has a higher price.

bmugford · 08-01-2008, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by UsedAgain

99.999% of the time, the non-hyphen wins. There are only a few cases where it wouldn't, such as for high-end SEo situations for indexing. Bottom line is the non dash always has a higher price.

The non dash version is always better without a doubt, however if you are planning on developing a site you have to factor in the cost.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=498813

Let's say your budget is a couple hundred. It is easier to use a hyphenated domain with high word tracker.

Let's say BuyCars.com is $25K. Buy-Cars.com would cost much less, and be just as good to develop. It is a better choice IMO than a similar domain like BuyCarsToday.com

The downside to hyphenated is mainly the loss in traffic to the non hyphenated version, but unless you have a huge budget it is small trade off for the lower cost.

dipen99@yahoo.com · 08-01-2008, 11:09 AM

all the views expressed till now are of domainers & website owners ....

but do the end-user think the same way?

they open what they want to open, be it the non-premiums, worst nouns , hyphens ... jsut anything.

It all depends on what the site is all about and how it is presented in terms of offline & online marketing.

Domain Type-ins might be lower, but then we talking about the building of brand, building a website!

e-Commerce is most common example used even though one can write ecommerce.

Think!!!! as End-user and bit of Domain-user

commsskills · 08-01-2008, 11:28 AM

my opinion is that if we want the end user perspective, then let's look at the top brands:

eg:
apple.com
ibm.com
hp.com

most are short simple words...even hewlett packard is just hp without hyphens or full spelling

so my vote goes to without hyphens

bmugford · 08-01-2008, 11:46 AM

All those brands have been built from billions of dollars in adverstising, which most companies do not have. If you had the money available you could brand ClownPenis.com into a top search engine. However, in an average budget you are better getting a domain with natural searches over something "Brandable". It takes a lot of time and money to brand a domain.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=498813

A couple examples are eBay.com and Google.com

They have been branded into the biggest auction site, and search site. But to the average person the money would not be there to brand a totally unrelated domain to the content.

However a domain related to the field like Online-Auctions.com, which would have natural search traffic would be much easier to use.

Brad

Originally Posted by commsskills

my opinion is that if we want the end user perspective, then let's look at the top brands:

eg:
apple.com
ibm.com
hp.com

most are short simple words...even hewlett packard is just hp without hyphens or full spelling

so my vote goes to without hyphens

commsskills · 08-01-2008, 01:39 PM

but it is not the money (to say that it is, is too cynical and missed out on the potential learnings)...it is the thoughts that go into building a brand...and part of those thoughts would cover the end-user experience

thus in looking at the top brands, you get a glimpse of how they incorporate the end-user experience into their branding, especially those which are technology companies

as a final example, take creative technology...they can hyphen it or do without....instead their net branding is simply creative.com

bmugford · 08-01-2008, 01:58 PM

If money is no object then clearly branding is a good option. However if I was developing a site to do with Credit Cards. I would rather have Credit-Cards.com any day over something "Brandable"

That is why quality generics sell for so much. They don't need to be branded.
If you owned Stocks.com, StockMarket.com, etc. It is pretty clear what the website is about. If you go to SomeRandomName.com it is going to take much more money to "brand" it.

Originally Posted by commsskills

but it is not the money (to say that it is, is too cynical and missed out on the potential learnings)...it is the thoughts that go into building a brand...and part of those thoughts would cover the end-user experience

thus in looking at the top brands, you get a glimpse of how they incorporate the end-user experience into their branding, especially those which are technology companies

as a final example, take creative technology...they can hyphen it or do without....instead their net branding is simply creative.com

***johname*** · 08-01-2008, 08:47 PM

www.buycars.com is better but people generally have to settle for www.buy-cars.com

bmugford · 08-01-2008, 09:03 PM

That is exactly the point. Most people can't afford BuyCars.com, Buy-Cars.com would be a good backup option and is still a better option that something completely unrelated that is "Brandable" IMO.

Originally Posted by johname

www.buycars.com is better but people generally have to settle for www.buy-cars.com

07-31-2008, 02:57 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
gray929 NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 431	Which is better? Which is better? www.buycars.com or www.buy-cars.com Thats just a random example but is it better to have a domain with a dash or without? Thanks __________________ Calling all Young Domainers! Click here!

07-31-2008, 03:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zepia NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 465	I'd say without, I don't like hyphens, they tend to devalue the domain. __________________ ZepiaGraphics.com - Logo Design, Web Graphics and much more with many satisfied NP members!

07-31-2008, 03:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
shockie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4,702	without is usually best. __________________ - shockie

07-31-2008, 04:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
teelamph NamePros Regular Join Date: May 2008 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 248	Definitely without. Think of telling someone verbally. BuyCars.com=much easier to say. __________________ BadReport(dot)Com- $25 OBO today only! PM me =).

07-31-2008, 04:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
weblord NamePros Legend Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Philippines - www.Nabaza.com Posts: 19,785	if you can get your hands on the first one, then get that one, if you're branding it and with seo, get both. __________________ Nabaza.com - Amaia

07-31-2008, 04:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hurley4540 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 2,386	buycars dot com is better

07-31-2008, 04:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
bloggernoob NamePros Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 174	seems like an easy choice considering people don't like - in their domains. i'll start another one. what's better, buycars.net or buycars.org? __________________ bloggernoob

07-31-2008, 05:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Coastalguy NamePros Expert Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Great White North Posts: 6,981	No dashes if possible and the .net is better than the .org in your example IMO. ST __________________ FOR SALE: MLSHomes.org/MLSRealEstate.tv/VWTH.com

07-31-2008, 06:55 PM	THREAD STARTER #9 (permalink)
gray929 NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 431	Why is it easier to brand a domain with dashes for SEO? Thanks for the answers. . . __________________ Calling all Young Domainers! Click here!

07-31-2008, 11:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
waynej NamePros Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 70	From what I've heard so far, com beats net, net beats org, and no dashes are preferable. BuyCars.com...wouldn't mind having that one __________________ ProxyDoxy.com - Submit Your Proxy Here! Wonder where your proxy is listed?

08-01-2008, 12:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
Vilice NamePros Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 66	I prefer the first one .I don't like the dash.Without it ,spell will be more easy and simple .May be I am lazy __________________ Hostmonster special promo Discount link $4.95/mth - Unlimited storage space, unlimited bandwidth transfer

08-01-2008, 06:19 AM	#14 (permalink)
ezimedia Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: IllawarraClassifieds.com.au Posts: 2,360 Follow @ezimedia	HI Yes without the dash is better... Tom __________________ My Domains @ Bido.com - Take a LOOK and Vote Or Bid Free Directory Submitter - More Free Seo Tools - Free Forum Poster Software

08-01-2008, 07:47 AM	#15 (permalink)
netzilla Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,717	I would never use a domain that includes a hyphen UNLESS the non-hyphenated .com domain happens to be taken and the keyword(s) are a must have. I would attempt to find other keyword combinations available instead of using a hyphen though.

08-01-2008, 08:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
Pichichi Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,038	i prefer buycars all together __________________ Free and Unlimited sitemap generator - Zitemaps.com ResultadosDeportivos.net \| PlanetaWebs.com

08-01-2008, 08:31 AM	#17 (permalink)
*Practical* Name Seller Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 1,066 Follow @dnauctions	99.999% of the time, the non-hyphen wins. There are only a few cases where it wouldn't, such as for high-end SEo situations for indexing. Bottom line is the non dash always has a higher price.

08-01-2008, 11:09 AM	#19 (permalink)
dipen99@yahoo.com Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ND Posts: 585	all the views expressed till now are of domainers & website owners .... but do the end-user think the same way? they open what they want to open, be it the non-premiums, worst nouns , hyphens ... jsut anything. It all depends on what the site is all about and how it is presented in terms of offline & online marketing. Domain Type-ins might be lower, but then we talking about the building of brand, building a website! e-Commerce is most common example used even though one can write ecommerce. Think!!!! as End-user and bit of Domain-user

08-01-2008, 11:28 AM	#20 (permalink)
commsskills NamePros Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 106	my opinion is that if we want the end user perspective, then let's look at the top brands: eg: apple.com ibm.com hp.com most are short simple words...even hewlett packard is just hp without hyphens or full spelling so my vote goes to without hyphens

08-01-2008, 01:39 PM	#22 (permalink)
commsskills NamePros Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 106	but it is not the money (to say that it is, is too cynical and missed out on the potential learnings)...it is the thoughts that go into building a brand...and part of those thoughts would cover the end-user experience thus in looking at the top brands, you get a glimpse of how they incorporate the end-user experience into their branding, especially those which are technology companies as a final example, take creative technology...they can hyphen it or do without....instead their net branding is simply creative.com

08-01-2008, 08:47 PM	#24 (permalink)
*johname* Business Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 12,997	www.buycars.com is better but people generally have to settle for www.buy-cars.com

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