Dash or no dash?

[dtommy79]

Hi guys,

From search engine point of view which domain name do you think is better? The one with a dash or without?

for example if you have a domain name like (these are just examples)

secondhandcars.com

or

second-hand-cars.com

I heard that search engines like the ones with dash(es) and rank them faster, and also it's easier to find sites that use domain names with dash.

Is it true? What do you think?

 

[NLP]

Most people around here (the US) will tell you to avoid dashes like the plague. From a search engine perspective, though, it doesn't really matter, because sites with hyphens get ranked just as well (following proper SEO and content, as usual).

It kind of depends on where you're located. Europeans (specifically Germans) don't seem to mind hyphens so much, and even embrace them. Also, if the words you're using are long, hyphens can actually make the name easier to read.

I deal with a lot of German names, so I'm not as "anti-hyphen" as everyone else. In general I would say:

1. If it's a high quality name and it's available without a hyphen, take it.
2. Take a hyphenated name as a second choice, if the keywords are good.

Good luck!

P.S.: "secondhand" is one word, so in this case, "second-hand" doesn't look good. I would not register that particular version.

 

[DnEbook]

i did read somewhere that search engines might consider more than one hyphen to be spam , can anyone comment on that ?

 

[NetOctave]

Here is an interesting topic regarding dashes. Its about the site that receives 50,000 unique visitors a month and has a dash..

http://sullysblog.com/Shower-Curtins

 

[howinfo]

I am running a little experiment with domain name with some dashes in it http://www.kent-courier-delivery-transport.co.uk

I did have really good result with the domain with one dash so I did go bit further and got this one. The site is quite new so it is still early days. I was worried at the beginning that Google might think that I am taking the Mickey, but it got indexed very fast.

I have noticed that in UK lot of businesses have gone for hyphenated version and sometimes non-hyphenated domain is still available.

As from domainers point of view I think that that hyphen can slightly reduce the value of the domain name.

 

[cache]

I think most people may regard the multiple dashes as spam.

 

[dbtbandit67]

no dash

dash is ugly

 

[DnEbook]

no dash

dash is ugly

tell that to the man getting 50,000 hits to his website that makes money

 

[carob]

Usually search engines disregard the dash/hyphen - it's like it's not there.

IMO some businesses with multiword names prefer this as a way to keep the name readable.

I've also seen businesses register and use a hyphenated version when the unhyphenated version was free.

 

[DnEbook]

it has never hurt mercedes-benz or mitsubishi-motors , only domainers carry on about hyphens , people with developed sites are not as fussed and don't care about the sheep comments made by domainers , you only have to look at dnjournal each week to see a few hyphen sales that no doubt have the seller smiling

 

[Abdel]

it has never hurt mercedes-benz or mitsubishi-motors , only domainers carry on about hyphens , people with developed sites are not as fussed and don't care about the sheep comments made by domainers , you only have to look at dnjournal each week to see a few hyphen sales that no doubt have the seller smiling

Here some hyphens domain sales

DNjournal

Heimarbeit-Online.de $15,180
alcohol-treatment.com $2,788
trockene-augen.com $2,701
zeitschriften-abo.com $2,484
social-search.com $3,963
PP-Gruppe.de $9,032
Power-Bleaching.de $8,970
coiffure-cheveux.fr $4,416
123-provisionsfrei.de $2,070
E-Service.co.uk $1,500
Business-Intelligence.org $4,140

 

[Skinny]

From a search engine perspective it really doesn't matter.

I personally hate hyphens. And having more then one in the domain name doesn't look too good. If I had a choice I would choose the domain without a hyphen.

Skinny

 

[DnEbook]

one day maybe no cheap hyphen names to be had ?????

thanks for quick list

 

[clasione]

Stay away from more than 1 dash... Multiple dashes is a thing of the past... I would only go one dash if it really makes sence and super keyword value, but I would not go two dashes or more under any circumstances today, IMO... Just looks spammy and I would expect search engines to know what you're up to.

 

[bmugford]

There is nothing wrong with one well placed hyphen between keywords.

Brad

 

[DnEbook]

Stay away from more than 1 dash... Multiple dashes is a thing of the past... I would only go one dash if it really makes sence and super keyword value, but I would not go two dashes or more under any circumstances today, IMO... Just looks spammy and I would expect search engines to know what you're up to.

i was doing a search the other day and to my surprise made-in-china.com came up as number three

 

[carob]

Hi guys,

From search engine point of view which domain name do you think is better? The one with a dash or without?

for example if you have a domain name like (these are just examples)

secondhandcars.com

or

second-hand-cars.com

I heard that search engines like the ones with dash(es) and rank them faster, and also it's easier to find sites that use domain names with dash.

Is it true? What do you think?

Actually you asked about how search engines see it, but there are other questions coming up, namely

1 How do domainers see it?
Most US domainers do not like hyphens.

2 How do site owners or businesses see it?

The hyphenated aftermarket domain can be cheaper, to some it may look cheaper.

3 How do site users see it?
Depends on context - hyphenated names in busy public places or on vehicles are easier to get.


4 Do you lose type-in traffic?
Probably yes, and a competitor can use the unhyphenated version.

 

[SiberForum]

If Dash is present in your business name - use it. If not - try to avoid if possible.

 

[chillaxin]

Its been a while since I posted something useful about my beloved hyphens. I approve of the hyphen. Carry on....