So what's wrong with hyphens

[cera]

I mean something like d-o-m-a-i-n-n-a-m-e.com is just plain dumb, but what's wrong with (for example) the-car-shop.com?

Obviously thecarshop.com would be preferred, but the hyphenated version is actually easier to read (for business card/print/email ads).
I would think that from a SEO point of view the hyphenated version would be better.
Do people really have a problem figuring out the difference between a hyphen and an underscore?

 

[LeeRyder]

I think most here appraise domains on the the odds of it being typed into the tool bar at random by visitors.

I personally don't do it that way, but instead go by what I feel google would be likely to push to the top of their pages.

nothing "really" wrong with 1 hyphen though (imo) in most cases.

 

[Redleg]

If you're planning to use the domain for a site you should get both..

use the one with hyphen(s) as the main domain for your site (for SEO), and forward the other one to the site (for type-ins..)

You will loose type-in traffic to the non-hyphen domain if you don't have it..
(I know this from experience...)

 

[cera]

I think most here appraise domains on the the odds of it being typed into the tool bar at random by visitors.

Huh??
Well I'm a web site developer, not a domain name expert by any means, but the only time I would expect anyone to guess at a domain name would be if they're looking for a company whose name is a 'household word' kinda name like campbells soup or pepsi cola.

Have I been wasting my time with seo for my clients?

 

[domainsusi]

I know this is out of context - but::::::::

I Eat Cannibals


:lol:

ROLF - That's just too much - great signature !!

susi

 

[Wanda]

A Hyphenated domain name can not be advertised/promoted well in print or radio.
Bottom line..

 

[LeeRyder]

I agree cera. Even my father who is in his mid 60's types what they want in google. I just dont see hypenated names posing a great issue for sites like these. Sure, you may lose mayb 10% of traffic that uses the "Old Way" of typing it on the browser bar.. but for google standings, google ignores extension and hyphens.

However, when you have domains like this:

www.I-Want_to_buy_a_doman.com well, its a waste... kinda contradictory i know, but no one will be a repeat visitor by typing that in everyt ime they want to come. And we all know that only 1-10% of people add our sites the favorites.

Of course, others have valid reasonings as to why I am wrong on this as well.

 

[cera]

Wanda:

Radio - no argument there - the hyphen just doesn't work.
Print - I think the hyphen can actually help. Of course there are going to be some potential visitors who will see the-car-shop.com and remember thecarshop.com

Redleg: Both would be preferable, for sure.

 

[HFear]

It would be better if you got the domain name with hyphens and without hyphens if you wanted to register one. That would make it easier for the visitors to remember the URL to your website, too much hyphens are annoying and hard to remember.

 

[biggie]

I don't discriminate when selecting domains.

I've sold quite a few hyphenated domains, even hyphenated .org domains!

 

[Qwert]

So is 1 hyphen in the middle of a domain, like ice-tea.com bad? Does it affect if it shows up in search engines and stuff? I can understand something like i-c-e-t-e-a.com would be bad, cause no one took it. although ice-tea was taken (I wanted that one).

 

[johnny6]

hyphens are awkward. outside of the normal typing zone. inefficient.

 

[cera]

hyphens are awkward. outside of the normal typing zone. inefficient.

That might be the best argument against hyphens that I've heard yet.
Well that and 'no good for radio promo'

 

[identity_00]

seo

The reason why you'd get a hypen word is to cover multiple keywords in one domain. Such as: web-marketing-careers.com. It works well for
"web marketing" "web careers" "marketing careers"
"Web marketing careers" ect...you can cover many areas and your domain is keyword riched.

With that in mind "the-car-shop.com" doesnt have much keyword value except for "car shop".

Some people believe hypen domains do better in search engines and there is some truth to this but the difference of not having one really isnt that big of a difference. It has been awhile - Google may have already phased this out of their system because of spammers.

I honestly dont care for them but to each his/her own. The difference isnt that noticable. I always prefer a good business name then build my keywords around it with content and links.

hypens do have some value if you can get a good one for sure.

 

[mole]

I think its an anal reflex thing - a hyphen has the same general connotations as not having the .com, you couldn't get the best and had to settle for second best. Hyphenated brand names? No way..... you get the drift.

 

[maxxwebb]

A Hyphenated domain name can not be advertised/promoted well in print or radio.
Bottom line..

Agreed!

I have to add something...

Hyphens are "also rans" IMO
Hyphens & MARKETING do not go together
Hyphens "may or may not" help with search rankings? Probably not.

I personally would NEVER buy anything from a hyphenated domain website.

I also do not buy into the "protect" my non-hyphenated domain sh**

Hyphenated domains illustrate a "too lazy to be creative" approach to
business IMO again

And, many of the hyphenated domain sites I have happened upon are
"fly by night" scams or junk sites...

Of course, that's just me...

 

[.edu]

A Hyphenated domain name can not be advertised/promoted well in print or radio.
Bottom line..

Bingo! Especially in radio, I have never heard an ad that promoted a "hyphen" in their domain, not to mention it sure could confuse some people that are not experienced on the net.

 

[Anthony]

Adding a hyphen or hyphens into the URL is practically like making the name one or two words LONGER! THE-DASH-CAR-DASH-SHOP-DOT-COM seems a lot longer than THE-CAR-SHOP-DOT-COM.

 

[Brie]

I don't like having to type a hypen when going to a website , but getting both hyphen and without would get you at least a bit more traffic than if you went with just one.

 

[RakeshRaja]

humm i dont think hypens are good in domains