Which is better for SEO

[eprog]

I am registering a domain for a new site. For example, my target keyword is weight lost. WeightLost.com or Weight-Lost.com, which is better for SEO? Or they are just the same for SEO.

Thank you!

 

[TestCase]

I am registering a domain for a new site. For example, my target keyword is weight lost. WeightLost.com or Weight-Lost.com, which is better for SEO? Or they are just the same for SEO.

Thank you!

First off, the SEO value of a domain is only one (very small) factor in search engine algorithms. If you are serious about building a long term, successful site, I always go with the non-hyphenated version if it available because:

• Most people are used to all words running together in a domain name, not separating them with hyphens.

• Most hyphenated domains (in my experience) tend to be spammy so I automatically approach them very cautiously -- or not at all.

• If you don't get the non-hyphenated version and leave it behind, somebody else might pick it up and ride your coattails of success with your site -- much to your detriment. (Sometimes this is referred to as, "leakage" or "bleed".) Kind of like people going to WhiteHouse.COM instead of WhiteHouse.GOV.

Your mileage may very...

Ps. By the way, I do own a handful of very targeted hyphenated names that used to rank quite well (pg 1 or 2) on Yahoo & MSN (but never Google) for their first couple of years, but they don't even come up in the top 10 pages anymore. Yet, I still have non-hyphenated dn's that are less targeted/keyword rich in the same niche that are usually on pages 1 or 2 on Yahoo, MSN AND Google for the primary keyword/phrases.

 

[bizcorp]

I would always choose the unhyphenated domain over the hyphenated domain name. in my opinion it is better for SEO. Also in terms of resale value, the unhyphenated domain name will sell for more as well.

 

[jondoe0069]

First off, the SEO value of a domain is only one (very small) factor in search engine algorithms.

I focus more on SEO than domaining and I would highly disagree with this statement. Google's algorithm puts a great deal of weight on keywords in the domain, especially exact keyword match domains. Yahoo and Bing give even more weight in my experience. From all the testing I've done, even the extension matters noticeably. I have had exact match .info names with no other extensions developed have trouble ranking in Google, while my exact match .com names with more competition for the keyword rank much more easily. I'm not sure why this is, but my theory is that the algorithm basically says- if you've captured the flag (exact keyword match .com domain) and have your other on-page SEO ducks in a row, you must be pretty authoritative for that keyword and you start with an advantage.

Think about it - if you have the exact match .com in a competitive niche, you were either in that niche early or invested a good amount of money into acquiring the domain. I don't see how any good SE algorithm wouldn't put a good amount of weight on this factor based on the seriousness about the keyword/ niche it displays.

I'm not saying it's the biggest part of the algo, but it's definitely very important and gives you an advantage.

Back to the original question - no dashes. Search engines are great at picking words out of a URL and Google is getting really good at matching words up with synonyms in context to find other relevant results. Dashes should be looked at like .info domains or any other domain that is likely to be available for a lot of good keyword phrases... spammers tend to use them a lot, so they likely pull less weight in helping you rank. Also, if you want return visitors, dashes will kill you.

Nothing against .info or dashes though. I own plenty of both, but I would trade them in any day for the no dash .com versions.

 

[DubDubDubDot]

Google's algorithm puts a great deal of weight on keywords in the domain, especially exact keyword match domains.

This was mentioned in another thread, so I'll quote my reply there here also...

The Summit study used 9,000 keyword searches and found that having a keyword in the URL made little difference. Only 6% of results on the first three pages had the keyword(s) in the URL. If keyword domains had the SEO advantage that many domainers claim, this number should be much higher.

I have had exact match .info names with no other extensions developed have trouble ranking in Google,

How old were your .info domains when you noticed this? IMO Google may not trust .info until it has some age. We know that they penalize .coms for having too many hyphens since that is the mark of a spammer, so there is no reason why they wouldn't do the same for a period of time with .info since they cost so little and are indeed a popular choice for shady webmasters as pump & dump domains.

 

[jondoe0069]

This was mentioned in another thread, so I'll quote my reply there here also...




How old were your .info domains when you noticed this? IMO Google may not trust .info until it has some age. We know that they penalize .coms for having too many hyphens since that is the mark of a spammer, so there is no reason why they wouldn't do the same for a period of time with .info since they cost so little and are indeed a popular choice for shady webmasters as pump & dump domains.

I should have clarified. Everything I said was basically based on brand new domains. I don't disagree that an aged .info is not that difficult to get moving up the ranks. I do have .info names that I developed more than a year or two ago that do well in the rankings for their target keywords.

 

[Name Trader]

I would register both domains and forward the hyphenated domain to the non-hyphenated domain.

 

[enlytend]

The Summit study used 9,000 keyword searches and found that having a keyword in the URL made little difference. Only 6% of results on the first three pages had the keyword(s) in the URL.

With all due respect, I believe that piece of data from their study (which was designed to point out differences between Caffiene and classic "Vanilla" Google results, not as a comparison of the effectiveness of keyword vs non keyword domains) only shows prevalence of keyword url's in the SERPS - nothing more.

Among other things, there's no data as to whether the domains corresponding to those 9000 keywords are parked, developed, or even registered - or if developed, how effectively the respective domains have dealt with off-page factors and other on-page factors which would contribute to good rankings. You'd need to have those controls in the study for it to prove/disprove anything about the relative strength of keyword domains as a ranking factor.

General consensus is that keyword(s) in domain is currently one powerful, on-page ranking factor, BUT, it's just one ingredient in the soup. It helps, it's not a guarantee and it certainly isn't a necessity.

Answer to the original question: Either is fine, the non-hyphenated version is better for visitors.

 

[varunsharma23]

weightloss is the best for SEO

 

[amelia20]

Obviously weightlost is much more preferable than the hyphenated one.

 

[jondoe0069]

General consensus is that keyword(s) in domain is currently one powerful, on-page ranking factor, BUT, it's just one ingredient in the soup. It helps, it's not a guarantee and it certainly isn't a necessity.

I think it is one of the major ingredients in the soup. It definitely starts you off with a big advantage. I recently picked up the .com of a client's number one keyword and threw up a quick informational site with all other on page SEO done. As soon as it was indexed, it moved quickly past a lot of the competition (first page) who all had pretty good on page SEO targeting the exact keyword and several links pointed to their sites. No sandbox either. The rank has held and is slowly moving up as I build links.

There are several other factors and someone without the keyword in their domain could outrank me if they put enough effort into it, but I think it starts you off with a huge advantage to have an exact match domain or at least have the major keyword(s) in your domain (without being spammy of course).

 

[Mesa SEO Solutions]

Search engines have gotten so sophisticated over the years that it really doesn't make any difference. I do not use - in the domain name, but I do for individual pages. I do this for the searcher and not the search engine.

 

[AbsoluteKC]

Dashes should not have any impact on SEO but for branding purposes, yes!

 

[Khamed]

Obviously weightlost is much more preferable than the hyphenated one.

Agree with You..
How about if some popular phrase already taken by other people, and idea?
Thanks

 

[andr69]

I am registering a domain for a new site. For example, my target keyword is weight lost. WeightLost.com or Weight-Lost.com, which is better for SEO? Or they are just the same for SEO.

Thank you!

To my mind the best variant in your case will be weightlost or weightloosing, because your potential customers will hardly embarrass themselves printing "Weight-Lost". I can give you one advice about generating keywords: always remember about your customers - how are they going to search for necessary information?

 

[weblaunch]

Non-hyphenated is a better choice. Domain names are very important for ranking well but they're not the only factor. That said, I don't think many people will go to search engines to search for "weight lost" or "lost weight". I would look instead for names containing "lose weight" or "weight loss".

 

[pwslinks]

Domain Name Registration

For me, a domain name without any special character is an advantage....although your domain name is not that a big factor to rank your website, but for the users, its easier if the word doesn't contain any special character....

 

[Dirky47]

I will definitely use the unhyphenated domain name for you.

 

[Hafsoh]

The problem with hyphens in domain names is visitors might get confused and enter the wrong URL, domain names without hyphens are easier to spell, read aloud, and remember when you're talking directly to another person. However, hyphens do seem to add legibility in print and in link text.
Hyphenated name is easier to read, un-hyphenated domain name is easier to type.
Hyphenated names are SEO friendly as long as the URL or hyperlink do not include the strings or dynamic URL.

 

[vishal9717]

Hi there

Domain name should be in small and running form not in hyphenated type.