The truth about hyphenated domain names

There is a lot of confusion about the use of hyphens being used in domain names. While researching hyphenated domain names I found a lot of conflicting information so I will give you a distilled view of what is currently believed to be the facts regarding hyphens in domains.

When I started Name Search Domain I had a lot of trouble finding a domain that I could use to reflect the topic of my site. After quite a bit of research I decided on NameSearchDomain.com, without hyphens.

It used to be the case that using a hyphen to separate keywords in your domain name would give you a better ranking in the search engines. For a while this was the case but due to the over zealous use of keywords in domain names, search engines now consider this as a spamming technique. Using hyphens in your domain name still makes it easier for search engines to read but it generally will not benefit your ranking.

If you use an unhyphenated domain name like myself using keywords it is generally believed that search engines such as Google can pick out the keywords. If you use hyphens then the keywords are easier to pick out from your domain name. So if there is no search engine benefit to using hyphens and keywords in domain names why do people still use them. The answer is undoubtedly anchor link benefits and ease of readability.

If you have hyphens in your domain name it is easier for a human to read and recognise the keywords in a domain. Take a look at specialistcheeseemporium.com or visit specialist-cheese-emporium.com. It is quite obvious that the hyphenated version is going to be recognised more easily.

Recognising the domain name is one thing but entering a domain name into your browser is another. It is easier for someone to type the unhyphenated domain name and it is easier for someone to give out the domain name to a customer if it doesn't have hyphens in it. Some people may not know what a hyphen is.

There is believed to be another benefit of keywords in domain names and that is anchor links, that is keywords in back links to your site. If a webmaster links back to your site from their site they often use the domain name as the anchor text. This is obviously good for you as it helps in reinforcing those keywords with your site to the search engines. So if your site is specialistcheeseemporium.com they may type this as all one word or possibly as specialist cheese emporium. For the hyphenated version they would probably type specialist-cheese-emporium.com.

So when choosing your domain name and deciding on whether to use hyphens you need to consider how the domain name is going to be interpreted and used by other people, not machines. I chose my domain name without hyphens purely because most people will type domains without the hyphens. I do use hyphens but only in my filenames as this makes it easier for people to read and people are less likely to type in a page name as they are a domain name.

Find out more about Domain Names at Name Search Domain. Stuff you need to know if you are thinking of buying a domain name.

---

.info Freedom Frenzy

Whether you're someone that registers domain names on a regular... Read More

Tips and Tricks To Getting Top Money for your Domain Names

Would you like to be that lucky person who sells... Read More

Making Money with Expired Domains

There are billions of websites and thousands more popping up... Read More

How to Profit with Domain Name Speculation

Domain Name speculation has become big business. According to recent... Read More

Domain Name Secrets Revealed

If internet is about interactivity between websites, domain name is... Read More

Domain Name Strategies Maximize Profits

Whether you want to come up with your own original... Read More

8 Tips for Choosing a Domain Name

If you're just starting out on the Internet, choosing a... Read More

How To Boost Affiliate Profits Using Secret Domain Tricks

Want to increase your affiliate link click-through rates and profits?Then... Read More

Why to Register md-Domains?

What is .md?.md is the web address that identifies you,... Read More

Cheap and Easy Domain Name Registration

Just like any business, your identity is very important. On... Read More

Eu-Domains For Everybody

Cologne,10 July 2004. ICANN accredited registar Secura announces today, that... Read More

How to Profit from Expired Domain Name Registration

After the dot com crash, expired domain names and expired... Read More

Public Domain - Internet Gold Mine

With the advent of the internet and the ease of... Read More

Internet Domain Registration ? Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions on Domain Name Registration

Here are the top ten most frequently asked questions regarding... Read More

Got a Small Business? Choose the Right Domain Name

Choosing a domain name can be daunting. Research the subject... Read More

Know How DNS Works

Domain name Servers (DNS) are an important but invisible part... Read More

How to Get Rich Playing With WORDS!

How many times have you read or heard on the... Read More

How to Conduct a Domain Name Search and Why Your Domain Name Matters for Long Term Branding

Creating a website is not just about designing your pages... Read More

The net-Domain: Backbone of the Web

We do not always realize that figures are just quantity... Read More

Warning: Your Domain Name Could Infringe On Trademark Rights!

If you have or are about to purchase a domain... Read More

How to Choose the Right Domain Name for Your Company

As the editor of DomainNameWire.com, I'm frequently e-mailed by people... Read More

42 Killer Domain Secrets Exposed!

The Basic StuffEvery website needs a domain name. Example "WebBootCamp.com"... Read More

Is Your Domain Name On Someones Wanted List?

A good domain name is, and will always be, essential... Read More

10 Things to Ponder when Picking Your .com

1. Proper names VS Common Names. First of all there... Read More

Understand the Domain Name System

Ever wonder why DNS systems came into existence? Efficiency. Every... Read More

ICANN Registrar: Great promotion by is-domains!

ICANN accredited registar Secura is announcing today, that the company... Read More

How Do I Buy a Domain Name?

Q: I'd like to buy a domain, but I discovered... Read More

Think All the Good Domain Names are Taken?

Have you heard of the other tlds (top leve domains)... Read More

The Value of a Good Domain Name

Domain names to the internet are the as necessary as... Read More

Domain Name Goldmines: Expired Traffic Investing In The 21st Century

I get pretty frustrated when thinking back to the days... Read More

WhyYouNeedThatPerfectName.com!

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose,... Read More

What is a Domain Name and Where to Register?

A domain name is an alias for an IP address.... Read More

How to Choose the Right Domain Name

What's in a name? Everything! A domain name is the... Read More