Should dashes be used?

[chuckzom]

in domain names, does it even make a difference as far as seo goes?

[Head Boy]

A hyphenated domain will always lose traffic to the non-hyphen.

I don't believe that names are a major factor in SEO any more, however a hyphenated name is easier to read, and could temp a surfer to click on your link in the SERPs. Far fewer people include hyphens when they type in urls on spec.

If that seems designed to confuse you, then just look at domain values. The non-hyphen will be worth a lot more than the hyphen (other things being equal of course).

[DirtyJumbo]

For SEO there's no difference, I have 1 hyphenated domain that gets 90% of it's traffic from Google..

[Blinky]

Originally Posted by DirtyJumbo

For SEO there's no difference, I have 1 hyphenated domain that gets 90% of it's traffic from Google..

Yep, I've always avoided hyphenated domains but when building for SE traffic it hardly makes a difference.

[GTP Dave]

hyphenated names are fine ...

[rogue]

i have noticed a few mainstream sites on telly using hyphenated domains, i think its proberbly because they could only get those names now

[Head Boy]

I love it when someone puts a busy site on the hyphenated version of one of my names. I know that I'm going to have a nice jump in free traffic.

[Sarah_MaxCash]

my most profitable domains have hyphens but I am sure there is more to do with the content. I don't do it to compete with the non-hyphen version but more when there are a lot of words in the domain.

[freechess]

i don't see why you should stay away from hyphens myself. just

use your best judgement

[Toker]

Originally Posted by chuckzom

in domain names, does it even make a difference as far as seo goes?

It depends on who you ask. The old time hard liners will say NO but
watching the Sales say otherwise.
If you have the funds to reg them and hold them for awhile you'll
come out a winner as long as they're the right ones which brings out
another thread..
All in all tho I own alot of them but what do I know??
Remember .infos were a bad buy and some are selling in the thousands
now and so are some -s

[Head Boy]

There's no money in non-hyphenated .coms, you guys should stop reg'ing them.

[Toker]

Originally Posted by Head Boy

There's no money in non-hyphenated .coms, you guys should stop reg'ing them.

You're right about reging "no money in non-hyphenated .coms"
at least trying to find a good one anyway...
Percentage wise making a good proffit is easier with a - com than
finding a profitable non - com............

[glowlite]

I almost always buy both. If one is not available I usually don't buy either.

I normally use the hyphenated and then redirect the non-hyphenated with a 3 second stall page.

[Toker]

I buy them, here's a few I've picked up, and I have a lot more long
ones that are two-words.

4-get.com
An-t.com
D-og.com
oh-o.com
1-of.com
m-oo.com
bs-u.com
1-xx.com
1-xp.com
x-fax.com
1-404.com
ask-tech.com
trojan-fix.com
net-virus.com
18-karat.com
bs-site.com
best-insurer.com
trojan-killer.com
shop-nascar.com
ghost-site.com
web-poker-sites.com
1-800-cruiseship.com
CD-Get.com
Abov-e.com
Pharmacy-Mall.com
1tbs.com
i-trojan.com
web-bug.net
USA-GO.us
budget-webhost.net
photo-copiers.net
o-so.net
web-pharmacy.us
my-pc.us
1-s.biz
m-0.biz
00-0.biz
00-0.eu
u-y.biz
u-y.us
2-u.us
m-0.us
1-b.us
1-x.us
4-N.us
It-is.us
1-of.us
00-0.ws
u-do.us
i-fly.us

[Head Boy]

I must be an old stick-in-the-mud Toker. I wouldn't reg any of those.

[Toker]

Originally Posted by Head Boy

I must be an old stick-in-the-mud Toker. I wouldn't reg any of those.

Ya but you putz around here all day instead of going and selling them.
Believe me I'll make money on them..................

I think it was you that said not to reg any Mobi's when I posted a thread
about them coming out also and look what some of them are selling for..
You should be able to make money off any domain if you know where to sell it!

Remember Lez1.com?
I turned down $100.00 for it last month and you know what I paid for it..