"Yes, You Can Use Hyphens in Your Domain Name: It Makes Them Easy to Read."
by Syd Johnson
Most of the desirable one-word, two-word, and three-word dot com domains are taken. However, if you add plurals and hyphenated terms, there is still some gold left in the domain name game. If you find that you need or want to use a phrase or a compound word with two or more words strung together, you can use hyphens. All of the search engine robots read a hyphen as a blank space, so you don’t gain or lose anything when you use hyphenated words.
The most important reason for using hyphens is readability. Your keywords are ranked by robots. Your website is read by human beings. If your domain name is youronlinewebcompany.com, it would be much easier to read it as Your-Online-Web-Company.com.
A domain name, as well as an online business, is a long term proposition. You might have to put a bit more effort into your upfront marketing efforts, but don’t be afraid to use hyphens in your domain name. If it’s easy to read, memorable, and enhances your online image, hyphens can add to the lasting appeal of your domain name.
Remember that the purpose of the domain name is to make sure that customers remember your web address when they need to get information or buy a product. Anything that is easy to read easily wins out over a long jumbled mess of letters.
About the Author
Syd Johnson, Editor, Rapid Lingo
Custom Web Design
