domain name punctuation

hyphenate keywords or not?

[chiefmonkey]

i'm intending on buying a new domain name and realise the importance of having my keywords in it... my question is this:

which is better www.gardentools.com or www.garden-tools.com ?

do search engines give more or less emphasis for using a hyphen to distinguish the 2 keywords

[seth_wilde]

If the domain name is strictly for search engines go with the hyphen (it can help).

If you plan on giving the url to prospective clients go for the url without hyphens (people being able to remember were to go probably outweights the benefits of the hyphen)

[pageoneresults]

I'd suggest getting both the hyphenated and unhyphenated versions. You can promote the hyphenated version to the SE's and non-hyphenated to the general public.

[Macguru]

Hi chiefmonkey,

Welcome to WebmasterWorld, from your nick, I guess you will like this place! :)

Here is a link to a recent discussion about the subject.
[webmasterworld.com...]

If you query the "site search " feature (upper menu) you will find all that as been said here about it and really fast!

[Bradley]

Buy both domains. Learn from my mistake. Use the hyphen domain for all your search engine optimization stuff.

[Macguru]

It can all depend on your marketing strategy. If you believe in anything about SE/directories/vortals that usually gets you 70% or more traffic, go for hyphens. Add print or any other visual conventional media like papers, signs, billboards and TV. It will be better visualised, and rememberd with hyphens.

If you prefer phone/radio/screaming-URL-on-sidewalks... go for something easy to verbalise.

Some mix both... I dont. www.french-fries.com will beat any www.frenchfriedstuffwithapplepieatmyroadsidegreasyspoon.com

[chiefmonkey]

WOW!
you've all bee really helpful... search engines like hyphens... it seems obvious now...

thanks seth_wilde, thanks pageoneresults thanks Bradley, thanks Macguru, thanks tin-man, thanks scarecrow, thanks lion... sorry those last few didn't actually post a reply.. but thank all you guys who did

macguru cheers for the link

chiefmonkey ;)