Hyphens in URL naming

To dash or not to dash a URL

[aaronjf]

Does anyone know or have an oppinion on whether or not a dash matters in a URL relative to SEO. For instance is blablabla.com better than blabla-blabla.com

[AkanDian rain]

Word out on the street (at least for Google) is that "no dash" doesn't seem to be a problem. Google can find "word" within "keyword.com".

[workinghard]

Hi

I've heard that one dash is good, but more than one can hurt slightly.

eg widgetwidget.com - would be hard for some engines
widget-widget - is great
widget-widget-widget - is okay - but some engines begin not to like it.

Most engines treat a - like a space. Making words easier to read

Thanks

[vitaplease]

aaronjf

you might want to have a look at this thread on that subject:
(although more Google related)

[webmasterworld.com...]

[TWhalen]

In my experience, www.keyword-keyword.com DOES seem to have an advantage over www.keywordkeyword.com, from the SEO standpoint.

The hyphenated URL's seem to work better for me at obtaining high rankings for the desired keywords, but are NOT GOOD for branding.

Try telling someone your URL, and as soon as you say the word "dash", they forget what it is you're telling them.
A simple, non-hyphenated domain is best for branding.

So, if your domain is only to gain rank, use the hyphens.
If your domain is being used for branding purposes, leave them out.

[franklin dematto]

What about submitting a dashed name, but using a nondashed name when talking to people etc, and having both names resolve to the same site, with links being relative. Will this work?

[paladin]

Looks like franklin beet me to the "punch".
What I would suggest is the following:
1. Use www.keyword1-keyword2.com for the searchengines, link exchanges, forum posts, newsgroups etc...
2. Use www.keyword1keyword2.com for human contact like on the phone, business cards, catalogs, emails etc...

Both of them going to the exact same web site.
Just make sure that #2, www.keyword1keyword2.com, is NOT listed anywhere on the web.