New domain name help

[webmastertexas]

I want to move one of my pages onto its own domain. Question: I know the domain name matters, so what would work better:

buy-widgets-here.com
or
buywidgetshere.com

Would one get me better placement when someone types in "buy widgets here"? Or does the presence of the "-" matter at all?

[buckworks]

Basic self-defense advice: try to register both domains so you have control over both versions.

If you're only going to be promoting it online, you could do okay in the search engines with either one. If you intend to promote the site offline, the version without hyphens would definitely work better. Try telling someone "buy-widgets-here.com" over the phone and you'll see what I mean.

[vaniaul]

Hi webmastertexas

You can register both domains with and without hyphens. In order to use these both domains, you should make one as your main Domain and Redirect other to the main one using 302 Redirect. By doing this both the domains will open the same site.

In search engines also both the domains will find the same site. So get going with two domains, 1 site, 302 redirection. That'll solve your purpose. Hope it helps!

Regards
Vani

[webmastertexas]

I've been doing research (well, not really research, just me plugging in keywords into the search engines) and when I put in the keywords that I'm looking to register as a domain (i.e. "buy widgets here") my site pops up first. And it's not even the domain name, it's the title of my page that gets the attention of the search engine. So, I'm thinking about leaving it, and not move it to its own domain after all. If I'm already ranked #1 using the keywords, why bother with a domain, right? Or is there something else I'm not considering?

[ska_demon]

Sounds like a cool place to be to me. If it ain't broke don't fix it!
Ska
(get the domains anyway, you might need them later)

[webmastertexas]

Thanks for the advise. I'm going to get the domain anyway, just to reserve it in case I ever want to move it.

[encyclo]

302 redirection

A little but important correction to this advice - you want to use a 301 permanent redirect, never a 302.

A 302 is a temporary redirect, and you risk both domain names being listed, causing problems with duplicate content penalties and the rest of it.

[vaniaul]

Thanks <b>encyclo</b> for that correction, actually its too confusing with 301 and 302. Just happened to mention 302.

And

<b>webmastertexas</b>,
If you are getting good ranking by having keywords in title, then its not really a big concern of switching over to two domains, because you are getting your purpose solved with present domain.

[webmastertexas]

If you are getting good ranking by having keywords in title, then its not really a big concern of switching over to two domains, because you are getting your purpose solved with present domain.

Yeah that's my thought, too. So I'm just registering the domain name anyway just in case the page gets too big and I have to move it onto its own domain later on.

[vaniaul]

Yes webmastertexas,

Considering all the possibilities, thats the best way out.

Wish u luck
Vani