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Domain Name Structure for best SEO
nigeljones123
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Joined: 28 Aug 12
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01 Sep 12 1:35 pm

Domain Name Structure for best SEO

I am registering a new domain name which is my main keyword. It is very important for me to use my main keyword as the domain name. The .com version is only available for $1,250 which I can not afford so this brings up 3 questions.

If I use the .US extension (for $3.69) will the SEO and rankings be negatively affected to any degree?

Would it be better to use a hyphenated .com instead? For example:- 12345-XYZ.com

I guess the real question is, after going to the trouble of finding the perfect keyword to create my domain name from, what affect does the extension have on SEO and also what affect would a hyphen have?

I would be very grateful for your advice.
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jimcoe
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01 Sep 12 4:36 pm

 I would recommend that you get 2 versions:
1. A *.net, or *.us or such
2. An identical one with hyphens

Hyphens make domain name phrases into discrete dictionary words, which may have better SEO value. For example, "newyorkclothes.us" is not a word. But "new-york-clothes'us" has 3 words.

However, my understanding is that this use of hyphens is less important to SEO than it once was - perhaps of no use these days. On the other hand, it can't hurt.

The reason to have 2 versions is that people won't remember to use the hyphens when they type in a domain name. So make the version without hyphens your main domain and "park" the other one with your hosting service so that it points to the main domain. In that way, both versions will go to your site and your visitors will see the unhyphenated version in their browser.

Hope this helps...
_jim coe
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dazzlecat
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03 Sep 12 10:29 pm

 I have been told (and I think Mark says this also. maybe one of the staff can comment on this) that you shouldn't use hypens. The best thing to do in your case is put one word after your main keyword. So if your keyword/domain name is solarpanels, then get a domain like solarpanelsinfo.com or solarpanelsHQ.com (for headquarters), etc.
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maryt
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05 Sep 12 12:29 pm

 It is not recommended to put hyphens. This will only confuse users (for typing the url long using hyphens) of the correct link address.

Dazzlecat made a good point to just add another keyword to your main keyword phrase if you want to use .com.

Mary
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jimcoe
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05 Sep 12 5:21 pm

 I don't see any problem with hyphens in a domain name, as long as it is not your main domain name (the one you promote and what shows in the browser) for a site and is simply "parked" on your web host's server and pointing to your main domain name (as I suggested above).

Your unhyphenated domain name will be what almost everyone uses and what you promote. People will be unaware of the existence of your hyphenated version - so how could it confuse them?

I think the question is really whether a hyphenated version does any good for search engine bots and for SEO, by making your domain name key words more effective? Or is it no help?

Hyphenated domain names seem to have helped my sites, but I have not done a scientific test. And not sure how one would do a split test of domain names.

Anyone have more on this?

_jim coe
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nigeljones123
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07 Sep 12 5:37 pm

 Thanks for your answers. Having a hyphen in the domain name does not seem to be a problem for SEO but obviously a problem if people type the whole url.

Great reply Jim, Very useful. Dazzlecat, putting another word after your keyword in the domain is a good way to get the .com it could actually create more hits. :)

Thanks for your help.

Nigel.
http://www.photography-internships.com/
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nigeljones123
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07 Sep 12 6:33 pm

 I went ahead with the hyphenated url because I was eager to get started on my first site. http://www.photography-internships.com/

I noticed that all my other pages show hyphenated urls automatically so I guess the search engines just ignore hyphens and they will not affect the SEO.

Now that I have my site set up and near to completion and after reading your advice, there is a different domain name I would prefer to use, putting another keyword at the end, as suggested. Would that be easy for me to do and then just park the hyphenated version?

Do you see any problems with doing that?

Thanks, Nigel.

http://www.photography-internships.com/
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joshjocky
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08 Sep 12 5:51 pm

 Actually, its better to use the domain name with out any hyphens.. but we can have hyphen in first level domains so we can separate the title.. And, .com domain would be better than .Us domain even though it dont have hyphens. First preference always goes to commercial domains..
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