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Should You Use Hyphens in Domain Names?
Before registering your domain name, it’s crucial to understand what makes a domain effective. An optimal domain should be easily searchable and straightforward for customers to find.
We recommend choosing a domain name that avoids hard-to-spell words, special characters, and generally, hyphens. In this article, we’ll explore best practices regarding hyphens in domain names and highlight situations where they might be advantageous.
Are Hyphens Permitted in Domain Names?
Hyphens (or dashes) are the only allowed spacing character in domain names, although they cannot appear at the beginning or end. The debate continues over whether hyphens should be used and their potential impact on SEO (search engine optimization).
Do Hyphens Impact SEO?
The short answer is no. Former Google engineer Matt Cutts has stated that hyphens in domain names do not incur penalties from the search engine’s algorithm. In fact, they’re considered better than underscores. Google’s John Mueller echoed this sentiment, noting, “I don’t think anything in our algorithms looks specifically for hyphens in domain names.”
This suggests that using hyphens isn’t detrimental to your site’s SEO. However, the choice of domain name does influence SEO, so for tips on selecting an SEO-friendly domain, check out our guide.
While hyphens aren’t technically harmful, there are several compelling reasons to avoid them, including issues related to memorability and branding.
Considerations for Choosing Your Domain Name
Memorability: Hyphens can make your URL less memorable. Visitors might forget to include the hyphen, leading them elsewhere.
Typosquatting Risks: A hyphen may open the door to typosquatters—cybercriminals who register similar domain variations to exploit your traffic. This could involve:
- Securing your brand or trademark to sell it back at a premium.
- Monetizing traffic through ads or affiliate links.
- Redirecting users to fake websites to steal information or spread malware.
To minimize the risk of typos and ensure visitors reach your site, opt for a simple, memorable domain without special characters. A domain that’s easy to pronounce is typically easier to remember.
Character Count: While longer domain names aren’t technically problematic, shorter ones tend to be more effective. The world’s top five websites average six characters in their domains, suggesting that brevity aids memorability and typing accuracy. A hyphen might unnecessarily lengthen your domain, so consider both options.
Brand Perception: Including hyphens can negatively affect your brand’s credibility, making it appear spammy. Cybercriminals often use hyphens to mimic legitimate websites. It’s important to maintain a positive brand image, so weigh this factor carefully.
Communication Clarity: Think about how your domain will be shared verbally. Names like Coca-Cola often lead to confusion, as people might forget the hyphen in conversation. A domain that’s easy to communicate can enhance its discoverability.
When Might You Use a Hyphen?
Improving Readability: If your brand name includes several consecutive words, a hyphen can enhance readability. If your brand already uses a hyphen, maintaining consistency in your URL is wise. In some languages, hyphens can prevent misunderstandings that arise from combined words.
Defensive Domain Registration: If you’re practicing defensive domain registration, acquiring a hyphenated version can prevent competitors from capitalizing on your traffic. For example, if your primary domain is www.bigpottery.com, consider securing www.big-pottery.com.
Domain Availability: If your ideal domain is taken, a hyphen might be a viable solution. However, be cautious; if it closely resembles another company’s domain, they might perceive it as typosquatting. Always check if the existing domain is linked to a functioning website.
Conclusion
In general, it’s advisable to avoid hyphens in domain names. While they won’t necessarily harm your SEO, they can negatively affect memorability and brand perception if misused.
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