John Mueller from Google addressed a question on Reddit about why many people avoid using hyphens in domain names and whether there’s a reason for concern.
Domain Names with Hyphens for SEO
I’ve been involved in the online space for 25 years, and I recall when using hyphens in domain names was a common tactic among affiliates to boost SEO. When keywords heavily influenced Google in domain names, URLs, and almost anywhere else on a webpage, hyphenated domains had their place. It wasn’t a mainstream practice but more prevalent among confident affiliate marketers. Another reason for using keywords in domain names was to attract visitors with a higher potential to convert since the keywords effectively prequalified them. Two-keyword domains (especially one-word domains) without hyphens tend to have more substantial conversion rates.
One reason hyphenated domain names became less popular is that they tend to look untrustworthy, which can negatively affect conversion rates. Trust is crucial in converting visitors, and anything that detracts from that can be a significant drawback.
Furthermore, domain names with hyphens can appear tacky. In an age where brandable domains are more accessible and crucial for building trust, why opt for a domain that might seem less reputable? A clean, memorable domain name can often be better for trust and conversions.
Domain Name Question Asked on Reddit
A Reddit user recently asked the following question:
“Why don’t people use a lot of domains with hyphens? Is there something concerning about it? I understand when you tell it out loud, people might miss the hyphen in search.”
Google’s John Mueller responded with some insight:
“It used to be that domain names with a lot of hyphens were considered (by users? or by SEOs assuming users would?) to be less serious—since they could imply that you couldn’t get the domain name with fewer hyphens. Nowadays, with so many top-level domains, this is less of an issue. My main recommendation is to choose something for the long run (if that’s your aim) and not to focus excessively on keywords (because life is too short to box yourself into a corner—create good things, course-correct over time, and don’t let a domain name limit what you do online). The web is full of awkward, keyword-focused, short-lived, low-effort projects made for SEO—make something truly awesome that people will ask for by name. If that takes a hyphen in the name, go for it.”
Pick a Domain Name That Can Grow
John Mueller’s advice about choosing a domain name that doesn’t lock your site into a single topic is spot-on. As your website gains traction, expanding the range of topics you cover is natural. However, this can be challenging if your domain name is tied to a specific keyword or niche. That’s one of the drawbacks of using domain names like “Best + keyword + reviews.” Not only do they limit your ability to grow, but they also tend to look tacky and overly restrictive. To set yourself up for success, choose a domain name that offers flexibility and can evolve with your site.
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