Domains with or without hyphens?

[r2d2]

I have bought personalmoneyguide.co.uk and personal-money-guide.co.uk and am wondering what the best method is to use the domains?

Should I use one and 301 redirect the other? If so, which would be best to redirect?

Thanks,

Chris

[chromate]

I would redirect the hyphenated one to perdonalmoneyguide.co.uk.

[Chris]

http://www.websitepublisher.net/article/choosing_domain_name/3

Also, keep all your promotion on one domain if you have more than one.

[r2d2]

Hmm, yes I will definitely be using one as the sole one for promotion etc.

As I plan on this one being a bigger one, I think I will do as Chromate suggests and use pmg.co.uk as the main one and just redirect p-m-g.co.uk. I dont think there are many big sites with hyphens in the domain?

[ozgression]

I would redirect the hyphenated one to perdonalmoneyguide.co.uk.

Yes, so would I.

[James]

I dont think there are many big sites with hyphens in the domain?
None that I can think of. It's even rare to see a large .net site.

[moonshield]

online-literature.com, a big site with a hyphen in the name.

[r2d2]

online-literature.com, a big site with a hyphen in the name.


Hehe, yes I guess there is that one :rolleyes:

I think I shall use the nonhyphen one as the primary one.

[Blue Cat Buxton]

Is it not easier for SE's to recognise the words in the hypenated domain ?

If that is true then is it not better to us the hypenated domain within the site and forward the non hypenated name to it (you can still use the non hypenated domain for offline marketing etc)

If not true then why bother with the hypenated name (on the basis the people are not likely to type in p-m-g directly

[r2d2]

Is it not easier for SE's to recognise the words in the hypenated domain ?

I think this was true a while ago, but they seem pretty good now: http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=100&hl=en&q=house+buying+guide&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB

Well, Google anyway.

I just bought them both, as I wasnt sure at the same time, perhaps I wont bother renewing p-m-g when it runs out.

[Blue Cat Buxton]

Hm, thats interesting (and a nice position there!)
It rather makes hypenated domains a second choice option, going forward

[chromate]

One hyphen - fine. No problem at all. More than that, I would try and avoid if possible. And certainly no more than 2 hyphens!