Domain Name Questions...

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts or comments on a Domain Name related question.

Is there a general rule for the maximum number of Domain Name characters that search engines like to see? Are 25 characters too many? 20?

I have been reading that dashes in Domain Names make them easier to read…common sense. But, do search engines like or hate dashes in names? Or doesn't it really matter?

Would the SE favor either one of these, for example?

rainorshine.com

rain-or-shine.com


Any help is appreciated!

Andy

A look at the top 100 sites (from Alexa) shows that almost all of them are less than 14 characters. Again I see most of them use the hyphen rarely. It may not be a yardstick to base your decision.

Is there a general rule for the maximum number of Domain Name characters that search engines like to see? Are 25 characters too many? 20?

No, there's no general rule. In fact, the actual domain name plays no role in the actual search engine rankings. Each domain is given the same "chance" to rank for a particular keyword phrase.

In fact, having the keywords in the domain name have the same effect as whether the keywords are in the filename, directory name, or the subdomain: it doesn't matter where they are in the URL.

If you can get both domain names then I would buy both of them--make a decision on one to use and set up a 301 Permanent Redirect from the other(s) to the main one you're using.

I'd say rainorshine.com - lets face it, half the planet are not sure what a hyphen is...

Think word of mouth.

Yeah, definitely rainorshine but I would secure the hyphenated versions as all and 301 them to the main domain.

I'd too say rainorshine.com cos from the branding and marketing point of view the non hyphenated name is always better. Also people assume that domains with hyphens have some sort of advantage over the non hyphenated ones but thats not the case. It doesnt make a whole lot of difference having hyphens in a domain name also you will loose a lot of type in traffic to the non hyphenated name.