Analysis: Value of Hyphens in Domain Names

Bucking Current Domain After-market Appraisal Values

If a domain name contains a hyphen right after the number one (1-) the domain looks like a phone number. If the intention is to connect with mobile users, the marketing value has to increase.

It follows that dot mobi domains will eventually be worth more than the dot com version of a 1-Dash or 1-Dial domain.

A 1-Dash Response to the Key Points of the following published opinions on the value of Hyphenated Domain Names:

e21
'easy to forget the hyphens' => mobile and phone are synonymous

TDNAM
'sought-after keywords' => Common words will define the 1-Dash  after-market
'popular names or phrases' => Common words lead to sales
'current trends' => mobile, mobile, mobile

Webmaster Stop
'domains with hyphens are easy to remember, spell and pronounce' => mobile and phone are synonymous
'Always use ".com" => spoken before dot mobi came into the picture

Note: Not one of the references mentions similarity to phone numbers as a criteria or as a way to create interest with mobile users.

Sources:
e21
Site: http://domains.e21.com/Hyphenated-domains

The main disadvantage is that it's too easy to forget the hyphens (dashes) when typing the domain name and to make errors, and most users will end up in your competitor's sites. It is also a pain, and users don't like to waste their time. Amateurs buy and register domain names with multiple hyphens, and they aggravate the easy errors user will make when trying to find them.

The professionals stick to domain names without hyphens, and get all the business, their normal traffic, plus the lost traffic generated by all the hyphenated domain names.

The Internet is very competitive and you either have the right domain names or you don't.
Source: e21 http://domains.e21.com/Hyphenated-domains

TDNAM - https://www.tdnam.com/
Source: http://help.godaddy.com

 Domain name length

Short domain names are easier for visitors to remember, and a short, catchy name is more likely to receive your preferred asking price.

Keywords
Domain names that include sought-after keywords generate more traffic and higher interest from potential buyers.

Name
Domains that include popular names or phrases, especially words or phrases that follow current trends, generate higher interest from potential buyers. Domain names must not infringe on third party trademarks.

Top-level domain (TLD)
The .com TLD is the most popular with buyers. Other TLDs, such as .org, might limit the versatility of the domain or imply a certain type of site resides on the domain. In some cases, a country code TLD (ccTLD) is better for domains, such as using a .fr ccTLD for a domain that contains French.

WebmasterStop

Site: http://www.webmasterstop.com/17.html

6) Should you or should you not use hyphens in your domain? Well, the jury is out on the question. While some Internet marketers will tell you that domains containing hyphens are difficult to remember, spell and pronounce, others will state that domains containing hyphens are, in fact, easy to remember, spell and pronounce. Go figure. Personally, I would feel that whether or not hyphens are helpful has to be determined on a case by case basis. However, if you register a domain containing hyphens, make sure that you also register the corresponding domain without the hyphens. Once you do that, you can simply redirect visitors from the domain without the hyphens to the domain with the hyphens.

7) Don't make your primary domain too long. Even though 67 character domains are a reality, exactly how many of your users will want to type a domain name like thisisanexampleofaverylargedomainname.com?

8) Always use ".com". If yours is a serious business site, avoid using domains ending in "nu" or "to". Your business will have little credibility if you do so. You can consider registering a ".net" domain, but since most people are familiar with ".com", it is better to stick to convention.