SitePoint.com

trevor2 · Oct 27, 2009, 11:20

I need to register a domain for a web design company. The .com and .net are taken and not used -I have no intention to buy them at this point. Would it look it better to use xyzdesign.org or xyz-design.com? "xyz" is a placeholder so nobody snipes me. The latter is easier to read, but I'm not a fan of hyphens. I'm leaning towards the .org, however this seems uncommon for designers.

Force Flow · Oct 27, 2009, 14:22

Using a dash is not commonplace and is often confusing. You're better off coming up with a slightly different name or using an alternate TLD.

coltter · Oct 29, 2009, 02:42

obviously register .org, you will push your site to the deadpool once using the dash for domain.

SiberForum · Oct 30, 2009, 01:22

That would be better to avoid the dashes. if I were you I'd rather go for the .ORG domain names then use the one with the dashes

trevor2 · Oct 30, 2009, 13:56

I didn't realize dashes were that bad.
Thanks.

HostingDirect24 · Nov 11, 2009, 06:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevor2

I didn't realize dashes were that bad.
Thanks.

Don't worry, I don't see a single valid argument for all this intimidation.

balbirr · Nov 11, 2009, 08:55

avoid hyphen, try to get some alternate / combination keyword domains, also dont go .org domain as it is most used non profit making organisations.

HostingDirect24 · Nov 11, 2009, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by balbirr

avoid hyphen, try to get some alternate / combination keyword domains,

I see continuous opinion instead of founded reasoning.

Anatoly · Nov 1, 2009, 07:20

dashes are very annoying, get a different extension or go to the aftermarket

linkin99 · Nov 3, 2009, 07:11

Go with an alternative TLD. Dashes do give the impression of cheapness. And .org has come a long way into the minds of users as a legitimate alternative to .com. Some even prefer it than a .net.

fcolor · Nov 3, 2009, 15:50

If the com without the dash is not the same type of business, then get the dot-com. Otherwise change the name... You don;t need to have the same brand under com and net.

SiberForum · Nov 4, 2009, 01:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcolor

If the com without the dash is not the same type of business, then get the dot-com. Otherwise change the name... You don;t need to have the same brand under com and net.

I suppose that is impossible to find good domain name without dash for .COM
but I like your idea of having dotcom in the prefix of the domain name

Icedout · Nov 6, 2009, 05:32

I'd go with .org, dashes don't get the same rank as a regular domain without it.

HostingDirect24 · Nov 11, 2009, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icedout

I'd go with .org, dashes don't get the same rank as a regular domain without it.

How can you argue this exactly?

greatme · Nov 6, 2009, 10:35

Yes, Go for .org TLD. Search engines does not rank on the basis of TLD's. but many other factors work for ranking.

HostingDirect24 · Nov 11, 2009, 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatme

Yes, Go for .org TLD. Search engines does not rank on the basis of TLD's. but many other factors work for ranking.

But certainly not dashes.

barebebs · Nov 10, 2009, 11:36

dashes are often missed. I would also recommend changing xyz to something else.

khsy · Nov 11, 2009, 20:09

Personally I would choose the dot com even though it has a hyphen in it as it would reflect a higher sense of professionalism especially if it's related to a design site.

Manpasand · Nov 16, 2009, 05:59

Avoid hyphen and .org extension. Don't do commercial activity in .org extension. Personally it looks bad impression once it established.

Suggest you to find few more domain names, if you can.

szise · Nov 17, 2009, 18:47

I would choose .eu or my country ccTLD, maybe .us or .ca, com.au in your situation, back to the question, i would choose another domain name.

varul · Nov 18, 2009, 22:08

search engines give priority to keywords in domain names too.
registering domain names in keywords is really a good idea.
- is used to replace the empty spaces in domain names, because domain name system doesn't allow spaces in domain names. using - is somewhat better in some cases.
According to your choice, any domain name from your choice will be good for you. The keyword design in both xyzdesign.org and xyz-design.com will be taken into account by the search engines.

ClaudiaMitch · Nov 18, 2009, 23:13

Out of the two options, I'd recommend you to opt for .org. My point is that Internet users are seldom able to remember hyphenated domain names, and may get misguided to some other website in the same business. So, if you want to avoid this situation (which may also result in serious revenue losses), it would be better if you choose '.org' as domain extension for your domain.

weblover50 · Nov 18, 2009, 23:18

i would suggest you to find another domain name with .com,

SiberForum · Nov 20, 2009, 00:44

Also that is not forbidden to have 2 domain names.

You can use the one as the main one and redirect to another domain name

Oct 27, 2009, 11:20	#1
trevor2 SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 55	use a dash or .org? I need to register a domain for a web design company. The .com and .net are taken and not used -I have no intention to buy them at this point. Would it look it better to use xyzdesign.org or xyz-design.com? "xyz" is a placeholder so nobody snipes me. The latter is easier to read, but I'm not a fan of hyphens. I'm leaning towards the .org, however this seems uncommon for designers.

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Oct 27, 2009, 14:22	#2
Force Flow Computer Slayer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northeastern USA Posts: 1,287	Using a dash is not commonplace and is often confusing. You're better off coming up with a slightly different name or using an alternate TLD.

Oct 29, 2009, 02:42	#3
coltter SitePoint Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 17	obviously register .org, you will push your site to the deadpool once using the dash for domain.

Oct 30, 2009, 01:22	#4
SiberForum SitePoint Guru Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 667	That would be better to avoid the dashes. if I were you I'd rather go for the .ORG domain names then use the one with the dashes

Oct 30, 2009, 13:56	#5
trevor2 SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 55	I didn't realize dashes were that bad. Thanks.

Nov 11, 2009, 08:55	#7
balbirr SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 37	avoid hyphen, try to get some alternate / combination keyword domains, also dont go .org domain as it is most used non profit making organisations.

Nov 1, 2009, 07:20	#9
Anatoly SitePoint Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 12	dashes are very annoying, get a different extension or go to the aftermarket

Nov 3, 2009, 07:11	#10
linkin99 SitePoint Wizard Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Log Cabin Posts: 1,508	Go with an alternative TLD. Dashes do give the impression of cheapness. And .org has come a long way into the minds of users as a legitimate alternative to .com. Some even prefer it than a .net.

Nov 3, 2009, 15:50	#11
fcolor SitePoint Evangelist Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 456	If the com without the dash is not the same type of business, then get the dot-com. Otherwise change the name... You don;t need to have the same brand under com and net.

Nov 6, 2009, 05:32	#13
Icedout SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 45	I'd go with .org, dashes don't get the same rank as a regular domain without it.

Nov 6, 2009, 10:35	#15
greatme SitePoint Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 9	Yes, Go for .org TLD. Search engines does not rank on the basis of TLD's. but many other factors work for ranking.

Nov 10, 2009, 11:36	#17
barebebs SitePoint Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Iloilo City Posts: 3	dashes are often missed. I would also recommend changing xyz to something else.

Nov 11, 2009, 20:09	#18
khsy SitePoint Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 7	Personally I would choose the dot com even though it has a hyphen in it as it would reflect a higher sense of professionalism especially if it's related to a design site.

Nov 16, 2009, 05:59	#19
Manpasand SitePoint Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Internet Posts: 381	Avoid hyphen and .org extension. Don't do commercial activity in .org extension. Personally it looks bad impression once it established. Suggest you to find few more domain names, if you can.

Nov 17, 2009, 18:47	#20
szise SitePoint Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 9	I would choose .eu or my country ccTLD, maybe .us or .ca, com.au in your situation, back to the question, i would choose another domain name.

Nov 18, 2009, 22:08	#21
varul SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 34	search engines give priority to keywords in domain names too. registering domain names in keywords is really a good idea. - is used to replace the empty spaces in domain names, because domain name system doesn't allow spaces in domain names. using - is somewhat better in some cases. According to your choice, any domain name from your choice will be good for you. The keyword design in both xyzdesign.org and xyz-design.com will be taken into account by the search engines.

Nov 18, 2009, 23:13	#22
ClaudiaMitch SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 68	Out of the two options, I'd recommend you to opt for .org. My point is that Internet users are seldom able to remember hyphenated domain names, and may get misguided to some other website in the same business. So, if you want to avoid this situation (which may also result in serious revenue losses), it would be better if you choose '.org' as domain extension for your domain.

Nov 18, 2009, 23:18	#23
weblover50 SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 86	i would suggest you to find another domain name with .com,

Nov 20, 2009, 00:44	#24
SiberForum SitePoint Guru Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 667	Also that is not forbidden to have 2 domain names. You can use the one as the main one and redirect to another domain name