One of the biggest problems in the SEO campaign is choosing the right domain names. Ideally, domain names should contain the proper keywords and they will help us immensely in our SEO process. Thousands of new domains are purchased each day and older ones become more expensive as they are resold to new owners. Because many of the good keywords are taken, website owners often need to use URL with underscores and dashes. Although they allow us to get better domain names, consumers may find it more difficult to remember our URL and they could end up visiting competitors’ websites.
If not planned properly, URL with dashes and underscores could have negative effects on our business growth. Studies show that consumers habitually type URL without dashes and underscores, it means that they don’t expect URLs to have both. In the old DOS era, people used underscores and dashes to help them remember things better. Also, underscores are used more often than dashes. If we want to choose URL names, it better to not use underscores or dashes. As an example, it is better to choose ChicagoCarElectronicsRepair.com than using dashes or underscores.
It is better to add one more alphabet, like ChicagoCarElectronicsRepairs.com than using dashes or underscores. Without dashes and underscores, our domain name should be easier to remember. When people read our URL in bumper stickers, they will remember it better. If given a choice, we may choose URL with underscore, especially if we are targeting experienced computer users who have used DOS before. However, if we are targeting younger generation who use Windows for their entire life, then dashes could be better, because they seem to be more intuitive,
One thing that we should avoid is combining dashes and underscores in URL, because this will significantly confuse clients. This could happen when the main URL uses underscores, but the individual page uses dashes automatically. It’s a poor practice, because some consumers may try to write down the URL and some of the individual pages, if they are using other devices. In general, we should stay consistent when using dashes and underscores in the domain. It is unwise to use any kind of combination. WordPress may automatically create webpage URL with dashes, but we can configure it to use underscores.
In any case, the best URL is the one without dashes and underscores. This will make it easier for consumers to remember our domain name. In general, dashes and underscores could have a positive effect on our SEO campaign. This could happen when we need to create a specific phrase in our URL and similar URL without dashes or underscores is already taken, but poorly developed by the owner. This could allow us to get better position with the phrase, although we use dashes or underscores. Domain name can only have 35 characters, so it is important for us to choose the right domain. Choosing the right domain could enhance the chance of achieving better ranks in search engine.