Member Avatar for JohnStew

Do keywords in domains need to be separated with hyphens in order for search engines to read them?

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This thread (started by ) shows the split views from , , , , and . The landscape has changed a lot since 2006: Google’s Exact Match Domain (EMD) update in 2012 reduced the automatic advantage of keyword-stuffed domains. Domain keywords are not a silver bullet — they help a little at best; long-term ranking depends on content quality, links, and technical health.

Practical, modern guidance:
Choose a short, brandable name that is easy to say and type. Reserve hyphens only when a non-hyphenated name would be unreadable or ambiguous (this echoes ’s memorability point). If stuck with an exact-match or hyphenated domain, treat it like any other site: publish substantial unique content, earn reputable links, diversify anchor text, and keep a strong technical setup. When consolidating or changing domains, use 301 redirects, update sitemaps and internal links, and verify the preferred domain in Search Console.

Strategic note: domain choice is mainly a branding and marketing decision. Combine it with on-page SEO (titles, headings, schema), UX improvements, and outreach for real gains — which aligns with ’s caution about overvaluing keyword domains and ’s reminder that there are no blanket rules. For current technical best practices see Google Search Central (SEO starter guide).

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Member Avatar for Dani

Do keywords in domains need to be separated with hyphens in order for search engines to read each individual word? YES
Do I think that keyword rich domain names are overrated? YES

Member Avatar for anandnadaar

I think it does not matter for ranking purpose, because Search Engines have a very good formula to differentiate the keywords in the domain.. so it does not really matters. But yes keywords in URL does help !

Member Avatar for kickoff3pm

Too right keywords in domains help !!

Just do a search on "football programmes"

As for how you display then hythens or not it's matters like IMO but remember real people have to try and remember your domain name so, again IMO, it's wise to only include hythens if you have to. That might be if you have two or more long words.

Tip for domain name, think of your Title, if you can get your keywords in at the start of that and use them in your domain your quids in. If not tink outside the box and use keywords that are as close to the start as possible and words suit them.

Member Avatar for Harry smith

It is good to have keywords in domains but don’t have many so as to separate them using hyphens, they will be considered as an spam.
So be careful while using don’t over use your keywords.:rolleyes:

Member Avatar for stymiee

It is good to have keywords in domains but don’t have many so as to separate them using hyphens, they will be considered as an spam.
So be careful while using don’t over use your keywords.:rolleyes:

This is a common myth that is not true. Search engines don't have blanket rules like that for anything. The worst thing that can happen if you have a lot of hyphens in your domain name is it may set off a flag for a manual review of the site. But that is only speculation,

Member Avatar for etechsupport

I guess the Search engine just treat the hyphen like a space. For example if you buy marketing-strategy domain name instead of marketingstrategy, it would be more precise for SE to read it as individual word.

Member Avatar for stymiee

I guess the Search engine just treat the hyphen like a space. For example if you buy marketing-strategy domain name instead of marketingstrategy, it would be more precise for SE to read it as individual word.

Exactly. :)

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