Using a hyphen in your domain name can negatively impact email deliverability, system compatibility, brand trust, and user experience, making it generally inadvisable.
Executive Summary: Hyphenated Domain Names
Hyphens in domain names can cause significant problems for businesses. They often trigger spam filters, leading to emails landing in junk folders. They can also cause compatibility issues with certain systems which don’t accept special characters. Furthermore, the association of hyphens with spoofing and phishing attempts can damage your brand’s trustworthiness and make your audience less likely to engage. Finally, hyphens can negatively impact user experience by making your domain name harder to remember and type. For these reasons, it’s best to avoid hyphens and choose a clean, concise domain name that prioritizes deliverability, compatibility, and user experience.
Why You Should Avoid Hyphens in Your Domain Name
Choosing a domain name is a crucial step in establishing your online presence. It’s the digital address for your website, your brand’s first impression, and a key factor in how people find and remember you. While it might be tempting to use a hyphen when your ideal domain name is taken, there are several reasons why you should avoid this seemingly harmless punctuation mark.
1. Deliverability Issues
Hyphens in domain names can trigger spam filters and cause your emails to land in the junk folder. Email providers are constantly on the lookout for suspicious patterns, and hyphens are often used in spam and phishing attempts. This association can lead to legitimate emails from your domain being flagged as spam, hindering your communication and potentially damaging your reputation.
2. Compatibility Problems
Some systems and platforms, including certain CRMs like Keap, don’t accept special characters like hyphens in domain names. This can create frustrating roadblocks when integrating your website and email with essential business tools.
3. Spoofing and Trust
Hyphenated domain names are sometimes used in spoofing attacks, where malicious actors mimic legitimate websites or email addresses to trick users into sharing sensitive information. This practice further reinforces the negative association between hyphens and trustworthiness, potentially making your audience wary of interacting with your brand.
4. User Experience and Branding
Hyphens can make your domain name harder to remember and type, leading to a poor user experience. People are more likely to misspell or forget the hyphen, potentially directing them to a competitor’s site or creating a sense of frustration. A clean, concise domain name without hyphens is easier to recall and contributes to a stronger brand identity.
5. SEO Considerations
While hyphens don’t directly harm your SEO, a user-friendly domain name without hyphens can indirectly benefit your search engine rankings. A memorable and easy-to-type domain name can lead to more direct traffic, which signals to search engines that your website is relevant and trustworthy.
Conclusion
While a hyphenated domain might seem like a viable option when your preferred choice is unavailable, it’s important to weigh the potential drawbacks. From email deliverability issues and compatibility problems to spoofing concerns and user experience, hyphens can create unnecessary complications and hinder your online success. Opting for a clean, concise domain name without hyphens is a safer and more effective strategy for building a strong online presence.
