Search engines, especially Google, care for keywords used in the URL name. Before creating domain names, we usually ask questions whether separators affect the meaning of two separate words and which one is better to replace the other. Certainly, a simple hyphen or underscore changes the way search engines read the words.
HYPHEN (-)
Hyphens are considered dividers by search engines.
Examples:
Keyword1-keyword2.com
domain.com/Keyword1-keyword2.html
Given the examples above, “Keyword1 keyword2” separated by hyphen, it simply informs search engines of the two separate words, Keyword1 and Keyword2. And they are most likely to be found using search queries like: Keyword1, Keyword2, Keyword1 Keyword2, Keyword1 + KeywordX, Keyword2 + KeywordX, or any other phrases where “Keyword1” and “Keyword2” are present.
UNDERSCORE ( _ )
Underscores merge two different words to form as one.
Examples:
Keyword1_keyword2.com
Domain.com/Keyword1_keyword2.html
Base from the examples above, “Keyword1 Keyword2” separated by underscore, it tells search engines that these two words are treated singly. One cannot stand without the other just like the word rainbow. Rain and bow mean two different things and when combined, forms another meaning. Sample URLs above will only show up to search term “Keyword1 Keyword2”.
Which Separator to Recommend?
Personally, both separators can be used strategically. Most SEO experts recommend the use of hyphen as a divider especially when you are targeting numerous keywords and wanted to show up on all those keywords. Given the example hearing aid as part of your URL name, you would want search engines to pull up your site to search terms like hearing aid, hearing devices, hearing amplifiers, hearing support and so on. So you would probably opt to hyphen. On the other hand, underscores can be useful when used to multiple words that would mean another thing when treated as one. The best example would be seven headed dragons. You won’t need each words treated differently and the absence of one word would change its meaning. Thus, this case is handled by underscore.
HYPHEN (-)
Hyphens are considered dividers by search engines.
Examples:
Keyword1-keyword2.com
domain.com/Keyword1-keyword2.html
Given the examples above, “Keyword1 keyword2” separated by hyphen, it simply informs search engines of the two separate words, Keyword1 and Keyword2. And they are most likely to be found using search queries like: Keyword1, Keyword2, Keyword1 Keyword2, Keyword1 + KeywordX, Keyword2 + KeywordX, or any other phrases where “Keyword1” and “Keyword2” are present.
UNDERSCORE ( _ )
Underscores merge two different words to form as one.
Examples:
Keyword1_keyword2.com
Domain.com/Keyword1_keyword2.html
Base from the examples above, “Keyword1 Keyword2” separated by underscore, it tells search engines that these two words are treated singly. One cannot stand without the other just like the word rainbow. Rain and bow mean two different things and when combined, forms another meaning. Sample URLs above will only show up to search term “Keyword1 Keyword2”.
Which Separator to Recommend?
Personally, both separators can be used strategically. Most SEO experts recommend the use of hyphen as a divider especially when you are targeting numerous keywords and wanted to show up on all those keywords. Given the example hearing aid as part of your URL name, you would want search engines to pull up your site to search terms like hearing aid, hearing devices, hearing amplifiers, hearing support and so on. So you would probably opt to hyphen. On the other hand, underscores can be useful when used to multiple words that would mean another thing when treated as one. The best example would be seven headed dragons. You won’t need each words treated differently and the absence of one word would change its meaning. Thus, this case is handled by underscore.
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