Good day. Can you provide insight on the impact of a hyphen in a domain name? I am interested in the following perspectives:

1) Search engine optimization - Does a hyphen affect a search robot's ranking? Are domains without hyphens given higher priority?

2) Personal preference - As regular users, do you perceive a domain name with a hyphen as less prestigious or trustworthy?

3) Company reputation - It seems that large companies tend to prefer domain names without hyphens. Is there an unwritten standard that suggests such domains are more prestigious and desirable?

Thank you for your time.

Search engines aren't bothered by characters, but it's preferred to use only one hyphen for human readers. It's important to consider the audience and nature of the project when choosing a domain name.

Some computerized audiences will bookmark the site regardless of characters used. However, non-IT industries should consider avoiding hyphens in domains such as cake recipes or fishing. Branded resources can use short dashes if necessary. If needed, a different domain can be purchased in the future.

The SE does not distinguish between a hyphenated or non-hyphenated domain, but it matters for humans.
A short and memorable domain without poorly transliterated letters is ideal for easy reading and entering, especially when given over the phone.

1) If you type "payment", you will receive a Z-Payment on the first sheet.
2) People in the internet world tend not to frequently type or remember domains, relying on bookmarks and favorites instead.
3) The decision to use hyphenated domains depends on the project's goals. Xbox.com makes a redirect, while pr-cy.com and www.cy-pr.com use hyphenated domains for obvious reasons. Similarly, btc-e.com uses a hyphen due to the bulk purchase of btc domains.

Here are some general observations:

1) Search engine optimization (SEO): In terms of SEO, using a hyphen in a domain name generally doesn't have a significant impact on search rankings. Search engines like Google have complex algorithms that consider multiple factors, including keywords, relevance, and content quality. While some argue that hyphens may make a domain name more readable for search engines, the effect is typically negligible compared to other SEO tactics.

2) Personal preference: Personal perceptions of domain names with hyphens can vary. Some users might see a domain name with a hyphen as less prestigious or professional, while others may not have any negative perception. Factors such as the overall presentation, content, and reputation of the website tend to matter more than the presence of a hyphen in the domain name alone.

3) Company reputation: Large companies often prefer domain names without hyphens, potentially because they strive for simpler and easier-to-remember web addresses. However, it's important to note that while some companies may follow this trend, it is not an unwritten standard or a universally agreed-upon best practice. There are successful companies with domain names that include hyphens, and the choice of whether to use a hyphen ultimately depends on the specific branding strategy and target audience.

Ultimately, the impact of a hyphen in a domain name is subjective and context-dependent. It's essential to consider various factors, including SEO, personal preferences, and company branding, when deciding on the best domain name for a specific purpose.