nickynoodles

So I'm after a 2 keyword type domain in a large profitable sector. 33k exact local.

Nokta own both the hyphenated and non-hyphenated. Here are the prices quoted:

Keyword-Keyword.co.uk - $800
KeywordKeyword.co.uk - $78,000

I was pretty taken aback. Does the hyphen really wipe 99% of a domain's value off?

I'm considering whether to go for the hyphenated if the non is valued so highly. The domain is for an affiliate site, so I'm not trying to create a brand.

Would you be tempted by the hyphenated in this case, or just move on?

Edwin

Owning both gives you the ability to price-select pretty cleverly since your only competitor is yourself.

Large companies for whom appearance is everything may be tempted to go for the "proper" version.

Those working on very tight budgets may choose to overlook the hyphen in exchange for an effective 99% discount.

Smart sales tactics.

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retired_member13

I'd move on personally, as I'm not sure how much advantage the hyphenated version would give you over a qualified version (eg WordKeywordKeyword.co.uk or KeywordKeywordWord.co.uk) using "e", "online", "shop" etc.

You don't see a huge number of hyphenated .co.uks doing well any more, the second tier seems to have moved towards .org.uk. I also accept that the above is both a generalisation and only an opinion.

If you're buying purely to develop I think I'd consider looking at the org.uk or at a free to reg version with a qualifier and I'd save the $800 - if it's a success, come back for the .co.uk later and buy it on a finance plan paid for by the site.

Obviously the above could be entirely unsuitable, but it's kinda hard to be clear with knowing the actual domain, or at least the area it's in and what you're going to use it for.

nickynoodles

Thanks for the opinions guys. The non-hyphenated .org.uk is on Sedo just to confuse me further.

@Edwin - Yeah I can see how owning both allows you to set the price for that keyword.

@Ty - Main advantage I can see is that my back link anchor text would usually be the same as the non-hyphenated domain. Good point about the .org.uk though.

Sector is a very large one, consumer goods, stuff you buy at xmas. Buying the domain for an affiliate site, not an investment or to build a brand on.

retired_member13

Given the above, I'd leave it until next year & try to pick up a domain in the sales. Buying a name now with no type in traffic and trying to make money this Christmas through organic rankings on a new site is going to be close to impossible. There's only 6 weeks until Xmas - there's no guarantee that a site will even index in 6 weeks - assuming you launched it today.

If it's not intended to be organic (eg the traffic is PPC driven) reg a qualified domain now and get it built asap, then have a rethink on a new organic domain for next Xmas.

nickynoodles

No plans to rank for this xmas, more like next xmas in fact; having realised what sectors I should be focussing on. It's an all year round product though, with a peak at xmas.

I think as soon as you've decided to go into a sector it's worth getting the domains sorted as it only gets harder.

Torn between various options, I'll have a think. I put a offer in on a catchy "QualifierKeyword.co.uk" type domain which might be another option if the price is low. Near impossible to find something free to reg that's not awful in this sector.

retired_member12

Just playing some mindless Grid earlier, and noticed the above URL advertising in the game. It just goes to show there are some people out there willing to pin their business hopes on a hyphenated domain name. In fact, that's the first .uk name I've seen pop up in a game in about a year. I wonder what the ball-park cost is to advertise in online games?

doodlebug

Don't buy it, Nokta are probably bigging up the price of the unhyphenated version just to make the hyphenated look like a bargain.

Think i will give that a try ofcourse it depends on the keywords but still that's a huge difference in price

Go for a fresh reg, you could even test out a .me.uk some good ones left untaken.

Good luck

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DomainAngel

Just-Eat.co.uk is massive.

It must be kicking off in the north first, virtually every take away in salford and manchester has a big just eat banner.

They advertise on itv1 all the time too.