CodeCharge Studio
search Register Login  

Web Reporting

Visually create Web Reports in PHP, ASP, .NET, Java, Perl and ColdFusion.
CodeCharge.com

YesSoftware Forums -> CodeCharge Studio -> PHP

 SEO topic of underscore versus dash

Print topic Send  topic

Author Message
deanh

Posts: 6
Posted: 02/26/2009, 6:13 PM

Since a dash is not allowed in a CCS filename (folders in CCS do allow dashes though), CCS developers are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to Search Engine Optimization(SEO).

Google interprets a dash as a word separator versus an underscore.

So a page called
my-new-car-is-broken.php

would do inifinitely better than
my_new_car_is_broken.php

Why is it important?
if you build a site using CCS with pages, articles, blogs that are publicly accessible then you are giving away valuable traffic to folks that are not limited by having to use underscore instead of a dash.

Support is aware of the issue but have said they would place on wish list if enough CCS developers request.

So I would appreciate other developers who want to achieve better rankings for themselves and future clients then please let CCS support know you would like.

There was another similar post before this one, a workaround was suggested of using url rewrite/redirect , however this can be interpreted by search engine spiders as attempting to spam/trick the indexer. Rewriting a url is not a good idea unless you really, really have to.. like page deleted, old etc.

Interested in other people's opinions...



View profile  Send private message
melvyn


Posts: 333
Posted: 02/26/2009, 6:20 PM

Have you ever read or hear about mod_rewrite?
_________________
Melvyn Perez
Puro Codigo
http://purocodigo.com
View profile  Send private message
deanh

Posts: 6
Posted: 02/26/2009, 6:35 PM

yes... as I alluded to at the bottom of the message this is ends up as a 302 or redirect on my server, the search engine "can" and in some cases detects this as spamming the index...

mod_rewrite is not an option in this case...
View profile  Send private message
mwny


Posts: 15
Posted: 02/27/2009, 8:07 AM

I feel you.... but most SEOs agree that the hyphen only improves link optimization slightly versus the underscore. (source seomoz.com)

Still it would be nice for Codecharge to include this feature in their IDE..
_________________
Michael Gold

PRODATA
Internet Marketing
www.prodataservices.com
View profile  Send private message
myproxy

Posts: 23
Posted: 02/27/2009, 8:32 AM

Thanks...yeah... it can be a controversial/misunderstood subject... the people who are in the know really don't want others to share in "secret"

You can check out http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=6460
Has a statement attributed to a Google rep if we believe that it is credible.

Run some other Google searches on the topic "underscore versus dash" to get other inputs/feedback.

However, antedoctally from past Google searches, how large successfull websites label pages and some internal tests with sitemaps, submittals(takes a while for it to make into Google index) I have concluded that indeed there is significant weighting for a dash versus underscore. It's simply logical knowing roughly how sql queries, Google interface operate... it's a matter of design versus intent.

With Google at an estimated 70% of the search market space I have to align with Google's way for now..

Anyone else finding a definitive statement from a Google on subject please let me know...


View profile  Send private message
feha


Posts: 712
Posted: 02/28/2009, 3:20 PM

There is a better placement in keywords search used with dash ...

if you have a file name:
code-charge-studio-the-best-ide-tool.html

would place better as keywords are indexed as
code charge studio the best ide tool (the automatic way)

but code_charge_studio_the_best_ide_tool.html
I don't think will place better than the first one ...

check

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid...for%20iexplorer

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=php%20convert%20mysql%...lient=firefox-a

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_en-USES295ES30...20id%20inserted

you can see the difference that dash is not highlighted (not bold) in google search but underscore is highlighted including keywords

_________________
Regards
feha

www.vision.to
feedpixel.com
View profile  Send private message
damian

Posts: 838
Posted: 03/01/2009, 3:18 AM

Quote myproxy:
Anyone else finding a definitive statement from a Google on subject please let me know...

google dont make definitive statements on how their algorithms work - except to say that they are secret. googles aim is to put the most relevant page in front of the user - not the most optimised. if they tell you how their algorithms work all they will have is optimised sites and no content.


_________________
if you found this post useful take the time to help someone else.... :)
View profile  Send private message
Michael Davidson
Posted: 03/04/2009, 7:46 AM

In studies I've done marketing for my customers, I see little
difference. It's really the content of the page and other on page
factors that really matter. Take a look at
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=dashes+vs+underscores&btnG=Search

Yes, the first link is a dash, but the second is an underscore, the
third a dash, the fourth an underscore. By the time you read this, it
might even be different. In fact, if you are logged into a Google
search, your results may be customized for you giving you different
results. Moral of the story....pay more attention to content and
usability. When building URLs, do what works. Include key words if you
can, use whatever separator works best for your needs.

Picturesque
http://www.picturesqueweb.com

feha wrote:
> There is a better placement in keywords search used with dash ...
>
> if you have a file name:
> code-charge-studio-the-best-ide-tool.html
>
> would place better as keywords are indexed as
> code charge studio the best ide tool (the automatic way)
>
> but code_charge_studio_the_best_ide_tool.html
> I don't think will place better than the first one ...
>
> check
>
> http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid...for%20iexplorer
>
>
> _________________
> Regards
> feha
> www.vision.to
> ---------------------------------------
> Sent from YesSoftware forum
> http://forums.codecharge.com/
>

Add new topic Subscribe to topic   


These are Community Forums for users to exchange information.
If you would like to obtain technical product help please visit http://support.yessoftware.com.

Web Database

Join thousands of Web developers who build Web applications with minimal coding.
CodeCharge.com

Home   |    Search   |    Members   |    Register   |    Login


Powered by UltraApps Forum created with CodeCharge Studio
Copyright © 2003-2004 by UltraApps.com  and YesSoftware, Inc.