Is a Z almost as good as an S?

[Jingo01]

Possibly seems a strange question, but let me clarify...

I have a new site in mind and all the domain names I was considering for it have been taken (I want a .com or a .net if at all possible). However, I can get the domain with a z at the end rather than an s

Example: www.keyword-guides.com is taken, but www.keyword-guidez.com is available.

Am I completely wrong in thinking that it will still match well for anyone searching Keyword Guide, and should match fairly well (even though it is a partial match) for people searching Keyword Guides.

As the keyword is the most relevant bit of the domain, and as the first word on the domain is given the most weight, will having Z instead of S at the end make any difference at all?

Personally, I don't really like the Z option, but if it would have no (or little) impact on my SEO efforts, I could live with it.

[dignan99]

While Google might account for spelling errors, and possibly the understanding that a "z" is sometimes used as an "s", I dislike it when the "z" is used, speaking as a consumer and business owner.

While not use an "a" at the front of the domain, or "my", or "your"?  www.mykeyword-guides.com.  Or even better, without the hyphen, mykeywordguides.com?

Going back to the spelling aspect of things, I have always disliked it when a business uses a "k" for a "c", e.g. Johnny's Used Kar Lot, and the same goes with the z.

[RyanKent]

You are already at a disadvantage using a hyphenated domain name. It's just another challenge using the "z" replacement.

Think about the user experience. How many people looking at your site will go to keywordguides.com when they are actually looking for keyword-guides.com? The same idea with the "z" replacement.

From a search perspective, you will not be an exact match. You will be "one off" which will put you in the same category as other mis-spelled words.

It is definitely preferable to get a .com, but if push comes to shove the options I would consider are:

• search for other TLDs such as .org, .info, .biz, etc. From a search engine standpoint, the TLD doesn't matter. Your focus would be ensuring those who look for your site are aware of your extension.

• create a brand. Twitter, Google, Myspace are all brands whose name has no indication as to the type of content is offered on their site.

• www.keyword-guidez.com is a bad option. It's bad for users who are looking for your site, it's bad for creating a keyword phrase match, and it appears a bit spammy so even when users find your results in search engines they may be less likely to click on it.

[EGOL]

www.keyword-guidez.com

You will lose traffic to keywordguidez.com, keywordguides.com, and keyword-guides.com

Not a good idea.

I would try to buy keywordguides.com.  The price might be high and it might stretch my budget... but I would splurge on it.      And only retreat if the price was insane.

[Jingo01]

Thanks for your input guys. I will definitely forget the Z option and carry on looking for a non-hyphenated alternative. Since reading your replies and taking on board your advice, I have found a couple of possibile alternatives and I am even considering a domain without the keyword in at all.

Sadly, EGOL, buying www.keywordguides.com is probably not an option. The budget for this project is tiny... I guess I am just going to have to be a bit more creative