: How to handle SEO for brand that has a special character in the name I am building a website (small online retail store) for a company whose brand name has a special character in it. The

@Rambettina238

At least in my work in Finland I have the normal problem of umlauts "ä ö" and in Finnish site urls it is normal to register the brand if it contains umlauts in two version 1) real brand name with umlauts and 2) umlaut free version where ä is replaced by a and ö replaced by o. Then you make a permanent redirect 301 to the umlaut free version, eg ääkkönen.fi -> 301 -> aakkonen.fi and all emails are only to umlaut free domain mrmister@aakkonen.fi

In German speaking countries you will notice that umlauts are handled differently: ä turns into ae, ö into oe and ü into ue.

Google is however, in my experience, smart enough to recognise the use of urls in this manner (these manners) so there is no problem with umlauts. How Google user Ł and L, I do not know but I presume they do the same.

But then your concern is the use on Lollipop vs Łollipop on the site in the text etc. Here is what I would do:

0) Register both domains and do the 301 to lollipop.com

1) Make sure all your video names, image names + alt tags
carry both versions of the brand name, eg
<img src="Lollipop-Łollipop-sample.png" alt=" This image shows a
typical Lollipop. Normally a Łollipop is treasured by its owner." />

2) Google likes to see rich language. Use both versions in a manner
that clarifies to the normal reader what you are saying, but also
state for example in the footer, or sidebar that you use both
version in order to cater to the target audience.
Google will also get the gist.

"<h2>Łollipop (also known as Lollipop) is a strong trend</h2>
<p>We all want a Łollipop, but where can you find your closest
dealer? Please click here to find your
<a href="Lollipop-Łollipop-dealer.html">Łollipop (Lollipop) dealer</a>
<p>blaa blaa</p>
<footer> We at Łollipop care for you user experience. Please note
that we use our brand name Łollipop also translitterated as Lollipop
for the convenience of our users. Please let us know how we are
succeeding in making you visit to our site a pleasurable on.</footer>


3) Do this consistently accross the site, mending to your anchor texts and making sure the normal requirements of proper SEO are met.

4) Build your site long term, so don't stop adding content when the site is finished.

Good luck with Łollipop. I checked for the fun of it at domain registrar in Finland (https://domain.fi): Łollipop.fi -> Search error -> Domain name contains invalid symbols.

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@Nimeshi995

I don't think it will put much impact on your website SEO, let suppose if a user search on Google for lollipo.com and your brand Łollipop.com have also good user base or visibility on web, then Google crawler will also show your brand name in search results at any first five positions. But what I am thinking it will get hard for users to type such brand name in browser and this thing can put impact on your website direct traffic.

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@Berumen354

Special characters such as exclamation mark (!), dollar ($) and pound (£) are ignored by search engines. If special characters are used to communicate information to a human user, then be mindful that their use will have no impact on SEO. Here are general URL rules from SEO perspective:

GENERAL URL RULES:

1) unique (1 URL == 1 ressource)

2) permanent (they do not change)

3) manageable (1 logic per site section, no comlplicated exceptions)

4) easily scaleable logic

5) short

6) with a targeted keyword phrase

For more understanding on this matter, i'll provide you with two usefull links for further reading:

A guide to special characters use -> great test with all kinds of characters.

Should you use a special characters?

And for final example... concider this:

if you registered your domain as Łollipop.com, the mails are going to be example@Łollipop.com

so you should pay attention for that. Special characters are cool, and in some cases unique for domains and webpages, but just read a little bit more about it and then decide what to do.

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