Keywords in URL stem - how many keywords & dashes are ok

[mikekkaplan]

I have a website with many categories and some of them are 6 ro 7 words long. So, I would like to incorporate them in the URL stem, as follows:

domain.com/directory/keyword1-keyword2-keyword3-keyword4-keyword5-keyword6

I understand this is ok and a good thing for search engine placement. However, my question is, how many keywords (with dashes in between them) can I do? At how many dashes does it look bad to the search engines whereby it may negatively effect the SE positioning of the page?

I have heard that I should not have more than 2 dashes, meaning three keywords. Is this true? What is the limit?

[SEOMike]

Looks bad at keyword2 ;)

[longen]

There are no limits, and no answers, - because the Search Engines continually update their equations. Todays right answer is tomorrows wrong answer. Todays wrong answer is tomorrows right answer.
Which day do you want the answer on?

[DerekH]

a good thing for search engine placement

It helps, but not much.

If the keyword is ONLY in your URL, your page will appear, when otherwise it would not. And it will be emboldened in a Google result.

But that apart, the feeling on Google, at least, is that it's a very small enhancement to your search result - nothing at all compared to a good title, a good <h1> and some keywords nicely placed near the front of the page.

You also have to take into consideration those cynics, like me, who when they see a massive URL find two thoughts running through their head.
a) It's computer generated
b) I'll be covered in spammy popups, popunders, redirects and gawd knows what else if I click on that result.
So I never do.

No point in being first in the SERPs if no-one clicks through!
DerekH