Do search engines frown on long hyphenated page names?

[Grinler]

Does anyone know if Search Engines frown on long hyphenated pages names like this example:

http://www.test.com/how-to-remove-bad-things-from-your-computer.html

[brian.mark]

I don't think any of us know for sure, but the reference has been made by Matt Cutts of Google (he's in their spam busting team) that more than 2 or 3 hyphens in a URL tends to give spammy results. I believe I first heard this last December in Chicago from him, but it may have been stated earlier than that.

The main thing I noted from his statement was that he said URL, not domain, not directory, not filename.

Personally, I've been avoiding more than 1 or 2 lately, and then ONLY for category names. Anything else seems excessive most of the time.

Brian.

[cbp]

IMHO, anymore than one hypen (maybe 2) makes it look as though the name has just been created for no other reason than to rank well --> maybe a poor quality signal.

CBP

[KeithO]

what they said.

[Grinler]

Fair enough..thanks for the info

[Grinler]

Fair enough..thanks for the info