Question on title tags

Typically when I'm writing title tags, I use the format (keyword 1, keyword 2, etc), including the commas (I know some people don't use commas, but I believe it makes more sense to the reader that way).

Now I've got a situation where a CMS I'm using is not allowing commas with a space after it--if it sees that, it replaces it with a semi-colon.

So my question is, will it be a problem for the spiders to differentiate the words in the tag if it is set up as (keyword1;keyword2) or even as (keyword1,keyword2)?

I can never remember if the spiders consider commas/semi-colons the same as spaces, or if they would just read it all as one word.

Thanks.

Toonces51

 

It's best to use this kind of practice: keyword1-keyword2

If you need to seperate something use a hyphen (uh that's what you call it right? ) this is better for the SE's from what i understand.

Also after reading it again i see i confused the title tag with the filename after the .html or .php and so on...

You can use spaces as they are and you don't need to seperate with kommas or semicolons and things like that, just use spaces if you want to seperate something...there is no harm in that.

 

Thanks, I know I can use spaces, but for seperating phrases I prefer commas, just to help the user (personally, if I see a bunch of phrases run together in a title tag, I tend to think overoptimization).

In looking at the code that the CMS is spitting out, it appears to be using a semi-colon with a space, though, so there shouldn't be any issues, I guess.

Thanks again!

Toonces51

 

You could also use dots .. to seperate phrases or words.
I don't think whatever is being used to seperate words or phrases in Page titles is of any influence to SE's but that is just me and maybe someone else can elaborate some more on this.

I think your good to go with it as it is

 

I would avoid commas if you can. IMO, commas are a red flag to SE's that the site is trying to cram in a bunch of keywords.

Also, each page should really only focus on 1 or 2 keyphrases so you really shouldnt need to use commas. Instead do something like this:

Keyword Phrase1 - Keyword Phrase2
Keyword Phrase1 | Keyword Phrase2

 

I agree that using a hypen or pipe is better than commas. I would even use a "/" before I would use a comma.

 

Thanks for the additional feedback. I switched them over to hyphens, and I think it looks a lot better.

Toonces51

 

Ya, I agree with BILZ on this. It's what I've always been using for years. Not only are you worrying about search engines, but you have to look at it from a web searcher. I believe having a pipe or dash looks cleaner and is easier to read. Makes for click-thru in SERPs more appealing, IMO.

But nothing like good old fashion testing if you're not sure or don't want to take anyone's advice. Try it out and see which method drives more visitors as well as keeping the same position or moving you up in the SERPs.