I haven't checked your code here but anything wrapped in a header tag is instantly more important, and so getting your keywords in there is definitely beneficial...

How about: 'PHP Development - help forums'

hehe - well what I'm trying to say is it better for (the purpose of on-page SEO) a page on a forum to target the keyword PHP - or is it better to target the keyword PHP scripting or PHP help, etc. Those more detailed keywords are more limiting, but they are probably easier to get onto the SERPS with.

If I go with "PHP" alone, like I have now, is it still a viable goal to be listed on the SERPS for "php scripting" AND "php help" AND ... I feel that if I went with "php scripting" for example, I would be limited to great placement for that keyword, but it would be impossible for me to score good with other php-related keywords.

how about mentioning it twice...

php development - help with your php scripting problems

looking at google results i think that might be the answer

Well check out this page, for example: http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/forum17.html

Notice how at the top it says PHP and then there is a description of the forum below it. Would it be better to use one keyword for the forum titles and try to incorporate 2 or 3 other keywords as the description? The way it is now, the forum title is wrapped in an h1 tag and the description is wrapped in an h2 tag.

That's a neat idea. The other thing thing would be some <em> and <strong> tags on your keywords anywhere else you can find them or even in the titles... Use css to prevent any normal person seeing they're different, but search engines etc would get them emphasized.

I'd suggest more keywords in your title tag too.

Thanks Dave, I actually do use strong tags as often as I can. Any other comments?

If you want to maxmize the benefit use the keyword first in the <title> and minimize all other text there. The biggest bang for your $ is

<title>PHP Development</title>

From what I understand this:

<title>PHP Development Help Forum</title> may be slightly less effective.... but is more useful than:

<title>Daniweb Help Forums - PHP Development</title>

My reason for currently having: PHP at DaniWeb computer help is because I thought I would be able to target the keywords: "php" "php help" "computer help" all in one - bad idea I guess Live 'n' learn. I'll agree that DaniWeb is excessive because no one is going to do a search for "daniweb"