Difference between revisions of "Learn/Improve-SEO-and-Clicks-with-Great-Title-Tags"

Revision as of 23:14, 23 March 2011

By [[User:|]] on Title tags are ridiculously important for getting more visitors to click on your website when it appears in search engine results. Happily, they're one of the simplest things you can change on your site. More SEO (search engine optimization) bang for the buck!

Why Title Tags Are Important for Traffic and SEO

#1 Title tags are the most prominent part of a search result

Google and other major search engines use the title tag of a web page as the link to that page in search results. It's what people will see and choose to click - or not.

You can see the titles of websites in the image to the right.

#2 Title tags are one of the most important ranking factors for SEO

When search engines try to determine what a web page is about - and therefore, what keyword searches it should show up for - the title tag is one of the most important factors that the engines consider.

If you want a page on your website to rank better for a certain keyword, include that word in the title tag.

Of course, search engines also consider factors that aren't on the web page itself, including links to the page from other websites. These are called inbound links or backlinks.

#3 The title tag is at the top of the page and tab in a web browser

The title tag on your web page can help orient your visitors and tell them what to expect to find in a specific browser window. This is particularly important when people used tabbed browsing or have multiple windows open at once.

How to Make a Great Title Tag

An effective title tag:

#1 Persuades people to click it.

If the title tag for a web page is just a bland statement of the topic, it may rank well for that keyword, but could be too boring to get clicked.

#2 Includes a few relevant keywords.

Because it is such a strong factor in search rankings, it's a good idea to place one or two of your important keywords or keyword phrases in the title tag. Make sure it's still interesting for people, though - you want to make sure it gets clicked.

#3 Accurately matches the page content and your goals.

Is the web page strictly informational, an interesting blog post you would like people to share, or a place to purchase something? Your title tag should help people understand what their experience will be on that page.

You also want to make sure that your title tag is consistent with the content so you don't entice someone to click the search result and then make them bounce as soon as they arrive at the page. Remember, the whole point of using search engine optimization to get people visiting your site is to convert them once they arrive. You want them to read something, buy something or sign up for something - you don't want them to leave as soon as they land.

Let's say someone clicks on a link with the title, "Introduction to Photography." That title implies they'll get some free information on the topic. If they end up landing on a page that just overwhelms with aggressive sales pitches for cameras and other gear, and little actual information about photography, they'll leave.

If you are trying to sell something on the page, be honest about it in the title tag. You'll get visitors who have at least some interest in checking out your product or service, and they'll be receptive to your pitch.

Make Sure Your Title Fits Search Results Parameters

The text of your title tag should be less than 70 characters long. Google won't display more than 70 characters in the title tag link in its search results - longer title tags are cut short and end with "...."

You can check the length of the title tag for your home page in the Home Page Analysis section on the AboutUs page about your website. Just enter your site's domain name - like MyWebsite.com - in the search bar at the top of any AboutUs page. Once you get to the AboutUs page for your site, click Home Page Analysis in the left sidebar. The Site Report will also analyze the title tags of up to 50 pages on your site.

The text portion of your title tag should include only plain text. HTML tags won't do anything except make your site look broken.

How to Change Your Title Tag

However you edit your website's content, you will want to look for and change the text to improve its SEO, according to the above tips.

The title tag should go in the top part of the code for the web page, after and before .

For example, the title tag for this article and web page is coded like this:

Remember that each page on your website should have its own unique title tag, so don't stop after you've improved the title of your site's home page.

Do all your pages have meta descriptions, and how do they stack up? Find out with the AboutUs Site Report. Check your home page's title tag with our free Website Visibility Report, too.