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

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| Subhead = Title tags are like neon for search
 
| Subhead = Title tags are like neon for search
 
| Bitly = http://bit.ly/TitleTags
 
| Bitly = http://bit.ly/TitleTags
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| Date = January __, 2011
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| Date = February 23, 2011
 
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<big>Title tags are ridiculously important for getting more visitors to your website from search engine results. Even better, they're one of the simplest things you can change on your site. More [[Glossary/SEO|SEO]] (search engine optimization)  bang for the buck!</big>
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==Title tags are like neon for search==
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----
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<div style="float:right; margin-left:1em;"><YouTube>4LIavUuUDVw</YouTube></div>
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<big>Title tags are '''ridiculously important''' for getting more visitors to click on your website when it appears in search engine results.  
  
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==Why are title tags so important for traffic and SEO?==
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And lucky for you, they're one of the simplest things you can change on your site. More [[Glossary/SEO|SEO]] (search engine optimization)  bang for the buck!</big>
  
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''[http://www.aboutus.com/title-tags-really-matter-seo-social-clicks/ ... read more]''
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<big>''Note: This article has been moved to our new blog at [http://www.aboutus.com/title-tags-really-matter-seo-social-clicks/ www.AboutUs.com/title-tags-really-matter-seo-social-clicks/].''</big>
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<!--
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==Why Title Tags Matter for Traffic & SEO==
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----
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[[Image:WidgetsTitleTagSearch.png|220px|right]]
 
'''#1 Title tags are the most prominent part of a search result'''
 
'''#1 Title tags are the most prominent part of a search result'''
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[[Image:WidgetsTitleTagSearch.png|220px|right]]
 
  
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Google and other major search engines use the [[Glossary/Title-tag|title tag]] of a web page as the link to that page in search results . You can see the titles of websites in the image to the right.
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Google and other major search engines use the [[Glossary/Title-tag|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.
  
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The title is what people will see and choose to click - or not.
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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'''
 
'''#2 Title tags are one of the most important ranking factors for SEO'''
  
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When search engines try to decide 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 on the page itself.  
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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 [[Website-Visibility-Report|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.<!--http://www.seomoz.org/article/search-ranking-factors-->
 
If you want a page on your website to rank better for a certain keyword, include that word in the title tag.<!--http://www.seomoz.org/article/search-ranking-factors-->
  
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(Off-page factors include [[Learn/Get-Good-Backlinks|inbound links]], which are links from other sites to the web page.)
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<!--Of course, search engines also consider factors that aren't on the web page itself, including [[Learn/Get-Good-Backlinks|links]] to the page from other websites. These are called inbound links or backlinks.  
  
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'''#3 The Title Tag is at the Top of the Page and Tab in a Web Browser'''
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'''#3 The title tag is at the top of the page and tab in a web browser'''
 
[[Image:PointToTitleTag.png|190px|right]]
 
[[Image:PointToTitleTag.png|190px|right]]
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The title tag on your web page can help orient your visitors and tell them what to expect.{{CLR}}
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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.{{CLR}}
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'''#4 The title tag is what displays when someone shares a link on social media sites'''
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[[Image:TitleTagOnFacebook.png|300px|right]]
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If someone shares a link to your site in social media sites like Facebook or Google+, what shows up is the title tag of that page. It's great if people share your links, but if the title tag isn't appealing or informative, less people are going to click on it and visit your site.
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And don't forget, [[Learn/Boost-SEO-with-Social-Media|social media mentions help your SEO]].{{CLR}}  
  
 
==How to Make a Great Title Tag==
 
==How to Make a Great Title Tag==
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An effective title tag balances the suggestions below:
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----
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An effective title tag:
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'''#1 Persuades people to click it.'''
  
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'''#1 Make your title tag enticing so people will be more likely to click it.'''
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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.  A compelling title tag can increase your click-thru rate (CTR) -- that's the percentage of people who see your search result and click on it.  
  
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If the title tag for a web page is just the bland name of the topic, it may rank well for that keyword, but it will probably be too boring to get clicked.
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'''#2 Includes a few relevant keywords.'''
  
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'''#2 Include a few relevant keywords in your title tag.'''
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Because it is such a strong factor in search rankings, it's a good idea to place one or two of [[Learn/Keyword-Research-Is-Key-to-Online-Success|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.
  
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Because a title tag is a strong SEO indicator, it's a good place to place one of your important keywords or keyword phrases. Make sure it's still "clickable" and interesting for people though.
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'''#3 Accurately matches the page content and your goals.'''
  
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'''#3 Use a title tag that accurately matches the content and your goals.'''
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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.
  
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Is the web page strictly informational, an interesting blog post you would like people to share, or a place to purchase something?
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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 [[Learn/Design-Your-Website-for-Conversion|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.
  
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You also want to make sure that your title tag is consistent with the content so that you don't get someone to click the search result and then make them bounce once they get to the website. Remember, the point of SEO and visitors to your website is to get them to [[Learn/Design-Your-Website-for-Conversion|convert]].
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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.  
  
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For example, maybe they clicked on "Introduction to ___" -- which would imply free information on the topic -- and it takes them to a company's website that overwhelms them with calls to buy their product or service and provides little information.
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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.  
  
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If you are trying to sell something on the page, let them know that by the title tag and begin to warm them up and tell them why they would want your product or service.
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If the title doesn't contain keywords relevant to the page's content, it's unlikely to show up when people search for what matters to you, or persuade as many people to click.  
  
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'''#4 Make your title tag fit the parameters.'''
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==Make Sure Your Title Fits Search Results Parameters==
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----
  
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Your title tag should be less than 70 characters long. Google won't display more than 70 characters of a title tag in the link in search results; longer title tags are cut off and get a ... ending.  You can check the length of the title tag for your home page in the "Home Page Analysis" section on the page about your website here on AboutUs.org.
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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 "...."  
  
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Your title tag should only include plain text.  HTML tags won't do anything but make your site look broken.
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[[Image:SERPtitletag.png]]
  
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===How to Change Your Title Tag===
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You can check the length of the title tag for your home page in the [[Website-Visibility-Report|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.  You can use the [http://www.aboutus.org/site-report/buy Site Report] to analyze the title tag for ''every'' page on your site.
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However you edit your website's content, you will want to look for <title>Your current title tag</title> and change the text to what you want it to be (see the tips above). It should go in the top part of the page after <head> and before </head>.
 
  
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Remember that each page on your website should have its own unique title tag, so don't stop after improving your home page's title.
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The text portion of your title tag should include plain text '''only'''. HTML tags won't do anything except make your site look broken.
  
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==Give Every Page Its Own Unique Title Tag==
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Every page on a website should have its own unique content, including a distinct title tag that isn't used for any other page on the site.
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If a web page doesn't have a unique, accurate title tag:
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* Google and other search engines may choose not to use the page's title tag, and instead make up their own text to serve as the page's link in search results.
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* It could be seen as duplicate content, and disregarded by search engines.
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* It will be harder for you - and your visitors! - to distinguish one page of your site from another.
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Does your website have any duplicate title tags? The [http://www.aboutus.org/site-report/buy AboutUs Site Report] will tell you.
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==How to Change Your Title Tag==
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However you edit your website's content, you will want to look for <title>Your current title tag</title> and change the text to improve its SEO, according to the above tips.
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The title tag should go in the top part of the code for the web page, after <head> and before </head>.
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For example, the title tag for this article and web page is coded like this:
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<title>Increase Site Traffic with Title Tags  - AboutUs Wiki Page</title>
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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.
 
{{LearnBottomBio
 
{{LearnBottomBio
 
| Writer        = KristinaWeis
 
| Writer        = KristinaWeis
 
| Name          = Kristina Weis
 
| Name          = Kristina Weis
 
| Image        = Image:KristinaBluesFest.png
 
| Image        = Image:KristinaBluesFest.png
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| AuthorWebsite = AboutUs.org
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| AuthorWebsite = KristinaWeis.com
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| ShortBio      = Kristina is a community manager for [[AboutUs.org]] who talks with a lot of website owners who are trying to promote their business online. <small>Have a question? [[Kristina Weis#Contact_Kristina|Contact me]].</small>
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| ShortBio      = Kristina is a community manager and [[Glossary/SEO|SEO]] guide for [[AboutUs.org]]. She talks with a lot of website owners who are trying to promote their business online. <small>Have a question? [[Kristina Weis#Contact_Kristina|Contact me]].</small><br />{{Twitter|KristinaWeis}}
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}}
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}}-->
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__NOTOC__
 

Latest revision as of 12:51, 7 November 2013

By [[User:|]] on

Title tags are like neon for search

Title tags are ridiculously important for getting more visitors to click on your website when it appears in search engine results.

And lucky for you, they're one of the simplest things you can change on your site. More SEO (search engine optimization) bang for the buck!

... read more

Note: This article has been moved to our new blog at www.AboutUs.com/title-tags-really-matter-seo-social-clicks/.

Retrieved from "http://aboutus.com/index.php?title=Learn/Improve-SEO-and-Clicks-with-Great-Title-Tags&oldid=27392216"