One of the most important, and often neglected, content elements on a web page is the title tag. Title tags are used to define the page, and are often pulled by search engines for use as a description of the page for listings on the search engine results pages (SERPs). The title tag is meant to be a concise, keyword representation of the page content, and is important for both SEO and site usability.
Giving your title tags a quick review and update is a great way to give your website an easy SEO upgrade. Here are 5 things to look for when considering your title tags:
- Effective Title Elements
The format of an effective title tag will typically include a primary keyword, secondary keyword, and the company name. Depending upon the business, inclusion of the geographic location of the business may also be advantageous. The “pipe” symbol is often used to separate these elements in the title:
Business Success Blog | Upright Communications | Cincinnati, OH
- Recommended Title Length
The maximum length for title tags has traditionally been 70 characters (including spaces). Since Google usually displays the first 50 to 60 characters of a title tag, keeping titles around 55 characters is now the recommended target.
- Keyword Use in Titles but Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Keyword use is important in title tags because search engines tend to bold searched terms in search results, giving users more incentive to click on your link. Also, it is a very good idea to put keywords first when composing your title tags, since they are most likely to help with page rankings.
- Unique Titles for Each Page
Make sure your title tags are unique from page to page. While sticking with a uniform protocol or order of elements is a good approach, make sure each page title tag focuses on a unique element.
- Make Sure Your Titles Relate to the Page Content
Whatever your subject and keyword focus, make sure your title and page content are talking about the same thing.
Moz.com has a great title tag preview tool that is helpful for composing effective title tags.
For assistance with smart SEO strategies for your website, contact the Upright team!