The Title Tag is a Valuable Component of On-Page SEO
You are getting to grips with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
You no longer think SERPs is a type of drain cleaner, but …
Do you know the reasoning behind your SEO tasks?
For example, the Title Tags.
They are an important part of SEO for both you, the one waving your cyber wand and the searching user, who wants an easy experience in finding your target webpage.
Understanding how to write the various HTML elements effectively can make a simple SEO task achieve your objectives and improve your user (website visitor) experience: something Google and the other Search Engines are keen for you to do.
The Title Tag of a web page must be accurate and succinct: it must describe in robot-recognisable language
(i.e. simple) what the page is about. If your primary keywords fit this bill, use them to provide an accurate description of the page’s content.
Besides SERPs, Title Tags are important when it comes to web browsers and social networks.
When your site visitor has many tabs opened on his web browser, you want the title to have recognisable (preferably key) words near the front to ensure the person does not lose track of your content.
Many social networks such as Facebook will use your Title Tag to shape what they actually display when you share that page, so bear that in mind too.
Important SEO keywords help but do not stuff your heading with variations of them as the search engines do not like that. Yes, you are pleasing the great robots but remember ultimately it is about your users and the first impression which your Title Tag gives. Put thought into it, think like a site visitor and then consider the demands of the search engines.
When giving the search engines what they want, know that they like unique content so be sure to give a unique title for every page, and avoid default titles like “Home”. Not only might it make Google think you have duplicated content it will bore your users away from clicking.
For more information on Title Tags, Meta Descriptions, Headers etc. refer to my earlier more comprehensive articles
“24 On-Page SEO Tips for Small Business”
“Basics of Onsite SEO” – Video
Ben Miranda