Truly knowing Search Engine Optimization is like nurturing a friendship. It is not something you can visit once a year if you really want to make the most of the relationship. To make the complicated nature of SEO a bit more simple to manage, I would like to expand on just one of the more important and easy to implement aspects – Title Tags.
Title tags are the text that describes each page or post on your website or online document. One of the awesome benefits of having a WordPress website is the control that you have to easily edit your content. What most people don’t realize (or forget), is how easy it is to write the Title Tags for SEO, especially with WordPress.
Title Tags (good or bad) can be seen in these 3 areas:
- Search Engines – Title tags are the words that people see in the clickable link on the search engine results page, so if the title is interesting and relevant, it could give you more click-throughs. In the long-term, better click-thru rates can help you get improved search engine placement overall because search engines may see your website as having more weight.
- External Links – External websites, such as some social media sites, may use the title tag as the main descriptor in the anchor text when it grabs the link.
- Web Browsers – Title tags are also visible on the tops of some browsers and tabs.
How to Write Title Tags:
- Include keyword phrases that are specific to your page/posts topic (sometimes it is useful to use both a short version and an extended variation of your keyword phrase)
- Include your company or brand name in the title tags
- Title tags should have a max of 10-12 words (most search engines display 50-60 characters)
- Use the text on the page as a guide (but not copied word-for-word)
- Be catchy, clear, and concise. Get the readers interest and attention (use words like learn, discover, how to, top, and best) but get to the point!
- Try using a vertical bar like this | (located under the backspace key on a PC, under the delete key on a Mac) to split up keywords or ideas if needed.
So for instance, I have written the Title Tag for this blog post as:
Title Tags | How to write Title Tags for SEO | Vivid Image
Always write for your readers first, search engines second. The title tag should be readable and relevant so that it helps create a positive experience for the visitor.
Webmasters, you have just added the SEO and Title Tags hat to your duties!
If you have been following our past blog posts highlighting important website maintenance, we are nearing the end of our daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly maintenance. Let’s review:
- Login to WordPress daily to check for completed customer forms.
- Fix any broken links weekly.
- Write one blog post or website update weekly.
- Review your website statistics monthly and take action when needed.
- Review your local search visibility with Google quarterly.
- Review and tweak title tags and search engine optimization quarterly.
When Vivid Image does copywriting or search engine optimization services for clients who are developing a new website, writing title tags can also be included. If you are interested in our copywriting or search engine optimization services, please contact your project manager or request a quote.
What approach do you take to writing your title tags? Will you be reviewing your title tags quarterly to see how they can be improved? What Titles grab your attention when you are searching the web?
