Titles in RCN assets

Main title  (Page name)

The main title is called the page name on the asset Details screen.

The main title appears at the top of each article as well as on subdomain pages, in internal search results and other lists across the site. It might also appear on external search results. 

If an article doesn’t have a browser (page) title (see below), external search engines will display the main title. In this case main titles have an important role in influencing search engine rankings.

Writing main titles

Because main titles appear out of context more than they appear in context, they need to clearly describe and introduce the content the user is clicking to. They also must include SEO keywords: 

Talking with babies and toddlers: why it's important

not

The more talk the better 

Frontload the main title with the SEO keywords. This means making the subject matter or keywords the first word(s) of the main title:

Online education: a guide for parents

not

A parents’ guide to online education

Avoid cuteness. Teasers, puns and marketing-style headings are not only out of step with the raisingchildren.net.au voice, but they’re also likely to be misinterpreted.

Indicate the child’s age, if appropriate. Where content is age-specific, titles need some sort of age identifier to prevent them from looking like dupes in search: 

Bullying at preschool: helping your child

not

Bullying: helping your child

Bullying at school: helping your child

not

Bullying: helping your child

If your main title is longer than 42 characters including spaces, you'll need to use a browser (page) title (see below). 

Browser title (Page title)

The browser title is called the page title on the asset Metadata screen.

When it's used, the browser title appears in external search engine results. It also displays in the tab at the top of browser screens. If no browser title is used main titles will display in these locations.   

Writing browser titles

The browser title is a separate field from the main title, so it’s possible to have a longer main title and a shortened version for the browser title.

If used, browser titles are important for search engine ranking, so include SEO keywords. 

Main title: Financial support for children with autism spectrum disorder

Browser title: Autism funding and financial support

Short title (Page short name)

The short title is called the page short name on the asset Details screen.

Short titles are an abbreviation of main titles.

Writing short titles

Abbreviate the main title; don’t paraphrase it. The short title must bear a clear relationship to the main title: 

Main title: Better sleep for autistic children 3-8 years: eight tips

Short title: Better sleep for autistic children: tips (not ‘How to sleep better: autism’) 

Skip leading articles like ‘A’ and ‘The’:

Ups & downs 

not

The ups and downs

Use an ampersand (‘&’) instead of the word ‘and’.

Avoid abbreviating relatively short titles:  

Praise & encouragement

not

Praise

 Main title > Short title examples

 Vitamin D: what you need to know >  Vitamin D

 Healthy habits for a healthy life: 12 tips > Healthy habits: 12 tips 

 Morning routines: beat the buzzer > Morning routines 

 Praise and encouragement > Praise & encouragement