You may have content that is worthy to read, but you also need to make sure your title tags and other SEO tags keep your reader’s and Google’s interest. By optimizing each title tag you write, you will reduce bounce rates and generate additional website traffic. So, how do you create this type of response? Well, let’s begin with the title tag – a crucial part of SEO called title tag optimization. If you learn more about this often overlooked part of SEO, you can substantially improve your website’s visibility online and your site’s overall click-through rate or CTR. Let’s define a title tag so we stay on the same page.
What Are Title Tags?
Also known as a web page’s “page title,” a title tag may also be called an HTML title or website title. The clickable title appears in the SERPs and is set by using <title> inside the HTML coding around the text.
How a Title Tag or HTML Tag is Written
Here’s an example of how an HTML tag is written:
<head> <br/> <title>Title Tag Title</title<>br/<>/head<>br/<>br/<>br/>
Comment management systems, such as WordPress, feature forms to instantly set the <title> tags when you create page titles for a website. When creating the titles, you should limit the text to about 60 characters.
The Importance of Title Tags
A title tag on a webpage tells Google and the search engines the topic of your webpage. It also informs readers who are searching for specific information. Therefore, your title tag or page titles should be precise and relevant to each page’s contents.
Where Do You See Title Tags?
Title tags appear on your web pages and other locations as well. They also appear in the browser tab, on the search engine results page (SERP), and even on external websites. Therefore, how you create them is indeed important for increasing your online influence and generating traffic to your site. Because your title tag is found in the browser, you want to make sure it succinctly tells visitors about your page’s content in a basic and unforgettable way. After search engines index your title tag, it appears in the SERPs. When you search Google, you will see the title tag in the blue text on the SERP. This is the text you click to access a website. In this instance, title tags serve as headlines to invite a reader to click on the search engine result to a webpage. When a title tag is seen on an external website, it typically links to a page that uses the title tag for its anchor text. That is why a title needs to accurately define your content.
Creating a Title Tag
Titles may have various impacts on a page’s click-through rate so you need to make sure the title meets search engine requirements while, at the same time, attracting the interest of readers. Therefore, the title should be written so it does the following:
Describe what the page contains
Includes a target keyword
Triggers the reader’s emotion or thoughts so they click on the page
Whether you write a headline or webpage title, you need to remember to include numbers and triggered words that are simple to grasp and read. Therefore, the title should make you stop on a page and click through and read an article.
Words That Lead to Better Click-through-Rates
According to Semrush, certain words lead to increased CTRs. Therefore, words that you can use for a better CTR include informational words – such as What, Where, Why, and How. Other trigger words that get a response include descriptive words or adjectives, such as Ultimate, Best, or Review.
Adding Brand Names to Title Tags
While brand names in title tags for a home page work, you don’t want to include them in multiple web pages, as it negatively impacts the CTR and readability, plus it looks too repetitive.
Including a Title Tag on a Service Page
When adding a title tag to a service page, you want to make sure that it matches what people are seeking. Some service pages also include the name of the brand/firm at the end. However you decide to write the title, the idea is to get people to click on it.
Truncated Title Tags
Because Google only allows you so many characters for your title tag, you need to make sure it does not get truncated. Google also gives title tags a width limit of 600 pixels. Depending on the electronic used, it may vary. Therefore, it helps to use the tools available online that ensure your title tag is right for the length of your characters and pixels.
Mistakes Made When Writing a Title Tag
While you don’t want your title tag to be too long, you also don’t want it to be too short. Titles that are too lengthy don’t fully display in the SERPs while super-short titles don’t give the search engine bots sufficient information to comprehend the contents of a page. Also, duplicate titles confuse the search engines, which leads to lower rankings. To avoid mistakes with a title tag, make sure it is about the right length and is unique for each webpage. According to Search Engine Journal, you should never remove a title tag that includes a keyword that is ranking for you. Keywords are also an important element in creating a title tag. As the saying goes, “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” After all, the whole idea of creating a title tag is to attract traffic.
Learn More about SEO and Title Tags Now
If you want to make a lasting impression and improve your CTRs, you need to make sure you focus on writing title tags that catch your readers’ attention. Find out more about search engine optimization (SEO) by contacting an SEO professional. Phone SEO expert Danny is now at 1 (855) 605-7361 or 1 (213) 322-0770.