An SEO title tag is the blue text on the SERP (search engine results page) that consists of a maximum of 70 characters and describes your content using keywords relevant to your page.
Figure 1: Example of a title tag
The title tag is one of the most important factors in SEO. It’s the first thing search engines use to determine what your site is about.
The goal is to make sure that the text you include in this tag will be found by search engines, but also by people who may be browsing links on social media or other websites. You want a searcher to click on your link so they can find out more about your content.
A good title should:
- Be around 60 characters long
- Use words with high search volume
- Include keywords related to your site’s topic
What is the importance of SEO Title Tags?
Title tags are one of the most important aspects of a web page.
They provide a preview of the content on the page and help identify what the page is about. When used properly, a catchy title tag will make the person want to click on it and read your article.
Title tags also play an important role in search engine optimization.
Search engines use title tags to index web pages and rank them in the SERPs. When you create a title tag for your web page, you need to include keywords that are relevant to your content so that it can rank higher on SERPs.
Note: If Google doesn’t like your title tag, it may change it to better suit their needs. If this happens, you can bet it most likely won’t be to your liking.
Types of SEO Title Tags
There are three different types of title tags
- The Primary Title: which appears in blue on Google, Bing, and Yahoo! search results. This is what people click on when they’re searching. This title should highlight the main idea of your post and should contain your page’s most important keywords.
- The Secondary Title: appears in bolded black and slightly larger font beneath your link and often includes secondary search terms found on your page. It should be used to describe your main content more in-depth and may include your brand name or important secondary keywords.
- Third-tier Summary Phrases: appears as a tooltip when users hover over a link to your site. These show up in small font and usually include links to other pages on your site.
Like many things on the web, you need to be careful about how you write them.
How to Write Title Tags for SEO
A good title tag can make a big difference in your SEO efforts. Not only will it help people find your content when they’re searching, but it’ll also give you another place to include your keywords and increase that search ranking.
Here are some tips for writing a good title:
- Keep them short: It’s best to keep title tags between three and seven words long; longer than that, and search engines tend to ignore them.
- Use relevant keywords: The title tag isn’t just for human readers, so don’t be afraid to use a few of your targeted search terms. After all, you want Google to pick up your website when someone searches for your business or product.
- Include a call-to-action: A great title tag should include a strong call-to-action that encourages people to click through and read more.
- Don’t repeat words: Search engines can get confused if you repeat words in your title tags; they might also penalize you for keyword stuffing.
- Match it with your H1 header: If you’re using an H1 header on your page (which you should, always), make sure it matches your title tag.
- Word Choices for Better CTR: Using words like HOW, WHY, WHAT, and WHERE helps people understand what they will find on the page. Also, use words that entice searchers to click, like BEST, REVIEW, and ULTIMATE.
- Company and Brand Names: Use your company name or brand wisely. For instance, many companies choose to feature the item or service they are trying to sell and then add a company name at the end e.g. “Free People Women’s T-shirt and Tees – Macy’s”.
Now that you know how to write good title tags, try them out on your site and see what happens! Keep track of their impact over time so you can see which ones are working best.
