Page Title Optimization: 4 SEO Techniques

merakist-l5if0iQfV4c-unsplash

We now explore one important element of your website – the page title. Page title optimization is often overlooked, but it’s an essential part of any great SEO strategy.

Page titles or title tags are clickable headlines displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs). It is also usually the headline that appears when you share a webpage on social media. You can also find the page title in the tab of a browser.

Importance of Page Title Optimization

Page title optimization is important in making sure you leave a great first impression to search engines and users. It is also essential in leveraging your brand, building a strong foundation for your business.

The page title serves as a short and concise description of a webpage. It is a major factor in helping search engines understand what the certain page on your website is about.

The page title is also the first element of your website that users see when they search for keywords you are targeting. They leave first impression on your website to both search engines and your target audience.

Page titles are typically the first thing users notice when they search for something online. People have an inclination to trust brands. They are more likely click on something with a clear reference to a brand. If you want to make your brand known in your industry, you must effectively display your brand name in your page titles.

Guide to Effective Page Title Optimization

Accumulating 78% of all global desktop search traffic and over 61% of the total mobile searches, Google is the top search engine now. That’s why following Google’s standards in search rankings are the go-to procedure.

Here are some effective Google-compliant page title optimization techniques you need to employ in your website now.

Use Your Target Keyword Wisely

Search engines expect every page from your website to answer users questions by providing valuable and credible information. These questions serve as your target keywords. You create content with one or more target keywords on them. Your page title should also include your target keyword.

As a rule of thumb, your target keywords should be placed towards the beginning of your title tag. Users also tend to scan only as few as two words of a headline, so having your keyword at the beginning of your page title ensures better visibility. A good page title usually follows a structure like this: Primary Keyword – Secondary Keyword | Brand Name.

Don’t use some variation of the same keywords on your page title. Search engines use intelligent algorithms. They view such an act as an attempt to keyword stuffing which is frowned upon by Google and other search engines. You can get in trouble if you try keyword stuffing in your page title and anywhere else in your website.

Watch the Length

The length of your page title affects how it is displayed in search results. If it’s too long, it will cut short. If it’s too short, Google might overwrite your title or worse, not rank your page.

  • Per Google standards, keep your page title at 50-60 characters, including spaces and special characters.
  • Aim around 55 characters or less.
  • Technically, the limit is actually measured on pixels with around 580 to 600-pixel container, but 50-60 characters still remain a good rule of thumb.

Longer titles work better for social media sharing and for blog posts while shorter titles might work for product pages or landing pages.

Avoid unnecessary all-caps as well. They take up so much space and attract attention for the wrong reasons.

Unique Pages, Unique Titles

Aside from keyword stuffing, Google and other search engines do not like duplicate content. Your pages might have different content, but if they have the same title tag, Google might consider them as a duplicate page.

Having unique title tags for every page of your website is important. We understand that it can be hard to keep track of all your page titles, especially if you have tens and hundreds of product pages. We suggest that you keep a list (on a doc or spreadsheet) of all your page titles, so you can check and determine a variation you haven’t done before.

Avoid default words on titles like “Home” or “New Page” – words like these may also trigger Google to think that you’re having duplicate content on your website. Mapping out your site and knowing what each page is about help you create unique titles for every page.

Keep Users In Mind

Your first priority is not SEO and ranking but your target audience. Well-targeted visitors are more likely to click on your page title when they find you on search.

Your first interaction with a user happens after they made a search. It’s the first time they see your brand. Provide them with a clear and concise description of your webpage.

Your page titles set reader expectations and you should not disappoint. They should be accurate and descriptive in a way that shows users exactly what they’re looking for and can make them click to find out more.

SEO Expert For Page Title Optimization

SEO requires constant time and effort. It’s not the type of task you can do it for a whole week and then leave as it is. Digital marketing evolves continuously. Trends and techniques pop up at random. SEO is a never-ending process.

We understand how hard it is to run a business. Outsourcing an SEO specialist helps keep your website in tune with the latest search engine standards and practices while you keep an eye on the other aspects of your business. Your SEO specialist can be responsible for a range of services you can’t handle on your busy time, including page title optimization, website audit, blog audit, citation and so much more.

Ensuring your website is search engine optimized is an integral part of achieving your goals in the digital realm. Page title optimization is one aspect of SEO that helps keep you on the right track. Looking for an SEO specialist? Contact us to learn more or get a quote today!