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Effective Use of Page Titles
6 Aug2009
Google (still the no.1 search engine) provides its users with 2 kinds of search results; sponsored results such as Google Adwords and organic results. Organic results are derived from the millions of website pages that Google has indexed.
Nobody knows for sure how Google determines which site is listed first (not even the SEO expert who guarantees a first place ranking), but Google is will always looking at improving search results for a better visitor experience.
When promoting your website you may initially decide to use Google Adwords but focussing your attention on organic search is a better long term strategy for sustained and free traffic. Statistics reveal that users click on organic search results 75% of the time vs. 25% for sponsored search results. But, don’t take my word for it – how often do you opt in favour of sponsored search results when you’re looking for something.
“Untitled”
You are doing yourself a huge disservice by not bothering with page titles. Organic search results have 3 elements; a title, a snippet (description) and a url. The page title is the first item presented to Google’s search users. Having a default page title like ‘Untitled’ or ‘Page1’ tells prospective visitors to your site that you’re not very professional and not to expect much from your website. In all likely-hood visitors presented with ‘Untitled’ pages will move on to the next search listing.
Where is my page title?
Your page title is in the html <title> tag within the <head> section of your web page. It is also displayed at the top of your internet browser.
What should I put in the title?
The title for each and every page on your website should be unique. This will help both visitors and search engines differentiate between pages. The page title should accurately describe the contents of the page. Do not load overload you title with SEO keywords
The title of your home page could include the name of your business, perhaps the location of your business if this is relevant to potential customers or even key areas of your business.
Eg. Let’s take the example of “Bloomin Good” a fictitious company in Salisbury, UK. They specialise in bridal bouquets and centre pieces for the tables. A possible page title could be ‘Bloomin Good – Bridal Bouquets and Centre Pieces – Salisbury, UK’.
Always think about what your customer will search for.
A small point that is often overlooked …
when visitors to your site bookmark a page, a good page title will help them find your site easily again.
How long can I go?
A frequently asked question is “What is the maximum length of the page title used by Google?”
The opinion on this varies but based on my research only the first 65 characters (including punctuation and spaces) is displayed. Anything thereafter is ignored.
A final word
Avoid over focus on SEO tactics. Concentrate rather on a quality visitor experience and you will always be on the right track. If you’re not sure about the recommendations made by your SEO company then check with Google. They provide a wealth of information and guidelines for website owners.
