A title tag is the part of the HTML tag that represents the title of a page. It is the most important element of a website’s appearance in the SERP because it has the largest font size and is clickable.
HTML example for the title tag:
<head> <title> How To Improve Title Tags For SEO - digmarketly.com</title> </head>
Title Tag Format And Length
The optimal header format should always include:
- Keyword (not intentionally stuffed) with a short description
- Brand name
Example: (How To Improve Title Tags For SEO – digmarketly) Keyword with description – brand
When it comes to the length of the title tag, it should be between 50 to 70 characters to make sure that it displays correctly in the search results. In case the address is longer, it will be cut off by the search engine.
Title Tag Preview
You can test how the title will look in SERP preview tools or with a WordPress plugin. One of the most popular plugins is Rank Math SEO. Before publishing the page, test the different versions.
Why Is The Title Tag Important?
Based on the above definition, there is no doubt that having an optimized and carefully thought-out title tag is crucial. These are the items you should pay attention to:
1. CTR
The title tag directly affects the CTR of your website in search results. Everyone’s eyes are on the title, so your job is to create an attractive and eye-catching title that will entice them to click on it. Try including a copy that is both engaging and informative.
2. SEO
In the past, title tags were used for strict SEO optimization to trick them and make their way to the top of the first SERP. Nowadays, it is not so easy.
Skipping putting the keyword in the title tag doesn’t make sense because it could mean something different than the website is about and that’s the exact opposite of what you want to achieve.
Make sure to use the keyword you’re focusing on in the title but don’t do it on purpose. It should be natural while keeping the copy short, descriptive, and engaging.
3. Appearance
In most cases, the title tag determines the appearance of the website in the SERP. Therefore, it directly affects the CTR and the beginning of the user experience journey of your potential visitors to your website.
4. Social networks
Social networks use the title tag to display when a website is shared. However, you can set specific meta tags for Facebook or Twitter using the following piece of HTML code:
Facebook: <meta property="og:title" content="How To Improve Title Tags For SEO - digmarketly" />
Twitter: <meta property="og:title" content="How To Improve Title Tags For SEO - digmarketly" />
How To Write A Good Title Tag
A good title tag is a combination of search engine optimization, digital marketing, sales, and psychology. These are 8 important tactics for writing catchy title tags that are easy to use and well-optimized.
Check The Length
Even if you write the best title tag in the world, you may end up with a poor CTR. why? Because it was cut in half. Keep the length between 50-70 characters.
On the other hand, it is not strictly about the number of characters. Different word lengths will affect whether or not the title is displayed in full.
This is why you should always test it and get more versions ready. Don’t forget that Google tends to change the accepted length of it but as far as we know it has always been in the stated range.
Watch out for duplicates
Don’t use the same heading tags for more than one page. Check Search Console to see if there are any duplicates.
It can happen, especially on content-rich websites like e-shops. Do your best to fix the problem as soon as possible.
Avoid over-optimization
Choose the keyword and use it naturally in the title tag. Don’t stuff keywords.
Over-optimization won’t help as it used to in the future, and what’s more, there won’t be enough room to focus your CTA (call-to-action), description, and brand.
Avoid using more than one keyword
This often happens on single-page websites that tend to optimize for more than one keyword (which is not a good practice).
A title tag could easily end like this: “Best Rated Smartphones & Digital Cameras –…”
Perhaps the people who are looking for the best smartphones are not interested in digital cameras and vice versa. Choose only one target keyword. It’s better for UX and won’t divide ranking capabilities.
Focus on local SEO
Do you run a local business? Say it! If you prepare sushi and deliver food only in Chicago, include it in the address tag.
In this way, you will inform people and search engines who your target audience is. And it’s not just about websites. You can define a group of people or a community to increase the engagement of your free website visitors.
Be Unique
A focus CTA is an inevitable component of a good title tag. Creative writing with a little trick can lead to a lot of sales. The goal is to stand out from the crowd.
Provide added value and a clear description
Once you’ve optimized the title tag from SEO point of view and confirmed a nice CTA, it’s time to see if it holds any added value and describe the website accordingly.
“Buy now the best smartphone in the market” sounds like a cheap sales pitch and spam advertising. Don’t use this type of header unless your website is a coupon site.
The added value means that the potential visitor to the site will find what he is looking for. What’s more, it gives credibility to the content on the website.
The Connection Between Title Tags And Content
This improves both UX and SEO. The title is the gateway to your website. It should simply match the meta description and of course the content on the site.
You don’t want to lure Google search users into a completely free product that’s already paid. Likewise, enticing them with a great homemade pizza recipe while promoting instant pizza from the local grocery isn’t a good idea.
Common Questions
Is the title the same as the title tag?
In HTML terminology, the title tag is expressed as the “title of the page” and the H1 tag is expressed as the title of the entry paragraph of the page. Both act as headings to describe what your web page is about. Since both the title tag and the H1 tag share the same broader purpose, it’s easy to understand why people might confuse them.
How to write excellent title tags?
8 tips for writing title tags:
1-Write unique titles for each page.
2-Pay attention to the length.
3-Use your target keyword (but don’t overdo it).
4- Be descriptive of what is on the page.
5- Make a (brief) case of what is on the page.
6- Use high-quality and relevant images.
7-Customize the file name.
8- Use alternative text.
What is a header tag?
Header tags, also known as heading tags, are used to separate headings and subheadings on a web page. They are arranged in order of importance, from H1 to H6, with H1s usually being the heading.
Why is the title tag important?
Heading tags are essential for both the usability and SEO of your web page. Search engines mainly take keywords from content, heading tags, and headings to develop the context of a web page.