Keywords for Maximizing Search Engine Optimization
February 21, 2012 – 5:17 pmIntroduction to Title Tags
In HTML documents, the opening Title or <HEAD> section is the primary word string used by search engines.
The Title contains primary and secondary keywords and is no more than 70 characters in length. Brief descriptions of the article are important as the Title Tag describes the document’s text. The title appears in the browser, on the search results page and on external links and/or websites. Targeting specific Search Engine Optimization (SEO) words in the Title helps distinguish documents, increasing web traffic.
For example, if writing a document about Search Engine Optimization for Salt Lake City companies, it would be best to structure the Title according to the following format:
<HEAD>
<TITLE> Utah Search Engine Optimization </TITLE>
</HEAD>
The Title “Utah Search Engine Optimization” would appear in the browser, as this is the official Title of the document. This will also be the default Title when a reader bookmarks the site in a browser.
Title Elements
- Precision is Key – The Title Element should reflect a precise summary of the document. A Title rich in keywords helps increase search engine results. Confirming a keyword-focused Title is simple and the results are constructive to the task – ensuring that SEO-focused content reflects within the document.
- Length – If the Title exceeds 70 characters, search results will cut it off by indicating so with an ellipsis – “…”
- Keyword Placement – The closer keywords are to the beginning of a Title, the higher ranking the document receives with search engines and the more likely readers are to click on the Title. In the aforementioned example of “Utah Search Engine Optimization,” the keyword is focusing on “Utah” which is why it receives strategic placement at the beginning of the Title.
- Boost Branding – If marketing a popular, specific brand, it is best that this keyword reflects at the beginning of a Title.
- Never Underestimate the Importance of Readability – Always remember that even if a search engine pulls the Title as relevant, if the readability of the Title is severely compromised, this will reduce the likelihood that the document will be read by human eyes. Ensure that the Title is concise, yet makes sense to a reader.
Browser
The Title of the document always appears at the top of the browsing software. Typically, this feature makes the reader feel the article is safe and from a reputable source, though it has little impact on a reader’s visible attention span.
Search Engine Results
When a reader searches for a term, for example, “Salt Lake City Search Engine Optimization” the matching word phrases will either be highlighted or appear in bold. For example, the document “Utah Search Engine Optimization” would appear as “Utah Search Engine Optimization” as these search phrases are identical.