Situation-Based Question
You’re helping a friend who just launched a new blog about eco-friendly travel. She’s done a great job writing informative posts, but her site isn’t getting much traffic. She says, “I’ve heard title tags are important for SEO, but I’m not sure how to write them properly. What are the best practices for writing a title tag?”
Exact Answer
To write a strong title tag, keep it under 60 characters, include your primary keyword, make it compelling, and ensure it accurately reflects the content on the page. Avoid keyword stuffing, and include your brand name when relevant.
Explanation
A title tag is like a first impression for both search engines and users. It should be clear, concise, and encourage users to click. If you follow these best practices, you’ll give your content the best chance to rank and attract clicks:
- Keep It Under 60 Characters:
- Title tags longer than 60 characters may get cut off in search results, which can harm your click-through rate. Stick to the recommended character limit to ensure your full title is visible.
- Use Primary Keywords Early:
- Search engines give more weight to words at the beginning of the title. Try to include your target keyword or phrase near the start, especially if it’s something people are likely searching for.
- Make It Compelling and Action-Oriented:
- A good title tag should entice users to click. Use words that spark curiosity, urgency, or offer value. Phrases like “Top 10,” “Best Guide,” or “How to” often perform well.
- Reflect the Content Accurately:
- Ensure that the title tag reflects what the page is truly about. Misleading title tags can hurt your rankings and lead to a high bounce rate.
- Avoid Keyword Stuffing:
- While keywords are important, overloading your title tag with them can make it look spammy. Aim for a natural, readable flow.
- Include Your Brand Name:
- Adding your brand name at the end of the title tag can help with brand recognition, especially if your brand is well-known or you want to increase awareness.
Example
Let’s say you’re optimizing a blog post about eco-friendly travel tips. Instead of a generic title like “Eco-Friendly Travel Tips”, you could write a title like “10 Eco-Friendly Travel Tips for Sustainable Journeys | [Brand Name]”.
- It’s under 60 characters.
- It includes a keyword phrase, “eco-friendly travel tips.”
- It’s compelling because it offers “10 tips,” which sparks interest.
- It accurately reflects the content.
- It includes the brand name at the end.
This title tag is clear, optimized, and likely to perform better in search results and encourage more clicks.