What is a Title Tag and why is it so important to use it properly for Search Engine Ranking?

A ‘title tag’ is simply the name you give to each of your website pages or blog posts. It tells the reader and the search engines what topic your page or post is about & can be seen at the very top left of your web browser’s screen.

As you are reading this article, the current Title Tag you should see is: ‘Title Tags For Improved Search Engine Ranking & Optimisation’.

Title tags are one of 3, key elements (the other 2 being text copy and backlinks) considered to be extremely influential in achieving high search engine ranking.

Let’s start with a simple google search to help explain. Here I have used the keyword phrase ‘search engine optimization’ and the top 3 paid & organic results are shown below.

In each case, the underlined blue area is the ‘title tag’

Google will usually display up to 65 characters, so try & keep your titles tags between 60 & 70, ensuring that the most important words are at the beginning.

If you are looking to rank highly for a certain phrase or keyword, it is essential that this appears in the title tag, preferably at the start. As you will see in the example above, there is an added benefit as when you do this, if it matches the term the user has searched for, it is shown in BOLD.

3 Quick Tips

1) If you have sufficient character spaces, use your ‘brand name’, in a consistent manner as part of your title tag. Many people choose to start or finish with it, placing a ‘divider’ to split it from the rest of the title e.g.

Can Title Tags Affect Your Search Engine Ranking? | Profit Masters Ltd

Note that this would actually be too long, hence our brand name has not been included in the title tag for this article.

2) Focus on using specific keywords not only within the title tag, but also the H1 header tag and the main body copy of your post but take care to maintain relevancy at all times. It isn’t advisable to repeat the same keyword twice within a title tag, although you can use a variation if it still makes sense.

3) Think of the Title Tag as a headline for a mini advertisement. As well as boosting your search engine rankings, it should be designed to catch the searchers eye & entice them to click through to your page / site to read more.

Is it time to go and review and update your website title tags?