SEO
This is the first article in an eight-part series about how to optimize a page/post in search engine page rankings (SERP). This eight-part series will include these articles in the following order: Page Title, Meta Descriptions, Meta Keywords, Body Text, H1 Headings, Bold Text, Anchor Texts, and Img Alt Texts.
Granted, there are many more elements to optimizing a page/post for SERP. However, if you follow the recommendations in these eight articles, you will be able to watch your page/post continue to rise in search engine rankings over time.
Page Titles
A page title is probably the most important element of your page/post. If you do nothing other than to optimize your page title, you will have an advantage to the competition and will watch as your page improves in rank over time.
Tips on Page Title Optimization
- Calculate the Ideal Number of Words for the Page Title – Most page titles are typically four to nine words and 30 to 70 characters in length (this includes spaces). To find the ideal number of words to put into the page title, simply “Google” the key word or phrase that you want to target. You should get ten listings on the Google results page. Simply count up all the words in the page titles of those listings and divide by the number of listings you counted the words in. The number of words you get for your page title should be between five to seven words.
- Make Sure the Page Title is Relevant to the Content of the Page – The page title should represent the content of that page and accurately describe the information presented on that page.
- DON’T USE ALL CAPS IN THE PAGE TITLE – Using all caps in the page title is annoying and statistically proven difficult to read for many people as well.
- The Page Title Should Not Be Duplicated – You want to develop the page title to target the primary keyword or phrase for that page. When all the page titles are the same, usually the home page will rank and leave all other pages/posts invisible to the search engines.
- Add A Descriptive Modifier Before the Keyword or Phrase – By adding a descriptive modifier before the keyword or phrase in the page title it becomes less likely to get filtered out of search results and will also help you rank well for additional terms.
- Great Page Titles Evoke An Emotional Response – Try to compose page titles that make people curious and want to click on them. This is especially true if you are a blog creating linkbait.
- Don’t Repeat Keywords or Phrases Back-to-Back – Using keyword or keyword phrases back-to-back will cause the keyword or phrase to have to high of a density which will lower your SERP.
In conclusion, the page title is one of the most important elements to getting a good SERP ranking for the page/post you are trying to promote. It is the very first bit of information about your page/post so make sure it leaves a clicking impression!
