by Alyssa Ast
Many people forget that search engine optimization also includes optimizing the titles of content and web pages. Correctly optimized titles are essential for search engine result's page (SERP) ranking. Combining SEO with a catchy title, not only increases your online visibility, but also entices readers to pick your content over others.
When optimizing web page titles, you must also remember, in most cases, your title will become that page's URL. This must be kept in mind because a shorter page URL is better for traffic than a longer URL. When creating optimized titles for content, it is important to create a title that correctly describes the topic of the content, while catching the readers attention.
Optimizing Titles
When optimizing web page titles, it is best to pick a long tail key phrase (consisting of 3 or more words); whereas, when creating a content title, it is best to either use a long tail key phrase or to use one or two key phrases (consisting of 2 words). If you only use one key phrase, you will also need a keyword to use within the title.
After choosing your keywords/phrases you must use catchy words that make your title POP. A catchy title encourages readers to pick your content over others when searching for information. There are many words that have shown to trigger a more positive response among readers. Some of these words include: top, free, danger, avoid, best of, and tips. Incorporating these attention grabbing words within correctly optimized titles will ensure your content will receive higher traffic than improperly optimized titles.
How to Optimize Titles
Optimizing titles is very simple if you are using a long tail key phrase. All you have to do is simply create a title. Things begin to get a little trickier when you are using two key phrases or a combination of a key phrase and a keyword. When creating titles with either two key phrases or a keyword and a key phrase, never place the two next to each other. You want them to be separated by a word of two. For example, if your key phrases are "publishing information" and "freelance writers" an ideal title would be:
Free Publishing Information for Online Writers.
Be careful not to over space the keywords/phrases because this will create a lengthy title, which can decrease traffic and cause a reader confusion.
Tips for Creating Titles
When creating optimized titles, many people make the mistake of using the same title for more than one piece of online content. You NEVER want to do this because then you will competing with yourself. Duplicate content titles will increase your traffic competition and lower each content's traffic in the process. To stay safe, always create unique titles.
Readers like to see short and simple titles to avoid any confusion. For this reason, avoid creating lengthy titles. When creating titles, keep them as short and simple as possible. Make sure the title accurately describes the content or web page. Do not stuff extra words (fluff) into your titles because this causes the title to become awkward,which as a result will turn readers away.
