Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical aspect in the success of an ecommerce venture. Among the prime elements in SEO are HTML tags. The title tag is what catches the reader’s eye first, and is important for your business.
What is a title tag?
A title tag is an HTML element that appears at the link bar of a web page, or in the search results page of a search engine. It is an important feature in SEO.
The title tag is highlighted in the image given below in the example of a webpage.
Title tag in the display results of a search engine:
As the name suggests, a title tag gives the title of an online document. It is something that briefly describes the content of the page. A title tag influences the reader’s decision of whether to click or not, therefore it is imperative that it is succinct and to the point.
Writing nifty title tags
The following tips will be useful in writing SEO friendly title tags:
1. Keep it short and simple
Popularly known as ‘KISS’, the principle is all about keeping things brief. Shorter title tags are more effective for SEO. Search engines tend to collapse long tags, which can affect your chances. Limit the number of characters from 50 to 70 (the lesser the better). This means you need to use the most relevant words, so make sure you use the ones closest to your work.
Use simple words. Do not confuse your reader by using complicated terms. Remember, the focus is to ensure maximum number of clicks. So your words have to be user friendly.
2. Place keywords in order of importance
Ensure that the most important keywords are at the beginning of the tag. The less significant words can come later in the tag. The words most relevant to your page need to figure in the beginning, so that they show up in the search results. For instance if you sell raincoats and umbrellas, put that at the start of your tag.
Put your USP in the title tag. So if you are the only bakery in MG Road who makes 3 tiered cakes for all occasions, say that.
3. Skip the grammar
You need not include ‘a’, ‘but’, or ‘and’ in your title tag. Remember, the shorter it is, the better chance at being spotted. Quite like writing a headline for a news report, you just have to convey the main message.
So instead of saying, ‘the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’, just say, ‘quick fox jumps over dog’.
4. Specify numbers where relevant
If you are offering a discount, say that in the title tag. Or if you have free sign up for a limited period, call it out.
Siegemedia gives a good example. Instead of saying, ‘Fun things to do in Goa,’ try something more specific like, ‘20 cool things in Goa for history buffs’.
5. Provide solutions
Your customers are likely looking for specific products or services. You will also have to jostle with a hundred or so others who will also want to be on the top of the search list. When you need to stand out from the crowd, you should be able to solve problems. This can be anything from an unavailability of fish feed to fixing a torn banarasi sari. Your title tag needs to come across as a solution to a problem.
6. Tell the user what to do
Use a clear call to action to attract the user’s attention. ‘Top 15 best selling antique clocks’ is a lot more compelling than, ‘clocks on sale’, or, ‘antique clocks’.
What not to do
Here are some things that you need to avoid while writing your title tags:
- Usage of common terms – Steer clear of common words like, ‘home page’, ‘untitled’, ‘click here’, or other obvious or vague words.
- Usage of irrelevant words – Why put ‘shoes’ in your tag when you deal with electronic goods? This is common sense; avoid putting words that are not related to the page content.
- Use one tag for all your pages – As already mentioned earlier, your title tag needs to be unique. This holds good for all the pages in your site. Do not assume that a single tag for all your pages will suffice. This will backfire, and the link can be collapsed by the search engine.
This should give you a brief idea as to how your title tags can help your SEO and correspondingly your sales. Look us up at Browntape. We are India’s leading ecommerce experts.
