You saw the page title, ‘What is a title tag seo’ and clicked. Now you’re here, ready to dive into the article. Why did you stop? Because the title caught your eye, piqued your curiosity, and made you want to learn more about ‘a title tag’. That’s the power of a well-crafted title! Now, let’s get into the fascinating content you came for.
Source: Freepik
Let’s take a quick look at what we’ll cover today. First, we’ll answer the most anticipated question – what is a title tag? And then we’ll discuss why they matter for SEO and how they appear. Plus, we’ll cover the dos and don’ts of crafting click-worthy title tags in WordPress. Let’s get started!🚀🚀
Understanding SEO Title Tags
What is the title tag in SEO? The term ‘title tag’ might sound complex, but it’s actually simple to understand.
When you type a query into Google, it suggests the most relevant articles related to your query. The first thing you see for each of those suggested search results is the title tag. It appears as the clickable blue link serving as each article’s main title. If it’s compelling, you click the link and read further. If not, you move on to other results.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s see what the official definition says. A title tag in SEO is an HTML element found between the <title> tags in the <head> section of a webpage. It tells search engines and visitors what the page is about. The simple syntax for it is as follows:
To better understand this concept, let’s explore one of the best SEO title tag examples. If you see the title (tag) below from one of the Content Gorilla blogs, it appears as the #1 result in Google’s search engine result page (SERP).
The reason is pretty obvious. It’s a well-crafted, number-based SEO title, including the primary keyword ‘Weight Loss Blog Names Ideas.’
💡Quick Tidbit: A title tag is sometimes also called the SEO page title.
How Title Tags Appear…
Do you think the title tag of a webpage appears only as that clickable blue link? Think again. Let’s break down how a title tag shows up differently.
…In Google SERP
As discussed above, in Google SERPs, title tags appear as clickable blue links that summarize each webpage. Let’s quickly go through an example.
…In HTML
Looking at HTML, a title tag is placed within the <title> element in the <head> section, as shown in the image below.
…In Google Browser Tab
In browser tabs, the title tag displays the current webpage’s title. It helps users identify open tabs easily, especially when multiple browsers are open on the screen.
…In Link Preview
In the link preview, a title tag is often used as the headline or title that appears when sharing web pages on social media or messaging platforms. Below’s an illustration of this:
Why Well-Crafted Title Tags Matter for SEO
After seeing what the title tag is and how it appears, let’s talk about why it matters for SEO.
- Attract targeted traffic by including the relevant keyword in the title. It sets clear expectations about what’s in the page content
- Improve click-through rate by enticing users to click on the search result and explore it further.
- Lower bounce rate and keep visitors engaged by meeting their expectations criteria.
- Boost SEO rankings by signaling the page’s content accurately. It’s a key on-page SEO factor.
What to Do When Crafting Title Tags
Source: Freepik
Follow these tips to craft a click-worthy title tag.
- Study the title tags from top-ranking articles to understand what works.
- Keep your title tag descriptive and distinct to stand out from the competition.
- Aim for 50-60 characters to avoid truncation in search results.
- Include numbers to make it more eye-catching and enticing for users.
- Ensure your main keyword is included, preferably near the beginning.
- Separate words with hyphens (-) instead of dashes (—) to improve readability.
For writing quality blog content, check out our insightful tips to make your blogging journey easy!
What Not to Do When Crafting Title Tags
Source: Freepik
Ensure you avoid these mistakes while crafting a title tag.
- Overloading titles with keywords can make them look spammy and reduce readability.
- Using generic or vague phrases can take away meaningful context about the page’s content.
- Overusing punctuation in your title tag can make it look unappealing.
- Duplicating title tags can lead to search engine confusion.
The Easiest Way to Add and Edit SEO Title Tag
One of the major considerations while discussing what is the title tag in SEO is how to add or edit it easily. Today, we’ll guide you step by step to add and edit it for your web page.
Adding a Title Tag – Via Yoast SEO Plugin
If you don’t have the Yoast SEO plugin, it might be a good idea to install it first on your WordPress site. Those who already have it can follow these steps directly:
- Log in to the WordPress Admin Dashboard.
- Go to the post or page editor.
- Scroll down to the Yoast SEO section.
- Find the SEO title field and enter your title.
- Ensure it’s optimized for SEO best practices.
- Click the Save button to apply the changes.
- Review the title tag in the snippet preview.
Customizing a Title Tag – Via Yoast SEO Plugin
- Follow steps 1-7 from above.
- Go to the page or post with the existing title tag.
- Click on Yoast SEO in the sidebar.
- Update the title tag text in the SEO Title field.
- Review the preview to confirm the edited title.
- Save the changes to update the title tag.
- Verify the updated title tag on the published page.
- Repeat the process for any other posts or pages needing edits.
FAQs
Q. Are SEO title tags an important Google ranking factor?
Yes, because they summarize a webpage’s content for both visitors and search engines, influencing click-through rates and relevance.
Q. Does Google always use the title tag I generate for my blog page?
Google typically uses the title tag you generate for your blog page. However, it may sometimes display a different title based on the search query or other factors it deems more relevant to the user’s intent.
Q. What are the other names for the title tag in SEO?
Other names for the title tag in SEO include meta title, page title, and HTML title.
Final Thoughts
Today, we explored what is a title tag in SEO, covering all the crucial aspects you need to know. A title tag helps search engines understand the content of your web page. It appears in search results and browser tabs, influencing both rankings and click-through rates. Crafting a compelling, keyword-rich title tag is essential for driving traffic and improving your site’s visibility. Make sure to optimize it for both users and search engines to achieve the best results.
Whether you want title tag suggestions or blog content ideas, Content Gorilla has you covered. Try using our multi-purpose tool – the Free Blog Post Idea Generator. It’s 100% free and bursting with creative potential, a must-have for your content strategy!
I am a full-time online marketer, for over a decade now. Helped over 100,000+ people & generated well over $12M in online sales.