What is an SEO title?

By definition, an SEO or meta title is an element that specifies the title of a web page. SEO titles are titles that appear on the Google results page, in browser tabs, and articles shared on social media.

Why is the SEO title prestigious?

The meta titles have a direct influence on the normal referencing of your website (SEO). A good headline will attract more visitors. This will increase your page click rate, which is the proportion of Internet users who click on your link after seeing it on their results page. The higher the click-through rate, the more Google will consider your content as relevant and earn its positions.

Seven steps to writing a good SEO title

As you can see, to be effective, a meta-title must satisfy two parties: Internet users and Google. Use the following points as a checklist the next time you need to write an SEO title.

1. Respect the length of 600 pixels tolerated by Google

If your SEO title is too long, it will look like this: Not very engaging, is it?

Since the meta title space is delimited by several pixels (600), there is no exact character limit. Indeed, on display, and O will take up more space than A. We recommend you set a ceiling close to 60 characters to be secure. Want to test a meta-title? Use this tool.

2. Use your primary keyword at the start

A proper meta title should help you position yourself on the keyword you are targeting. From an SEO perspective, assume that Google will see every word you include in your claim as descriptive of your content. Therefore it is recommended that you include your keyword, and preferably at the beginning.

Here are the first results for the search ” furniture store. “

Titles containing the main keyword at the beginning tend to rank better:

Note: your meta title is different from the title on your page (H1). You can, therefore, use several main keywords between your H1 and your SEO title.

3. Personalize each SEO title

” Avoid  titles that are the same or common to all pages .”

In its guidelines, Google is transparent. If you don’t personalize your titles, people won’t be able to understand the difference between your pages. Unique and contextualized meta titles will let Google users know whether your content is targeted to their query or not. 

4. Use numbered titles

Search for ” places to visit in USA ” and look at the first Google page :

As the first sentence of this article reminds us, the Internet user is inundated with content. This abundance of results makes him demanding, and in a hurry. If he doesn’t know what to expect on your page, he probably won’t click on it and head to another source. Numbered headings let your readers know the subject, structure, and length of your page before they even click on it. This is why they are so valid on the internet.

In addition to their popularity with Internet users, numbered titles also increase your chances of ranking for Google featured snippets. For example, if your article headline ” 5 ways to … ” or ” 5 tools for … ” and you offer five subheadings, Google will have an easier time understanding the structure of your text, and might make you appear in an optimized snippet like this (thanks Google!):

5. Address the reader

Wanna know the term that converts the most on the internet? This is the first word of this paragraph. Research shows that “You” (“You” to be exact) is the most persuasive word on the internet.

Addressing your reader from the title shows them that your content is targeted to their specific need. He will, therefore, feel more concerned with your claim.  

To optimize your existing titles, check if you can replace some “le” or “son” with “your.”

6. Update your title

“New” is also one of the most persuasive words on the internet. The Internet user likes who is recent and up to date with his current need. Depending on the subject of your page, refreshing the title can have a significant effect on its traffic. For example, when it comes to social media or rapidly changing technologies, One of the easiest ways to stand out from other titles is to change your SEO title.

We noticed that one of the most read articles on our blog was ” When to post on social media, ” although it was from 2016. However, by typing “when to post on [social media],” Google would automatically suggest adding 2019 “to search, which many Internet users do. We have therefore updated the information in the article and added” in 2019 “to the SEO title as well as in the subheadings of the text.

7. Include your brand name in the meta title

If your brand is recognized in its field and has good credibility, adding its name in your meta title can help increase your click-through rate. Even if this is not the case, it is generally recommended to include your brand name at the end of the SEO title, following a “-” or a “|.” For pages like the home page or about page, including your brand name is even a must.

It is up to you now to find the right SEO title!

You now have the cards in hand to create engaging and beneficial meta-titles for your SEO on search engines. If a page’s content takes longer to write than a headline, don’t overlook the importance of this element in your content strategy. The best web content with a wrong SEO title will leak most of its traffic. MavenUp Creatives provides special SEO Services in Lahore and helps businesses outrank their competitors in no time.