SEO Title Switch for Better Rankings
While watching a video on how to tie shoelaces (most of us do it the wrong way, resulting in sloppy looking bows that come undone), I realized this could be applied to website optimization.
Specifically, a good number of people have the right idea when it comes to (source code) titles, but they set it up backwards, making sloppy work of their SEO and sabotaging their efforts.
Let’s say you sell socks and your CMS insists on putting your site name on every page. Make this change…
Instead of this: Marathon Sports Shop – Men’s Running Socks (site name – product)
Do this: Men’s Running Socks – Marathon Sports Shop (product – site name)
This simple switch means your keyword phrase is now at the beginning of every title on the pages of your web site, which will make a huge difference in your SEO ranking efforts for your keywords.
Even better, if you don’t have to put your site name in your title, use that real estate for keywords. You’ve got 65 characters that will show up in Google listings. After that, you can insert your site name if you really want to…it won’t show up in the Google title results, but unless you’re a well known brand, like Coach or Nike, it won’t matter.
Just in case you’re worried about tying those shoelaces wrong, here’s the video 
I agree! I did this experiment a while back and saw a huge rise in the SERPs. Simple change like this can make such a big difference!
-Kai
That is what SEO is all about – knowing the little things that make all the difference.
To expand on what you touched on with the last paragraph, THE reason to include keywords in your title (and, most importantly, near the beginning of your title) is to take advantage of Google adding more value to titles that match what the user’s search query. You’ve probably noticed when you search for something and the keywords you used are bold. If they are at the beginning of the title, then not only will they rank higher but they will also catch the user’s attention.
Thanks for expanding on that Brian. Sometimes I forget that some readers need a better understanding of the WHY, not just the HOW.
I agree. I use to spread the keywords I target at the title of every unique page in my static site. But contrarily the idea doesn’t work for blogger platform. Correspond to on page optimization I wonder why blogger priors the site name in the title. While date header place at H2 and lastly the post title is only at H3. Why the date of the post is so important for Blogger. Please observe this [link removed]
In this case I’ve change H2 (date header) for (post title) H3
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Titles really matters, I completely agree! All the successful sites that I ve seen are all having perfect titles from seo point of view… Nice sharing!
Diva,
Wouldn’t your home link be better off as SEO Blog instead of SEO Blog Home? Figure you would want to SEO your home link as well
-Kai Lo
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@Kai Lo, sorry you got caught in the spam filter. The phrase SEO Blog is there, so if something comes after it, it doesn’t matter. Also, I want my navigation to be clear to visitors, and many look for “home.” Thanks for your comment – you make a good point…that first link is important.
interresting video!
My shoelaces look 100% better these days
The good thing about your information is that it is explicit enough for students to grasp. Thanks for your efforts in spreading academic knowledge.
useful tips for SEO experts.. thank you.
Nice article and video, though I don’t usually wear shoes with laces.
In your article, you mentioned that it is better not to include site name in the title.
“Even better, if you don’t have to put your site name in your title, use that real estate for keywords”
Do you mean that there is a possible impact on m keywords ranking if I were to add my site/brand name on the title?
Thanks
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It won’t adversely affect you, but too many sites (not yours) are structured like this:
Game Manufacturers Inc. – Games from China
Game Manufacturers Inc. – Games from India
Game Manufacturers Inc. – Games for Japan
So Google sees the primary keyword as “Game Manufacturers” and it’s duplicated on every page. Not good for rankings.
Thanks for this guide – it’ll be interesting to give a try to this opportunity!
This is actually a great tip. Thanks. First words, links titles always have more weight in page rank.
Thanks for the tip – I’m going to try as an experiment on some established pages with pretty stable rankings and see what happens.
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@Wendy – let us know the results!
Nice video
)
Regarding the page title I don’t see the point in adding the company name in to the title. Correct me if I’m wrong..
You’re right, but some people insist on it. I use the 65 characters to write a title using keywords, and then add the company name at the end.
@Outsourcing – since visitors can see the title at the top of the browser window (if they know to look there lol) it can be a nice touch to put it at the end, past the 65 character Google limit.
I agree, but sometimes it is nice to promote your company name and brand it. Sometimes the most funniest of company titles became so famous that some services or even products people name after them while speaking.
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This is good advice, though I wonder if Google reads past the first 65 characters too. Just because it only displays 65 in the results doesn’t mean it doesn’t read through the whole title. I do agree that it’s best to use your main keywords at the beginning though. I’m not sure about it yet but it’s just my theory for now…
@Detroit – you are right about that, and sometimes I will make the title longer. However, I always make sure the information and keywords I want in Google search results is within the first 65 characters.
Good to remeber. I see lots of websites with the brand coming first tha the keywords.
i’m still don’t understand. can you advise for my blog? thanks b4.
@lutfi – the title “Recycle” is on every page of your blog. Not only is that a very general search term with HUGE competition, what if someone is looking for “Resin identification code 7″ which is the title of one your articles? Get the Platinum SEO plugin and put a title in every blog post that is specific to the post.
ok, thanks for your advise.
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Nice Video!
btw, this is actually a great tip, I’ll try this soon
thanks for ur advice!
Thanks for the tip, it’s very useful!
Will changing a wordpress blog title affect SEO that much?
@Car Hire Italy – definitely!
Wow, so I can play around my keywords and switch them to come up with different vatiations. Cool video, a good viral marketing strategy
you are right SEODiva! use keyword in our title its better ranking in search engines.
Often it’s the simple things that matter. I would emphasize the notion that the valuable title tag real estate should be used to the max with your keyword(s) and variations thereof. As long as its not spammy and keyword stuffing. That will definitely backfire in Google.
Great video on those shoelaces, I actually could need some improvement there.
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I use Wordpress and the default seems to set you up wrongly, so I’ve had to be sure to make the shift. I suspected that the order was important, but thanks for confirming!
Turns out I’ve been doing both title tags and shoelaces properly =)
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Hi…
Thanks for this suggestion…. it’ll be interesting to give a try to this opportunity!
Indeed the title is very powerful, it’s the 4th top ranking factor that SEMoz have mentioned in the survey that they have made with the top SEO practitioners. And with the keywords at the beginning of the title makes a lot more difference, that’s the main method that I use in my article marketing. I can get the top 3 spots of google with my ezine articles even without backlinks just by using a well researched title.
You are exactly right! Using that keyword at the beginning is very powerful.
There are a lot of free directories – you can find lists of them via a Google search. If you’re a local business, don’t overlook sites like Yelp and Kudzu.
This is a really great tip. I’ve always created titles with the “Site Name | Description” structure, but I will try to flip that and see what kind of results I get. Thanks!
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