Title Tag Questions, Questions on Title Tags Options

[harana112]

For my business sector, the guys that consistently ranks #1 on Google employs a title tag along the following lines: "Dallas Texas Widget Makers - Widget Makers in Dallas Texas - TexasWidgetMakers.com" Now, for our sector, these are the best keywords - . Does his repetition of them have an effect on the ranking? Does the order effect the google results-- does dallas texas widget makers get read differently then widget makers in dallas texas? It seems very spammy and does not contain much of a call to action. But nonetheless this format and others similar to it always get the top rankings. I want to have my title tag format along the lines "Smith Widget Makers - Dallas Texas" for clickthrough purposes (my business sells services to lawyers) but I don't know whether my lack of repetition of the key words and lack of variation in the order of the keywords will hold me back in terms of the rankings. Right now my site is only a few months old so I'm sure that part of the reason that I'm somewhat lower is due to the lack of aged links, pagerank etc. but this will come with time. What I need to know is, all other things being equal, will my desired format have the same weight as the other guy's? I don't want to spend months waiting for my links to age etc. if I am going to be lower on account of the tilte tag which I can change right now. Thank you very kindly for your help on this!

[Jill]

There's no way to know how any given Title tag will do unless you try and test different things.

The one you mention is certainly not spammy, but it may not be necessary to repeat the keyword phrase multiple times. It's really just a preference and an art. There's no exact science to Title tags.

You may want to read my Title Tag Article for more info.

[qwerty]

It seems very spammy and does not contain much of a call to action.

It's actually pretty rare to see a call to action in a title tag. That's usually in the on-page content and the meta description tag. That doesn't mean that the title necessarily requires repetition, but I agree with Jill that it's a pretty normal example.

[harana112]

so is dallas texas widget makers viewed by google as the same as widget makers in dallas texas? is that considered repetition? if so are you saying that the effects of repetition are not known/fully understood?

[camber07]

harana112,

When I optimize a site, I only repeat keywords twice in my title tag. Many of the search engines will see this as "keyword stuffing" if you repeat more than twice. I think it is most important to make the title tag relevant to what you are selling. Also, give potential customers a reason to click on your link. Make it creative while still using your keywords. Also the description, keywords, and body text will have weight in how your page ranks. Have you found any other keywords where your competitor does not rank as highly? Maybe you can find a niche market that would help you rank highly in the search engines compared to you biggest competitor.

[Randy]

so is dallas texas widget makers viewed by google as the same as widget makers in dallas texas?

No.

Similar, but not the same. Because errmm...well, they're not the same!

[qwerty]

There are the words, the order of the words, the proximity of the words to each other, and (I believe) their proximity to the beginning of the tag.

[chrishirst]

I only repeat keywords twice in my title tag. Many of the search engines will see this as "keyword stuffing" if you repeat more than twice

How do you know if you have never done it ???

[donp]

Your number one guy for those keywords has obviously optimized his site - the title tags are just one of many factors towards high rankings (albeit an important one), take a good look all around, you will see more indicators. He obviously targeted the product and his geo market with this tag, but I'll bet that's not all he did. Title tags that match good solid content will give you a good leg up towards rankings, you can title tag with variations on the most popular keywords:" Dallas Texas Widgets - red and blue widgets for industrial and commercial applications"
Capturing more popular keyword variations on your products is much better than one repetitive keyword. Reinforce all of the title keywords in the copy.

Excuse me for using the masculine here - it could have very well been a lady that optimized the site - this forum is loaded with ladies that really know their stuff!

[camber07]

How do you know if you have never done it ???

I have created pages with both types of title tags and my rankings went down when repeating keywords more than twice.

[Jill]

And when you took them out, it went back up?

[camber07]

And when you took them out, it went back up?

Yes the rankings were restored

[Jill]

And when you put them back they went down?

[seobrien]

Does his repetition of them have an effect on the ranking? Does the order effect the google results-- does dallas texas widget makers get read differently then widget makers in dallas texas? It seems very spammy and does not contain much of a call to action.

Certainly a lack of call to action has an impact on performance of the traffic but not necessarily the volume. Pages that support an action should have a call to action in the title to ensure they are favored by searchers looking to fulfill that activity while the rest of your content goes without a call to action to define it as merely content.

This post has been edited by Jill: Apr 13 2007, 10:28 PM

Reason for edit: linked removed as per forum rules

[SARBRO]

Yes the rankings were restored

hum... so i guess then repeating a keyword more then twice in the title tags is not the best method