What is your title?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Title Tags
I feel this is old news and basic information that everyone should know. Unfortunately, I see too many web sites still breaking the rules and photographers are loosing opportunities.
The web site title tag is a very important part of the quest for a top search engine ranking. Sadly, many web site owners still stuff their title and focus on the wrong words.
What is title tag stuffing? It is placing a large number of words in the web page title tag and repeating the same words with a slight variation. For example: “new media photographer new media photo new media photography media photography” or “Detroit photographer Detroit food photographer Detroit portrait photographer Detroit people photographer” - You’ve seen it before. It is a “black hat” technique that can have a positive effect for some search engines, but the goal standard is Google and Google will penalize the web site for such a title tag.
Another mistake is focusing on the photographer or a business name in the title. It may sound like a good idea. But, if someone is looking for you in a search engine, they already know your name. Placing the photographers name in the body of the text two-three times will do the trick.
I’ve heard photographers say they want to be first in the search engines ranking for their name. That is just an ego comment, not a good business idea.
Photography buyers are not shopping for a “Joe Smith photographer”. They are shopping for a “wedding photographer”, “portrait photographer” or “food photographer”. That is what you want in the headline to be.
Also, where are you located? A photography buyer in Florida is usually looking for a photographer in Florida. So, placing your location is a very positive inclusion in a web site title tag. Something like “Orlando wedding photographer”
Having more then six to eight words in a web site title tag can be damaging. Think about the best words that describe your web site and use tools like insights for search for support in selecting words that will help grow your business.
Posted: October 8th, 2008 under New Media photographer, Photographer, Seo, Tools, business.
Comments: 7
Comments
Comment from Simon
Time: October 8, 2008, 11:18 am
I think a lot depends on the agenda of your article. If you are wanting users to open your article such as for a mailing campaign, then it’s important to write one that is going to grab their attention.
However, if the whole purpose of your article is SEO, you need to write a short, sweet title tag to drive traffic with good rankings. The following article on title tags explains how to do this.
http://www.howmakemoney.co.uk/seo/title-tags-page-title-tag/
Comment from admin
Time: October 8, 2008, 11:30 am
I’m speaking of web site title tags. Writing a title or headline for an article is a totally different animal.
Rosh
Comment from Simon
Time: October 8, 2008, 11:58 am
Hi Rosh,
It is linked though - your website title should also be SEO optimised if you are looking to drive traffic from the search engines. The branding of your website is a different thing entirely though.
Simon
Comment from admin
Time: October 8, 2008, 12:15 pm
Simon,
I do appreciate you sharing the link to the article explaining both to the readers.
Rosh
Comment from admin
Time: October 8, 2008, 10:36 pm
I think I was using the word headline too much in this post. that could be confusing. I made some adjustments.
Rosh
Comment from Dan Corrigan
Time: October 9, 2008, 1:43 pm
Good article.
Regarding:
“I’ve heard photographers say they want to be first in the search engines ranking for their name. That is just an ego comment, not a good business idea.”
I understand about the ego thing, but I don’t agree about not being a good business idea. A current or potential client might be searching for your name to do business with you. Do you want a snot-nosed teenager’s MySpace page about skateboarding to outrank you? (if he/she happens to have the same name as you)
I don’t think there is any harm in having a “bio” or “contact me” page that is optimized for your name. It might help secure a few more clicks, and clients.
Dan
Comment from admin
Time: October 9, 2008, 2:20 pm
Very good point Dan. My thoughts where on the front page.
I would agree with having a well optimized contact page. Excellent point. But, I believe putting to much information in the front page title dilutes the value of each word in that title.
Rosh
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