<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>JeffAshby.com &#187; website branding</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.jeffashby.com/tag/website-branding/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.jeffashby.com</link>
	<description>SEO Tactics and Strategy for the Modern SEO</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:50:12 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Title Tags: One of the Most Important SEO Factors</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffashby.com/on-site-seo/title-tags-one-of-the-most-important-seo-factors/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffashby.com/on-site-seo/title-tags-one-of-the-most-important-seo-factors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:00:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeff Ashby</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[On Site SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[html]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[keyword phrases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[on site elements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[seo factors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[title tags]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[website branding]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffashby.com/?p=305</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the last post, I talked about how to find keywords phrases that people are searching for as well as the possibility of being competitive for.  The next step in website optimization is one of the most important:  Title Tag structure. For those who aren&#8217;t familiar with HTML, the title tags can be found in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the last post, I talked about <a href="http://www.jeffashby.com/keywords/guide-to-seo-keyword-research/">how to find keywords phrases</a> that people are searching for as well as the possibility of being competitive for.  The next step in website optimization is one of the most important:  Title Tag structure.</p>
<p>For those who aren&#8217;t familiar with HTML, the title tags can be found in the website source code header between the &lt;title&gt; and &lt;/title&gt; elements.  This is shown at the very top of the browser as well as the click able text in the search results.</p>
<p>Here are the most important points when it comes to writing awesome title tags that will give you the best rankings and click through rate.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Limit Title Lengths to 65 Characters</strong><br />
Why 65 characters?  Because that is what Google&#8217;s limit is.  If your title tags are longer, the rest of your title will be cut off and replaced with a &#8220;&#8230;&#8221;.  This isn&#8217;t a hard and fast rule, and other search engines have experimented with longer text.  Just make sure everything that is important is in that first 65 characters.</li>
<li><strong>Use Targeted Keyword Phrases</strong><br />
The bulk of your titles should consist of 2-3 keyword phrases.  Generally, these terms should be in the first and second positions of the title.  If you can, use longer keyword phrases instead of shorter phrases, as you will have a higher click through rate.  For example, instead of having &#8220;Potted Plants | Potted Trees | Ashby&#8217;s Green Supply,&#8221; try using &#8220;Potted Plants and Trees | Ashby&#8217;s Green Supply,&#8221;  This looks more natural as well as optimizes your website for two phrases while cutting down on characters.  An important point to mention is this only works when your page is relevant to both phrases.</li>
<li><strong>Branding Your Website</strong><br />
Using your website&#8217;s name is extremely important in the title.  Not only will you rank well for your website name (which is always a good thing) but you will build authority for your website with the search engines as well as with visitors.  It is also likely that your website name will include important keywords which is an extra plus.  Add your website name to either the front or the back of the title.  I prefer the back, which gives more importance to the keywords in the front.  Once your site becomes more popular, you might want to change this.</li>
<li><strong>Use a Separator</strong><br />
When you are separating your keywords and website name in your titles, always use some sort of separating character.  Many websites use the &#8220;|&#8221; symbol (sometimes known as the bar, or pipe).  I have also seen hyphens &#8220;-&#8221;, arrows &#8220;&gt;&#8221; or commas &#8220;,&#8221;. You could actually combine them in certain circumstances.</li>
<li><strong>Target the User</strong><br />
When creating title tags, put yourself in the shoes of the user.  If you were to search for a given phrase, what text would you click on?  If your website is informational, use more descriptive titles based on the information you have.  If your website is for users to do some sort of action (purchase, download, leave information), make sure the title reflects that this can be done on your site.</li>
<li><strong>Repeat Titles on Website</strong><br />
An important strategy for title tags is actually using the titles on the website.  If my title is &#8220;Buy Potted Plants | Ashby&#8217;s Green Supply,&#8221; then use the term &#8220;Buy Potted Plants as the headline of that website.  Do this preferably in the H1 header tag.  This isn&#8217;t only valuable for keyword density for the SERPs, but also will improve conversion rate for those users who have clicked through.</li>
<li><strong>Keep Consistency Throughout Your Website</strong><br />
Once you have decided on a method, stick to it.  There is nothing worse then having different title tag methods for each page on your site and having the search engines confused.  Users will also become familiar with your title tag structure, in that your page will be easily recognizable when they see your website in the search results.</li>
</ol>
<p>This is a pretty good list, but is there any suggestions that could be added?</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.jeffashby.com/on-site-seo/title-tags-one-of-the-most-important-seo-factors/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

