The following article is derived from notes taken during Dave Taylor's session at BlogWorld 2008 entitled Ten Things You Need to Know About Search Engines & Find-ability.

"Tantalizing Titles are Tantamount!" - The SEO of Blogging

For the purposes of our discussion here, SEO is NOT defined as Search Engine Optimization, but rather, Simple, Effective, and Overlooked. The tips that Dave Taylor offered during his session were not new or groundbreaking, but simple, common sense, and typically ignored. When consistently employed, they will result in a measurable improvement to your Google page rank.

Blog post Titles have a HUGE bearing on the search-ability of your article content. Dave called it 'The Overarching Importance of Titles." It's the first portion of your post that the spider crawls as it analyzes both the semantic & contextual components of your content, and determines their theme/topic.

The first thing that Dave said about Titles is that they have to be good enough to grab your reader's attention. The point being is that your title is many times the only thing your reader will ever see. As they scan down the page of search engine results, does your title jump out and draw them in? Does it stimulate interest and intrigue? Does it distinguish your article from all the others?

Secondly, Dave asked, "Does the Title itself contain those Key Search Terms found within the body of your content? If you're writing an article about Billy Bob's Auto Repair, the Title better say "Billy Bob's Auto Repair." You can even go so far as to geo-target the article with your Title - "Billy Bob's Auto Repair, Bremerton WA."

And thirdly, "Does the Title give your reader the 'Story?' When you realize that readers are taking mere seconds to determine whether or not to click through to your article, the immense importance of Titles becomes crystal clear. Your Title should attempt to encapsulate or convey the essence of the story/message your full article is communicating.

So now, your Title will read, "Customers Love Billy Bob's Auto Repair in Bremerton, WA" or "Superior Service at Billy Bob's Auto Repair in Bremerton WA."

Now, granted, there isn't much glamor in this particular Title. But if someone is doing a search for Auto Repair in Bremerton WA, you can bet they're looking for a reputable business that focuses on providing excellent customer service.

Some things to keep in mind as you formulate your Titles:

• Search engines, such as Google, typically display the first 65 to 70 characters from your Page Title in their search results.

• Remember to use relevant Key Search Terms in your Page Title to help draw in more relevant traffic, and to 'tell' your Story.

• Your primary Key Search Terms should appear early in your Page Title (from the 2nd to the 5th or 6th word in).

For your further reading enjoyment:

"Start with Good Content" - The SEO of Blogging (Simple, Effective, and Overlooked)

"Tantalizing Titles are Tantamount!" - The SEO of Blogging (Simple, Effective, and Overlooked)