It’s Time to Rewrite Your Title Tags

By
Real Estate Agent with Dakno Marketing

The other day someone asked me. "If you could only make one edit to a website to achieve better search engine optimization, what would it be?" After clarifying that the edit had to be on the site (meaning link building wasn't an option) I responded by saying that tweaking the Title Tag would probably be the first place to start.

Since I am always on the look out for new blog topics, I thought I would pull together some information and create a post about Title Tags. I am sure the topic has been covered a million times on AR but I thought I would throw my two cents in.

I actually decided to publish the full article on my other blog so you have to actually click to read the article.

For all of those that just want the "take-aways" (and all the people who don't want to click), the main points are listed below.

Read the full article about Title Tags

  • Title Tags are more than just for SEO, they are also used to get people to click to your website.
  • Don’t keyword stuff your title tags
  • Try to make your title tag be a complete thought
  • Stay away from strict formulas when writing your title tags
  • Base your Title Tags off of Google Searches
  • Use synonyms to create a consistent theme throughout your website title tags
  • Avoid using your name and company name in your title tags
  • Don’t use superlatives in your title tag (Best, #1, Greatest)
  • Google skips over common words like “the” “in” “of” so don’t waste precious characters with these in your title tag.
  • Word order is important, put your critical keywords at the beginning of your title tag
  • Make sure EVERY page on your website has a unique title tag

Brad Carroll

Dakno Marketing
A Real Estate Web Design Company

Comments (43)

Susan Trombley
Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC
Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs
Brad, It will always be one more thing we need to do. Thank you for the advise so we can stay on top of our sites.
Dec 31, 2007 01:54 AM
Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Pasadena, CA
Brad: Thank you for this information. I always learn so much from your blogs and appreciate that you are putting the information out there for people like me who would be stumbling around in the dark otherwise. You have been a great help to me and many others here on AR.
Jan 07, 2008 02:08 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Brab,

Thanks for the reminder....it is the simplest and most important things that seem to slip by.

Jan 07, 2008 03:09 AM
Linda M. Cataldo
Dock Street Realty - Myrtle Beach, SC
Beach Destinations Realty Myrtle Beach
Thanks for the great information.  I didn't realize all the pages needed to have the same tags
Jan 09, 2008 10:45 AM
Jim Crawford
Maximum One Executive REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Jim Crawford Atlanta Best Listing Agents & REALTOR

As usual, great post, and very informative.  I like to consider this my specialty, but you have turned this into an art-form! Very good! What about the use of some symbols ()& -;:#/|...?  How do these impact web placement with the search engines?  I am not talking about spamming results, but sparingly used.  I know many webmaster sources advise they are banned, but results show some different results with inclusions and high rankings unaffected.

I also notice from your blog that you emply title captiatlization by using upper case letter for the first letter of each word used in the title.

If I search the term "search engine placement"  it is interesting to view the top 10 results.  I like to look at what current trends in titling and descriptions are doing.

Jan 09, 2008 11:37 AM
Kay Frenzer-Zeeh
Buzz Marketing Pros - Chandler, AZ
Real Estate SEO
Jim, I use -  : / and | sparingly, with good results, but I don't use &  ()  ;  or # since they are used in programming languages.
Jan 09, 2008 01:42 PM
Jim Crawford
Maximum One Executive REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Jim Crawford Atlanta Best Listing Agents & REALTOR
Thanks!
Jan 09, 2008 02:38 PM
Kim Carpenter
Coldwell Banker - Alton, NH
Lake Winnipesaukee REALTOR -Lake Winnipesaukee Real Estate, NH
HEy Thanks!!! I am printing out your full article and putting it on my to do list!!!!  Sounds pretty important!
Jan 09, 2008 10:12 PM
Dick Betts
TOUCHSTONE REAL ESTATE - The Villages, FL
REALTOR® The Villages, Florida
Brad, Thanks for the info, I need to spend more time reading your stuff.
Jan 21, 2008 06:27 AM
Roland Woodworth
eXp Realty - Clarksville, TN
eXp Realty
Brad... I never realised there was so much involved. I know in years past I used to always be in the top 3 pages.... recen't I have fallen..... OUCH........ I need to get a better understanding on this and really work hard at getting and staying on the first page without spending a ton of $$$
Jan 22, 2008 05:02 PM
June Stark
Elite Realty-Luxury Homes & Condos On & Off the Strip - Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Condos & Luxury Homes Expert
Thank you for the useful info.  I just subscribed to your blog.
Feb 03, 2008 06:33 PM
Brad Carroll
Dakno Marketing - Knightdale, NC
Real Estate Web Designer

Ronald. I may be over simplifying it but SEO is all about Content and Links. Make sure you have solid content (including title tags) and Solid links. If you have fallen, double check that you are not doing anything spammy.

Brad

Feb 24, 2008 12:23 PM
Stephanie Hall
Keller Williams Realty - Madison, MS
Brad...lots of good information for folks that don't know that much about seo.
Mar 24, 2008 09:38 AM
Paul Viau
Nova Scotia Real Estate Blog - Halifax, NS
Nova Scotia Real Estate Blog + Photo Services

Brad - I'm going back and fixing my old keywords. Think like someone is searching for your property on google!

 

Mar 24, 2008 10:36 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor
oh another post that says the same things...but alas back i go to fix and replenish my keywords....super helpful.......thanks!
Mar 24, 2008 10:53 AM
Bart Whitmore
Keller Williams- Louisville - Louisville, KY
Real Estate Agent
Thanks for the advice, now to try to put it to good use---Bart
Mar 24, 2008 12:45 PM
Tony Fantis
Fantis Group Real Estate - Salt Lake City, UT
Realtor,Principal Broker - Salt Lake City
thanks again....i'm off to edit my title tags right now!
Mar 30, 2008 04:01 AM
Steven Odierno
Mahwah, NJ
NJ Mortgage & Marketing Professional

Hi Brad - My stupidity never ceases to amaze me!  My titles basically fly in the face of all of your advice.  The Kansas-Davidson game is about to start, and depending upon its competitiveness, I will either edit my titles today or tomorrow at the office.  Thank you very much for the tips.  You have no idea how helpful such seemingly obvious topics (to experts) are to newer people like me.

Mar 30, 2008 08:15 AM
AMBER NOBLE GARLAND - Top Real Estate Expert, Property Tax Appeal Specialist & Author
Strategic Marketing Expert & Relocation Specialist Serving New Jersey and nationwide! - Marlboro, NJ
- The Agent You Can Trust To Deliver REAL Results!
Thanks for these tips...I am going to freshen my title tags up over Christmas break.
Nov 23, 2008 06:33 AM
Colleen Cooley
The Corcoran Group - Jupiter, FL
CRS - Jupiter Florida

Thanks, Brad.  Session 3 of your blogging bootcamp really helped with this!  I think I'm starting to get it. Going back in now to revise permalinks, title tags, etc....

Dec 08, 2008 01:42 PM

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