Maximising Tags for SEO
If you are pushed for time when carrying out basic SEO tasks, here are a couple of quick and simple fixes that will give your major results with a minimum of effort.
Focus on the Title Tag
The Title Tag is one of the most important parts of the site when it comes to SEO because:
- They are heavily weighted by the search engines when it comes to ranking the page
- Whatever you put in the Title Tag appears in the search engine listing page. Make your mark early and capture the visitor using the search engine by giving them snappy relevant information.
- The Title is also used as the information passed to your browser bookmarking system – so make sure you GET NOTICED!
Key Steps for Great Results
- Use the keyword phrase you are optimising for in your title and also check the density (the number of times the keyword is used in the body text in relation to the other content) is appropriate for the search engines. Too much and you’re a keyword spammer, too little and the search engines will mark it down in the rankings.
- Separate the keyword from the rest of the title text: use a hyphen to make the keyword stand out and be easier to see.
- Give a short, up to six-word description of the webpage including the target keyword phrase; or
- Put in the name of your company or website,in three words or less so the second half of the Title Tag does not detract from the first half.
The Most Effective Description Meta Tag
The Description Meta Tag is the one that many search engines use as the description of your page, so don’t overlook this important area.
i Repeat the same keyword phrase you used in the Title Tag in the beginning of the Description Tag.Then go on to begin a sentence describing your webpage or do the same as you did with the Title Tag; extending the number of words to a maimum of fifteen.
It is important to note that
- The entire tag should contain no more than twenty two words.
- The tag should be written in such a way that it gives a brief description of your webpage and written so as to encourage browsers to click through the link to your page
- Do not repeat the keyword phrase should more than twice, unless its use appears contextually natural. Your site visitor needs to be considered once he is on the site; unnatural use of words and phrases can make for difficult reading.
