If your brand name is the same as your URL should you include it in your homepage title tag?
-
I have always felt that having your brand name in every title tag though-out your website when your URL is your brand name is a waste. The space your brand name takes up could be used for more valuable non-branded keywords. If your brand name is unique, the URL (and content optimized with your brand name) should be enough to have you rank #1 across the board in search results. Though I beleive this I still think it is valuable placing your brand name in the back of your homepage title tag.
Example: Full Service Advertising Agency | Your Brand Name
Any thoughts why you should or shouldn't do this?
Isn't this useful for branded purposes? Doe this help click-though rate? Don't you want your visitors to know our brand at first glance of search results?
Another argument I had for doing it was if it weren't important, than why does every search site do this?
Thanks for the help!
-
There is no guarantee Google will do this. The advice is work on Brand, but you can't guarantee they will change anything.
-Andy
-
Wouldn't it be logical then that if Google is doing it.... you don't have to?
-
Recently it seems Google has started tweaking page titles with one apparent intention: to promote branding.
That article makes a really strong point. It seems that google does like the brand in the title tag. They are doing it to a lot of my title tags and I have to say I don't really like it.
I think that this makes the point that google "knows" who is a brand without reading it in their title tag.. but google wants the brand in the title tag badly enough that they are willing to overwrite the carefully crafted marketing message in my title tag to get it there.
In some cases, google might improve the message, but if they are using a one-size-fits all algo they are not going to improve things every time. If google thinks that I deserve my brand in the title I am flattered, but I'd rather bet on my marketing message than on how their algo will slap a brand name over it in the SERPs.
-
This is a subject where you are going to get a lot of disagreement and I think that the guy who insists on having HisBigAssCompany on the front end of the title tag will argue a lot louder and longer than I do.
Amen to that
I don't agree at all with having brands at the front - not needed, but when Google appends it with this, there isn't a lot you can do, sadly. If you see a Brand: <title></strong>, then you know Google have been doing their thing.</p> <p>-Andy</p></title>
-
I have always felt that having your brand name in every title tag though-out your website when your URL is your brand name is a waste.
I agree.
The space your brand name takes up could be used for more valuable non-branded keywords. If your brand name is unique,
I agree.
If your brand name is unique, the URL (and content optimized with your brand name) should be enough to have you rank #1 across the board in search results.
If it doesn't you are in some type of trouble with Google... or you really have a weak site.
Though I beleive this I still think it is valuable placing your brand name in the back of your homepage title tag.
Here's what I think... with a few example title tags...
<tltle>MyBigAssCompany: Golden Widgets - Over 500 Varieties (these guys think that their ass weighs a ton... their company name is more important than their message)</tltle>
<tltle>Golden Widgets - Over 500 Varieties | MyBigAssCompany (OK... at least they are not stinking up the message with their brand name)</tltle>
<tltle>Golden Widgets - Over 500 Varieties (BAM! This nails it in my opinion. Short. Sweet. Really, people don't give a damn about MyBigAssCompany... and if they think that the company is really important they are going to see my URL in the SERPs, right below the title)</tltle>
If my company had enormous recognition then I might use the name in the title tag... but I would rather add "free shipping" or some other value proposition than add my brand name to the title.
This is a subject where you are going to get a lot of disagreement and I think that the guy who insists on having HisBigAssCompany on the front end of the title tag will argue a lot louder and longer than I do.
-
Hi,
Brand is very important to Google now, and you need to shout about it as much as you can and it can help with a number of factors, especially now Google has said that Brands will gain dominances in the SERPs for related searches.
Rather than turn this into a huge thread, have a read of this article, which looks at many aspects of what Google is doing to branding now:
http://socialmediatoday.com/georgestevens48/1317336/google-rewriting-page-titles-time-brand
-Andy
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Best to Include Phone Number as CTA Button in Mobile Version of B+B Web Site?
We are attempting to keep the number of CTAs (Calls to Action) on our commercial real estate website to a minimum. Our adjusted design (see attached) has 2 CTAs. One is "Contact Agent" the other is "Schedule a Tour". We are focusing on the listing page, which is the primary product page and critical in terms of CTA. Our mobile version does not show a phone number while the desktop version (also attached) displays a phone number. Should the mobile version also display a button a phone number? Some members of our target audiences, business owners and executives who are often in their 40s and 50s may prefer to call us up rather than communicate by written message. Any suggestions for elegantly displaying the phone number without causing confusion? I have read that the number of CTAs should be limited so I am on the fence as to whether or not to include a phone number Thanks,
Conversion Rate Optimization | | Kingalan1
Alan 6yR88Vt WwYpt810 -
Any General feedback or Experience on Page Titles and Click Through Rates ?
Moz, I have managed to climb onto page one for a couple of keywords i am really happy with, Just looking for any feedback on page titles and different effects on CTR The page i am working with is product pages I tried a simple headline which was a branded product keyword, this way when the keyword matches the user search it will stand out as the the majority of the title is bold because of this match,, Example below <title>Jeffs<strong> Lollipops</strong></title> and my other option is to look at testing a more descriptive title to fit the limit <title>A selection of sweet Strawberry and Cherry<strong> Lollipops</strong> from Jeff<//Title></p> <p>has anyone looked into this and tested for results in CTR ? i can see there being a youmoz about it somewhere?</p> <p>Alot of people i assume will just say test test test, but any feedback on how other moz users tackle title tags for CTR would be great,</p> <p>Thanks</p> <p>James</p> <p> </p> <p> </p></title>
Conversion Rate Optimization | | Antony_Towle0 -
Is putting an email address in the page title a good idea?
As our Contact Us page title was a little short I added in sales@example.com So "Contact us : Sales@example.com" We don't get a lot of spam and it hasn't noticeable increased since we did this. Tynt suggests that a reasonable number of people have copied and pasted the email - presumably to contact us Is it worth experimenting with further or a waste of time?
Conversion Rate Optimization | | Zippy-Bungle1 -
Brand Name: Conversion Rate Optimizing: Eponymous VS Generic
Good day all, We are entertaining the idea of changing the Domain Name & Brand Name for straplessfashion.com. While still in development, the website sells women undergarments. We did some survey research and it seems that women (age 18-40) really liked either "Demi's Dream" or "Almost Skin" as a good name. More specifically, Almost Skin seems to be the more popular choice over "Demi's Dream". I think "Almost Skin" catches attention quicker and may work best in PPC. However, when personalizing a brand name is considered, "Demi's Dream" might be the best choice. Would you please offer your advise on which of these two names might be the best for a new Domain and Brand name for the website mentioned above? Which would convert better? Thank you for your help. Carlos
Conversion Rate Optimization | | 90miLLA0 -
Should I add social media icons to homepage of ecommerce site?
... In particular Facebook likes for social proof and credibility? (We have 1.7k likes, more than most competitors). Aimed at the higher end of the market, I've tried to keep the aesthetic a bit more pared down. But, perhaps this needs to be made more prominent?
Conversion Rate Optimization | | Coraltoes770 -
Capital Letters in Title Tag, or not?
Hello there! A Google-AdWords-guy call me for give me advice about how to optimize my last campaign in google Adwords. He told me to “Capitalize Each KeyWord of the Title” of the ad to catch the attention of the users in it. Does it make sense to apply this “rule” in the title tags? Does Google interpret this like “hey, you are trying to manipulate the SERP click-through! You are cheating, now go down in the SERP!”. Do you think this rule works also for the tweets? Ok, I hope I’ve been clear enough to expose my issue. Any comment, advice, test or experience that you share about this is appreciated. Thank you! — YESdesign team —
Conversion Rate Optimization | | YESdesign0 -
Duplicating Product Titles in the Page-Content
I have been debating this with a few others within my office and we would like an outside opinion on this issue. This screenshot is of a new product grid I have been designing. I have decided to try something new for SEO that I have seen elsewhere. (see attached image) The page-content below the last products on the page, now have a small paragraph that contains all the products "titles" that are visible on the page. The intention is to capitalize on multiple search terms by using modifiers to replace special character sets within the title. For example: 46" 3 Seat Perforated Square Picnic Table = 46 Inch 3 Seat Perforated Square Picnic Table Not only does this give a secondary search term that could convert but increases the number if instances of "Table" within the page. Suggestions or Thoughts? Thanks! GviGn.jpg
Conversion Rate Optimization | | Highland0 -
Page Title Tags - SEO vs CRO ?
Hi everyone, Thanks to what seems to be a recent(ish) algo change in Google, some of our more targeted deeper pages are ranking for search terms where before only our homepage would rank. This is of course great however I am a little worried that some of the page titles of our internal pages are a little short, for example our main departments (we are an ecommerce store) are titles 'Department Name | Liberty Games' so for example 'Pool Tables | Liberty Games'. I have heard varying reports on what to do with the title tag, I have heard to keep the most relevant keywords to the left of the tag, which we have done, I have also heard that shorter is better. I am just a bit concerned that our tags are looking a little stumpy in the serps alongside other results which are longer (although admittedly a bit keyword stuffed). So (eventually) my question is, will short titles harm my click-through rate ? but are shorter titles better for SEO ? If longer is better are there any recommendations about what I could add to these titles that could potentially help click-throughs and natural rankings ? Many thanks, Stuart
Conversion Rate Optimization | | stukerr1