You may have heard that you need to optimize your title tags for search engines, but you are unsure what that means for your Shopify store. This article is going to explain what title tags are and how you can optimize them for your Shopify product pages and collections.
Read on to find out more about title tag SEO for Shopify.
What are title tags?
Title tags are an HTML element that defines the title of a web page. The title tag is a required HTML tag, and you place it within the document head. Web pages do not display title tags, but you will see them appear as the browser tab’s title.
You use title tags in the following format:
<head> <title>This is the title of your page</title> </head>
Note that some people refer to title tags as ‘meta titles.’ Technically, title tags are not meta tags, so I will not refer to them as such. You need to know this, though, as it could be confusing to have people mention meta titles and title tags.
Does Google use title tags?
Yes, Google and other search engines use title tags within their ranking algorithms. Title tags indicate the content of a web page to search engines, so optimizing title tags is crucial for Shopify SEO.
The title tag is also often used as the title for organic search results. Google will not always use the title tag as the search result title if its algorithm determines more appropriate text exists.
How to write SEO title tags for Shopify – best practices
Now you know what title tags are and why they are essential for SEO, let’s look at how we can optimize them for your Shopify store’s organic search performance.
Use your main keyword in your title tag
When optimizing your title tags, the most critical step is to include your primary keyword. Remember that Google and other search engines use the title tag to understand a page’s content. Including your main keyword in the title tag of a product page or collection sends a strong relevancy signal to search engines regarding the page’s content.
Do not keyword stuff your title tag. You only need to include your main keyword once. If possible, add a secondary keyword relevant to the product.
SEO title tag length
Google will crop title tags that are longer than 600 pixels. The number of characters displayed depends on the characters used; for example, ‘w’ is much wider than ‘i’. Generally, 60 characters or less is a good target for the length of a title tag if you want to display the entire title in SERPs.
Suppose your title is longer than 600 pixels. In that case, you want to make sure to include the product name and primary keywords within the first 600 pixels (approximately 60 characters).
Do not duplicate title tags
Avoid using duplicate title tags across your Shopify store. The purpose of the title tag for SEO is to indicate to search engines what a page’s content is. Suppose you have lots of product pages with identical title tags. In that case, this may indicate that you have duplicate content, resulting in Google removing pages from search results.
Make sure that each product and collection title tag is unique and descriptive.
Write engaging titles for users
Google uses engagement metrics like click-through rates to improve its search results. Users clicking on specific search results more than others send a positive signal, indicating that those search results are most relevant to users.
To improve your Shopify store’s rankings and organic search traffic, make sure your title tags are enticing for your target audience. Look at your top competitors’ product title tags and see if there are certain words or phrases they are using. These may highlight key product benefits or qualities important to shoppers.
Add your primary keyword near the beginning of the title
You should also position your main product keyword near the beginning of your title tag. As long title tags are cut short in search results, if they are too long, you risk searchers not seeing the keyword in the SERP title if you use your primary keyword towards the end of the title.
Title tag SEO example for Shopify
Here’s an example of an optimized title tag for a Shopify product page:
<title>Waterproof Hiking Boots | Your Store Name</title>
This title tag has been optimized for the keyword “waterproof hiking boots.” The store name is included at the end for branding. The title is kept concise to avoid truncation in search results.
Checking your Shopify title tags
Several SEO apps are available in the Shopify app store that can help you audit and optimize your store’s title tags. Look for ones that integrate with your theme to make changes easily. Popular options include SEO Manager and Smart SEO.
You can also use third-party tools like Screaming Frog or Moz to crawl your store and analyze your titles. However, an app will make implementing changes much easier.
Wrapping up
You now have a solid understanding of how to optimize your Shopify store’s title tags for SEO.
Remember to:
- Include your main keyword
- Keep titles under 60 characters
- Make each title unique and engaging
- Put keywords towards the beginning
If you implement these best practices, you’ll be well on your way to higher rankings and more organic traffic. Good luck!