Do a search on Google for a local business. Doesn’t matter what kind it is, just use broad, general terms. Pretend you don’t know any businesses that do, or provide, whatever it is you need, like ‘Honolulu auto repair’.
Chances are you’re going to see a lot of listings with titles that are basically just lists of keyphrases they want to rank for, like ‘Car Mechanic in Honolulu – Oil Change, Body Paint, Auto Repair Hawaii…’.
Some are much, much worse, trailing off with those 3 dots because the laundry list of keywords goes on long after the allotted space Google shows runs out.
This doesn’t just apply to Page Titles, it also apples to headings on the site pages.
What happened is someone read that getting keyphrases in there is the way to rank, so they just started packing them in wherever they could. That’s what they think SEO is. They’re wrong. Very wrong.
The Decline of Packed Page Titles in Google Is Already Here
We need to acknowledge that you don’t see these offenses on the Page 1 results of Google nearly as much as you used to – and that’s precisely the point.
Google specifically wants logical, readable titles and headings now. Why? Because they communicate quality to the typical searcher.
Those keyphrase stuffed titles are the equivalent of the used car salesmen promising you the best deal in town. They’ll say anything and everything to get you to sign the deal.
That approach doesn’t inspire trust. Fail that test and you’ve lost a customer before you know it.
That directly affects the effectiveness of your Internet Marketing, which hinges on trust. SEO feeds that confidence, and vice versa now. When it’s done right, that is.
Take a look at your Title and Headings. How do they read? Problems. Try this easy solution.
Use the pipe – | – to separate phrases into bite-sized, understandable and readable chunks that actually say something. Instead of trying to say EVERYTHING at once.
The benefits of good writing and communication are there if you take advantage. It’s all part of SEO in the modern age.