Keyword in Meta Title Twice?

by DoZZa
13 replies
  • SEO
  • |
Hi all,

I have been reading some conflicting information about the use of your keyword in the title meta tag and description meta tag.

Some say that putting the keyword in the meta title twice is a bad idea, others say putting it twice is good for SEO!

So from your experience which is better number 1 or 2 from the examples below?

1. Meta title--> Dog Training | Train your dog at home | Dog Training

or

2. Meta title--> Dog Training | Train your dog at home

I am asking this question as one of my sites appears to have an indexing problem with Google, fair enough the site is only 5 days old but still there is a strange thing going on.

My homepage url is indexed in google but there is no title or description being shown in the results, just the url of the site. The home page has the keyword twice in the meta title and also the meta description.

However, another page (a disclaimer page) of my site has been indexed by google and this is being shown in the results with the meta title and a snippet of the pages content.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks

Dorian
#keyword #meta #title
  • Profile picture of the author paulgl
    You are very mixed up.

    First, the title tag that matters is not a meta tag.
    There was/is an very old, old meta title that today
    is meaningless and nobody uses it.

    Second, your meta description is irrelevant for SEO.

    Third, if google thinks it better to show a snippet,
    they will show a snippet.

    There is no reason to put a double title, except in
    very, very rare cases.

    If you really are using the meta title instead of the
    new and improved "regular" title tag, then man you
    will have problems.

    The way the big sites do a title is similar to:
    Brandname: Main Keyword/phrase (Then maybe) Secondary Keyword/phrase.

    Paul
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    If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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    • Profile picture of the author PROmotions LLC
      Originally Posted by paulgl View Post

      ...Second, your meta description is irrelevant for SEO...
      I disagree, your META description if written properly is the Text that is shown on results in search engines. This is probably the most important as it is seen by your audience when queried.
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  • Profile picture of the author RyanLewis
    I think the 2nd example is better, the first is just a little too spammy I think, and may be seen by search engines as trying to game them.
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    • Profile picture of the author gracyluther
      Originally Posted by RyanLewis View Post

      I think the 2nd example is better, the first is just a little too spammy I think, and may be seen by search engines as trying to game them.
      I agree with you..
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  • Profile picture of the author hicksdelight
    2nd one, just do it naturally, think of your visitors, not the search engines...The first one just doesn't look right.

    And the description tags matter not when it comes to ranking, but it is what shows under your url in the SERPS so having a good description tag to get people to click through is important.
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  • Profile picture of the author DoZZa
    Yes, your quite right, I was talking about the standard <title></title> tag.

    Not the meta tag.

    Any further thoughts anyone?
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  • Profile picture of the author hicksdelight
    doesnt need any more thoughts, you have been given the correct answers already.

    you're welcome.
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    • Profile picture of the author DoZZa
      Originally Posted by hicksdelight View Post

      doesnt need any more thoughts, you have been given the correct answers already.

      you're welcome.
      Sorry, I posted my previous response before I read yours!

      But I still cant understand why some would say to use the keyword twice in a title and others say the contrary.

      Slightly confusing wouldn't you agree?
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      • Profile picture of the author hicksdelight
        Originally Posted by DoZZa View Post

        Sorry, I posted my previous response before I read yours!

        But I still cant understand why some would say to use the keyword twice in a title and others say the contrary.

        Slightly confusing wouldn't you agree?
        Some people also say to get loads of backlinks to your site using automated software within a week of the site going up - Doesn't make it right.

        And some mad people think the world is going to end soon.

        Just do it naturally, do the site for your users, not the SERPS...Thats not to say to ignore SEO, far from it, but you don't need the keyword twice in the title tag, it's an obvious ploy to manipulate the SERPS.

        Stop thinking of 'how can i manipulate the serps', and you will be fine.
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        • Profile picture of the author phpdevelopment
          I think 2nd one is good one in opinion of visitors.
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      • Profile picture of the author Backlinko
        Originally Posted by DoZZa View Post

        Sorry, I posted my previous response before I read yours!

        But I still cant understand why some would say to use the keyword twice in a title and others say the contrary.

        Slightly confusing wouldn't you agree?
        Welcome to SEO.

        Good luck getting two people in the industry to agree on anything.

        If you really want to learn SEO, start testing things yourself. You'll learn more from 1 experiment than you will from 100 blog posts.
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  • Profile picture of the author quicklynx
    If your keyword density isn't too high and it reads well I say go with the flow and do what works best for the content. I've done double keywords on high ranking pages, but if the search page competition is too high I think it's just spinning your wheels. Hope this helps.

    This brings up a good question: does "red shoes red shoes" get registered as 1 keyphrase, 2 keywords, or 4 words according to the search engines? I'm interested to read what others more experienced have to say about this.
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  • Profile picture of the author pindians007
    Hi Guys, Thanks for your kind advices. i also want to get your gentle suggestions. I am targeting the keyword water supplier and water supplier sydney and both are two different keywords and having good no. of searches.what will you suggest among these title tags :-

    water supplier - Get Pure and fresh water by one of the best water supplier sydney

    or

    water supplier - looking for some water supplying services in sydney, contact abc.


    what is the wrong in first one?
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