Tagging a page is an important part of search engine optimization (SEO). It provides context for search engines to understand what the page is about. Proper tagging can help pages rank higher in search results. There are a few key things that happen when you tag a page.
Metadata is Generated
One of the first things that happens when you tag a page is metadata is generated. Metadata refers to data that provides information about the page. This includes things like:
- Page title – The title tag defines the title of the web page
- Description – The meta description provides a short summary of what the page is about
- Keywords – The meta keywords tag allows you to define keywords relevant to the content
This metadata is vital for search engine optimization. It helps search engines understand the topic and content of the page. Properly optimized metadata can improve rankings and click-through rates from search results pages.
Page Context is Established
Tagging also helps establish context for both users and search engines about what the page is about. This includes:
- Heading tags (H1, H2, etc.) – Headings help create a hierarchical structure and outline the main topics/themes of the content.
- Image alt text – Provides descriptive text for images on a page.
- Link anchor text – The clickable text of a link indicates what the linked page is about.
Having tags around these elements helps search bots better interpret and categorize the subject matter of the page. It also improves context for users scanning the page content.
Crawling Prioritization
Tags can also influence how quickly and frequently a page gets crawled by search engine bots. Some tags that have an impact include:
- Sitemap tags – Indicate to search bots to crawl those pages more frequently.
- Nofollow/sponsored tags – Tells bots to assign less value to those links.
- Canonical tags – Helps bots consolidate pages with similar content.
- Noindex tags – Instructs bots not to show the page in search results.
Optimizing these tags helps ensure that pages get properly crawled. This leads to fresher content in search results.
Ranking Signals
Tags also provide important ranking signals to search algorithms about the relevance of a page. Some of the key tags that influence ranking include:
- Title tags – Title optimization is a strong ranking factor.
- Header tags – Proper heading structure conveys topic relevance.
- Image alt text – Provides additional keywords and context.
- Internal links – Link anchor text helps establish site structure.
- Schema markup – Provides additional data about the page content.
The better optimized these tags are, the more likely the page is to rank well in search results. Tag optimization is a crucial component of effective SEO.
On-Page User Experience
In addition to SEO benefits, tags also play an important role in on-page user experience. When tagged properly, pages are easier to parse and navigate for users. Some key UX benefits include:
- Headings break up blocks of texts for easy scanning.
- Bold/italic tags emphasize important keywords and phrases.
- Image tags provide valuable visuals for users.
- Table tags structure complex data sets.
- List tags make content more skimmable.
Optimized tags create a much improved user experience. This leads to lower bounce rates and more time spent on site.
Accessibility Considerations
Tags also lend themselves to improving accessibility for disabled users. Some examples include:
- Alt image tags are read aloud by screen readers.
- Semantic HTML tags like main and nav help navigation.
- Aria roles and labels provide greater context for screen readers.
- Heading tag structure creates internal navigation links.
With the proper use of tags, pages become more perceivable and operable for those using assistive technologies. This leads to a more inclusive user experience.
Conclusion
In summary, tagging a page has many important benefits:
- Optimizes metadata that search engines use for crawling and indexing.
- Establishes clear page context and structure for bots.
- Influences crawling prioritization and frequency.
- Provides vital ranking signals to search algorithms.
- Creates a better on-page experience for users.
- Improves accessibility for disabled users.
Given these significant upsides, proper tagging should be an essential part of any website optimization and content creation strategy. The time invested in thoughtful tagging will pay dividends across SEO, UX and accessibility.
| Tag Type | Examples | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Metadata | Title, description, keywords | Provide info about the page to search engines |
| Heading | H1, H2, H3 | Establish page structure and topic hierarchy |
| Alt Text | Alt descriptions for images | Describe images and provide keywords |
| Link Text | Anchor text for links | Indicate relevance of linked pages |
| Crawling | Sitemap, nofollow, canonical | Control how search bots crawl the page |
This table summarizes some common tag types, examples and their purposes. Metadata, headings, alt text and link text help establish page content and keywords. Crawling tags control how search engines access and index pages.
What Should You Avoid When Tagging Pages?
While tagging is very beneficial, there are some practices you’ll want to avoid:
- Overstuffing – Cramming in too many keywords can make content less readable.
- Duplicate content – Copying content across pages dilutes the value.
- Misleading tags – Tags that don’t match the actual content.
- Thin content – Pages with little unique content.
- Over-optimization – Excessive tagging aimed only at search engines.
Search engines today are very adept at detecting and penalizing sites engaging in manipulative tagging behaviors. Focus on optimizing for users rather than search bots.
Tips for Avoiding Tagging Penalties
- Don’t overstuff tags – Be selective with keywords.
- Avoid copying content – Reuse only short descriptions.
- Match tags to content – Use relevant keywords that accurately describe the page.
- Add value for users – Focus on great content over SEO tags.
- Review quality guidelines – Follow search engine recommendations for tagging best practices.
Examples of Effective Tagging
Here are some examples of effective tagging for an ecommerce product page:
Title Tag
Women’s Wool Blend Winter Coat – Navy Blue – BrandName.com
Meta Description
Stay warm this winter with our women’s navy wool blend coat. Water-repellent fabric and insulation to keep you cozy and dry.
H1 Heading
Women’s Navy Wool Blend Winter Coat
H2 Heading
Stay Warm and Stylish This Winter
Image Filename
womens-navy-wool-coat.jpg
Image Alt Text
Woman wearing a navy blue wool blend winter coat next to fireplace
These tags provide relevant keywords and context about the page while creating an outline that matches the content. This helps search engines categorize and match searcher intent.
Tools to Improve Tagging
Here are some useful tools for optimizing page tags:
| Tool | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Yoast SEO | Analyzes titles, meta descriptions, headings and more. Provides optimization recommendations. |
| Moz SEO Toolbar | Displays page optimization data like title tag, links, meta data, etc. Identifies issues. |
| Google Search Console | Provides info on indexed pages, crawling errors, and how pages are tagged. |
| Screaming Frog | Crawls sites to identify SEO issues like duplicate content, thin pages, and broken links. |
| Google Lighthouse | Audits page speed, accessibility, SEO and more. Checks meta tags are populated. |
These tools analyze tags, identify problems, and provide suggestions to improve page optimization.
Tracking the Impact of Tagging Changes
Here are some ways to track the impact of tag changes:
Search Engine Rank Tracking
Use rank tracking software to monitor changes to keyword rankings in Google and other search engines. Improved rankings may indicate tagging improvements.
Click-Through Rate
Tag optimizations may increase click-through rate from search engines as pages become more relevant. Use Google Analytics to monitor CTR.
Indexation Changes
Compare the number of pages indexed before and after changes using Google Search Console. More indexed pages likely means better crawling.
Traffic from Search Engines
Higher percentages of traffic from search may indicate tagging improvements. Check Google Analytics for changes.
Goal Conversions
Better tagging should lead to more conversions. Monitor ecommerce transactions, lead signups, etc.
Regularly track these metrics to understand how tagging changes impact visibility, traffic and conversions over time.
Common Tagging Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common tagging mistakes to avoid:
- Not having a unique title tag on each page
- Very long title tags that get cut off in search results
- Empty or duplicate meta descriptions across pages
- Irrelevant keywords stuffed in the metadata
- Mismatched heading tags that skip levels (like H1 to H3)
- Identical anchor text for all links on a page
- Thin pages with little unique content
- Image alt text that is overly generic like “image”
Careful attention to tags and having a consistent optimization process will help avoid these issues that can negatively impact performance.
Tagging Best Practices
Here are some key best practices for tagging pages effectively:
- Create unique, descriptive title tags under 60 characters
- Write meta descriptions of 150-160 characters that summarize content
- Use targeted keywords appropriately in metadata
- Structure content with H1, H2 tags matching topics
- Optimize image file names and alt text
- Include internal links with descriptive anchor text
- Check tags regularly for issues with SEO tools
- Focus on useful content rather than over-optimization
Following tagging and content best practices will go a long way in improving discoverability and user experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should every page have H1, H2 tags?
Yes, every page should have at least one H1 tag to indicate the main heading/topic. H2 subheadings are also recommended for most pages, especially those over 500 words, to break up content.
How much should keyword density be?
Ideally 1-3% keyword density is recommended. Avoid going over 3% as that can trigger spam filters. Focus more on quality content than keyword frequency.
Do images need alt text for SEO?
Yes, alt text provides search engines with descriptive text associated with images to better understand the content. It also improves accessibility.
Can you have multiple H1 tags on a page?
It’s best to only have one H1 tag to identify the main page heading. However, some long-form pages may use 2-3 H1 tags for major section headings.
Should you use keywords in anchor text?
Some usage of keywords in anchor text is beneficial, but avoid overuse. Vary the anchor text wording to appear natural. Short phrases work best.
Guidelines for Ecommerce Product Pages
For product pages on ecommerce sites, here are some specific guidelines:
- Include the product name/title in the page title tag
- Write a meta description highlighting the key product features/benefits
- Use the product name as the H1 heading
- Break content into sections like Description, Details, Specs using H2 tags
- Optimize product image filenames and alt text with keywords
- Link to other relevant products using anchor text with product name
- Ensure rich structured data/schema markup for the product
These types of tags help search engines categorize and index product pages under relevant product and shopping queries.
Conclusion
Tagging plays a vital role in helping search engines understand and categorize page content. When done effectively, it can significantly improve ranking potential, click-through rate and overall discoverability. Conversely, low quality tagging can negatively impact performance. By following optimization best practices, websites can realize the many SEO, UX and accessibility benefits quality tagging provides.