Is using different titles in <title> and slug than in your actual title bad practice?

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by crazlunatic, May 10, 2009.

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  1. #1
    I know the title was probably hard to explain so let me explain again here. Say your article was called How to Lose fat in 20 days. But in your <title> and slug, you use How to Lose Fat and how-to-lose-fat, since using less is better for search engines.

    Is this bad practice? They're basically both convey the same meaning. Can you get penalized for this by search engines?
     
    crazlunatic, May 10, 2009 IP
  2. Michaelr

    Michaelr Peon

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    #2
    Just use How to Lose Fat in 20 days!
     
    Michaelr, May 10, 2009 IP
  3. mrandrei

    mrandrei Peon

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    #3
    No, you won't penalize for doing that. But for the sake of consistency, use the original title of the article.
     
    mrandrei, May 10, 2009 IP
  4. crazlunatic

    crazlunatic Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Well I'll give you an example because I want to optimize my titles for readers, but want to optimize my <title> for search engines. For example:

    (visible title)Windows 7 and Windows XP Mode: Can you run it?

    But I want the <title> to be Can you run Windows XP Mode on Windows 7?
     
    crazlunatic, May 10, 2009 IP
  5. jitendraag

    jitendraag Notable Member

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    #5
    I do that very often, my titles are geared towards getting more clicks when my page appears in search results. Though content within 'h1' might be different.
     
    jitendraag, May 10, 2009 IP