Title, meta description and meta keywords...

Discussion in 'Search Engine Optimization' started by PlainJain, Nov 28, 2006.

  1. #1
    I recently learned not to have the title, meta description and keywords the same on several pages because it looks to search engines like I have a lot of duplicate content (I don't)... I'm making sure to be descriptive of each page now and trying not to have duplicate meta descriptions, etc...

    I'm trying to think how to ask this so that it makes sense, hehe... Is there any harm in having the title, meta description and keywords to be identical on the same page...? For instance, if I have a page about blue widgets I have the title, meta description and keywords say 'blue widget" and then on the page about red widgets I have them all say "red widget"... :confused:
     
    PlainJain, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  2. Michael

    Michael Raider

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    #2
    Michael, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  3. PlainJain

    PlainJain Peon

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    #3
    I'll check those links out... I know they should be specific for each page, I'm wondering if it is okay to have those 3 elements identical on the specific page itself... I'm sure it sounds like I am saying the same thing, but I'm really not, honest! hehe:p
     
    PlainJain, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  4. jaree

    jaree Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Why dont you try to optimize every page with different keywords. I dont think there is any problem assiciated with repeating industry keywords. It is almost impossible to have a website about widgets and you only use that general industry keyword once. I dont think there are any problems unless you do keyword stuffing and actually make it look like duplicate :D:D
     
    jaree, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  5. banless

    banless Peon

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    #5
    What ever the name of your page is that is what should be in your title description and keywords. As long as you do that you should not have to worry about dup content. Don't short change yourself, take the time needed to make it right and you will be alot happier in the end.
     
    banless, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  6. just-4-teens

    just-4-teens Peon

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    #6
    the <title> tag should be on EVERY page, meta tags are optional, in both cases use a different one for each page.

    for e.g. do use <title>Joe buys underware online</title> as your title for every page.
     
    just-4-teens, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  7. PlainJain

    PlainJain Peon

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    #7
    Jaree, optimizing every page with different keywords is exactly what I'm doing... :) My question was whether is makes a difference if the title, meta description and keywords on a specific page are identical...

    Yes, Banless that is what I am doing... I make a unique title for each page and then copy and paste the title into the meta description and meta keywords area... I was wondering if this would have any effect on SE results...

    Just-4-teens, I am definitely using a different title on every page... is it okay if the meta words and description are the same is my question...

    hehe, so far I'm getting that the title, meta words and description have to be different on different pages.. I have that part down pat... I am asking about duplicating those elements on the SAME page... :p
     
    PlainJain, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  8. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    #8
    It wouldn't hurt but it doesn't make sense. For the title it would be good to just be 'blue widget' but surely you can think of more keywords in addition to 'blue widget' like 'navy widget' or 'widget in blue'. And remember that the description is also the snippet Goolge etc. pull up for the SERPs so use it to pull them in with a good sales pitch.

    Imagine you in the SERPs:

    Blue Widget
    Blue Widget
    http://www.siteaboutwidgets.com/blue.html

    As oppose to:

    Blue Widget
    Looking for Blue Widgets? We have been the country's leading blue widget supplier since 1895 so come in and buy a blue widget today!
    http://www.siteaboutwidgets.com/blue.html
     
    T0PS3O, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  9. banless

    banless Peon

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    #9
    Here is an example of how you should set things up.

    Homepage

    "<title>Internet Web Directory - Index-it.net</title>
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
    <meta name="robots" content="index, follow">
    <meta name="keywords" content="internet web directory, internet web site directory, internet web page directory">
    <meta name="description" content="Index-it.net: A internet web directory for public use. Find links to quality web sites related to developers, real estate, seo services and more.">"

    An inner page

    <title>Affordable Web Site Design</title>
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
    <meta name="robots" content="index, follow">
    <meta name="keywords" content="affordable web site design, custom web site design, ecommerce web site design">
    <meta name="description" content="A list of links to quality web sites related to affordable web site design.">

    Doing it this way will help most of your inner pages rank well on the search engines. That is why some sites have just crazy rankings about.com is a good example those guys rank for almost everything outhere, so does wikipedia.
     
    banless, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  10. PlainJain

    PlainJain Peon

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    #10
    Tops30, Banless and everyone that responded, you all have helped me quite a bit and from this point forward I'll stop being lazy, lol...

    I really appreciate the help and you don't know how bad I hate sounding like a noob... my only consolation is knowing that we all started somewhere and hopefully I have nowhere to go but up!
     
    PlainJain, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  11. T0PS3O

    T0PS3O Feel Good PLC

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    #11
    My grandfather used to say "we were all born naked" and then even if we grow up differently, no matter whether you're her Majesty the Queen or a garbage collector "we all take a dump with our pants down". That latter is true for most people.

    You'll be better off typing quality descriptions. You can skip the keywords if you are pressed for time.
     
    T0PS3O, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  12. just-4-teens

    just-4-teens Peon

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    #12
    this is my opinion, if you are going to use the same description on every page, you would probably be better of not putting a description tag at all.
     
    just-4-teens, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  13. PlainJain

    PlainJain Peon

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    #13
    lol, I'm NOT putting the same description on every page...

    I was asking about what to do on ONE page, hehe...

    I do appreciate your help, as it was your previous response that got me to start seeing the big picture a little more clearly... thanks again... :)
     
    PlainJain, Nov 28, 2006 IP
  14. Voasi

    Voasi Active Member

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    #14
    Just-4-teens has a point about it being better not putting a description then, since you're not really 'really' optimizing each page heavily.

    But to answer your question directly, yes, that would be fine. I would have a few variations of your 'seed' Title, Description and keywords. Sometimes, replacing just your main keyword throughout the 'seed' set of words, still doesn't work with getting around the dup. filter. Plus, it depends on the content on the page.
     
    Voasi, Nov 28, 2006 IP