Title tags on image and text links?

I've seen a few sites do this in their source... doesn't make much sense to me because I though the anchor and alt text was for that... anyone have any info on doing this?

 

I don't get it, how can the title tag be assigned to an image or text link?

Do you have an example of this?

 

When browser vendors bend the standards and implement something in a different way than what the specification states, they may cause problems, or at least confusion. One example of this is the way certain browsers, the most widely used being Internet Explorer for Windows, handle alt attributes (popularly and incorrectly referred to as “alt tags”).

Alternate text is not meant to be used as a tool tip, or more specifically, to provide additional information about an image. The title attribute, on the other hand, is meant to provide additional information about an element. That information is displayed as a tooltip by most graphical browsers, though manufacturers are free to render title text in other ways.

Read more about it here : http://www.456bereastreet.com/archive/200412/the_alt_and_title_attributes/
(not my blog, found it on google)

 

I use the title tag to display a tooltip. It makes the tooltip work on ie and firefox.

 

I think you guys refer to the Alt tag

The title tag is the text in the blue bar on the top of your screen

 

They are actually referring to the title attribute.

http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/global.html

 

Thanks cricket for pointing that out, didn't know of this possibility.

 

mdValdosta, as we all know SEO and SERPs is a game of inches. I've seen the title tags being used on images and links AS WELL as tables. (There is also a "summary tag" that I have seen implemented). If i am not mistaken there may also exist a tag for <UL>s and <OL>s. I would use these tags selectively to organize my HTML and page (inline comments) but not so much as bot bait. Too much use may be considered as spam. There are SEOs out there that have told me that it is their BELIEF that those tags are ignored but I don't believe it 100%. I'm am currently developing a new template for one of my sites, (in a very competitive industry), and would gladly share my findings with you and the rest of the DP members. I think the key would be not to over use it and only use it on key elements of your pages. Its a little hard to explain but will post a link to my template once it is complete.

Hope this helps!
Frank

 

I think what he means is placing <img alt="xbox 360" title="xbox 360" src=...> for the link of an image file. I had read some articles and ebooks of how ppl do this for SEO. It's easy, just do it.

 

Yes I'm aware of what he is referring to. I am just saying that proper use can be advantageous while over use may not.

Here are some samples on Turkey Salad which may be excessive

The trick is knowing how much is too much! The above example is excessive in my view and definitely spammy - definitely bot bait.

This type of approach may be quite effective in instructional based content - ie: like recipes or How Tos etc

 

IMO title attributes are normal HTML that should be used to describe the element its taged on. I use them almost at all times to tell the SE Bots whats on the next page if it follows the link. I tend to have alot of links with just numbers as the link text(page numbers) and really offer no explanation to a bot what link it is following. Using titles shows the bot whats coming next even if the link text does not. I dont think it has a large impact on rankings but it does help a bot spider your site properly.

This becomes even more usefull in image tags.