Problem with Syntax in my HTML Title

Marketing
1

I would like to tweak my HTML Titles but am conflicted, because making them more user/English-friendly seems to violate what Search Engines like Google want/expect… :-/

Specifically, I want to add a hyphen to a compound word, because Google keeps treating it as two words?! :mad:

But if I do that, then the preceding hyphen between the Company Name and the Article Title loses its power.

To solve this, I just changed the first hyphen to a colon - which is what you would do in written English.

However, from what I’ve read, Google doesn’t want you using a colon in the HTML TItle or HTML Meta-Tags…

Current

<head>
	<!-- HTML Metadata -->
	<title>Healthy Baker - Corn Bread for any meal</title>
</head>

Desired Format

<head>
	<!-- HTML Metadata -->
	<title>Healthy Baker: Corn-Bread for any meal</title>
</head>

Can I use my desired format and take a step forward?? :-/

Thanks,

Debbie

2

That looks far more readable than the alternatives.

You need to keep in mind what the overall objective is. If you want real people to visit then they should be the ones you aim your content at.

3

Huh, I’ve not heard that. Do you have a link? I’ve used all sorts of things, such as

Healthy Baker : Corn Bread for any meal
Healthy Baker :: Corn Bread for any meal
Healthy Baker | Corn Bread for any meal

I’ve not noticed search problems with layouts like this.

4

Huh?

WHAT looks far more readable than WHAT alternatives?!

You need to keep in mind what the overall objective is. If you want real people to visit then they should be the ones you aim your content at.

Yes, potential Customers are obviously the first priority, but I also want things to be compliant with Search Engines. (Cake and eat it too!)

Debbie

5

Unfortunately, no. That was a few months ago, and who knows where on the Internet?! (Would definitely like to hear from the SitePoint gods on this one, though!!)

I’ve used all sorts of things, such as

Healthy Baker : Corn Bread for any meal
Healthy Baker :: Corn Bread for any meal
Healthy Baker | Corn Bread for any meal

I’ve not noticed search problems with layouts like this.

So you don’t have an issue with me using a colon, but what about my other issue…

[b]Google is breaking up one concept like “Corn Bread” and treating it as two disparate keywords?!

Will adding a hyphen[/b] (e.g. “corn-bread”) help to fix this problem??

Thanks,

Debbie

6

Just make it “cornbread”, which is a recognized compound anyway.

Google treats hyphenated words in URLs as separate words (so I understand), so I wouldn’t be surprised if the same applies to text in general.