Title tag same text as H1?

[scanlin]

What is the group's opinion on whether or not the <title>tag should have the exact same text as the <h1> tag on the same page? Obviously both should contain the phrase that page is optimized for but is it better to have them be variants of each other, or both the same and maybe equal to the key phrase that page is optimized for? Thanks.</p> <p>Example:</p> <blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% #f7f7f7; padding-top: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 2px; padding-bottom: 5px; white-space: nowrap; overflow-y: auto; font-family: monospace;"> <p>title: los angeles blue widgets</p> <p>h1: los angeles blue widgets</p> </blockquote> <p>Or,</p> <blockquote style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% #f7f7f7; padding-top: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-left: 2px; padding-bottom: 5px; white-space: nowrap; overflow-y: auto; font-family: monospace;"> <p>title: los angeles blue widgets</p> <p>h1: blue widgets in los angeles</p> </blockquote> <p>Where the page is trying to optimize for "los angeles blue widgets"</p></title>

[irvingw]

it's certainly acceptable for them to be the same. That said, the Title tag is used as your search display in the SERPS and "los angeles blue widgets" may not attract click throughs and that will impact your ratings. Here is a great article that just came out on title tags - http://www.verticalmeasures.com/content/the-best-headline-writing-title-optimization-tips-of-all-time/

[john4math]

Cyrus mentioned this in his whiteboard friday here: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/title-tags-is-70-characters-the-best-practice-whiteboard-friday

Second is write for users. Here at SEOmoz our title tag is the same as the title of our post on our blog because we think it is important to meet users' expectations. When they see a title tag in the SERP and they click through to your page, you want them to feel like they've arrived where they thought they were going to arrive. So, it doesn't always have to match the title of your post, but something similar, something to make them comfortable, and something to talk to the users.

[RyanKent]

Hi Mike.

Both approaches have merit. I recall a Matt Cutts video where he shared an experience from his blog where he intentionally varied the title tag from his header tag. I even recall the subject was a firefox printing issue, but I can't find the video at the moment. It wasn't the normal 2-3 minute videos but instead was a 30-60 minute video.

The benefit of aligning your title and header tags would be more focus on your core keyword or phrase. If you had an extremely competitive keyword then I would consider keeping a match. An example would be a "Car Insurance". All of the strength of both your title and header would be 100% focused on the single phrase.

Another valid approach is to add some variation to allow you to rank better for additional search terms. If your title was "PC Software" your header could be "Computer Software". Closer to your example would be "Los Angeles Blue Widgets" and "LA Blue Widgets". Again, Los Angels and LA may be viewed the same so perhaps "Southern California Blue Widgets" would be a better variation.

There is definite research and testing necessary. Some keywords variations are treated the same by Google and PC / Computer may be one of them. I would recommend try a setting for 30 days, measure the results, then try a variation the next month.

[RobertFisher]

Had to give you props. That is a good post. Thanks....BTW here's the tag.....Top 5 Blue Widgets for 2011

[Vivamedia]

Good answer, measure the results!