Is The HREF Link "Title" Tag Needed on Mobile Websites?

[Stew222]

Hello To Those Who Are Wiser Than I,

I am wondering if the href link "title" tag is needed, or serves any purpose, on mobile websites?  Also, does it effect SEO in any way?

I ask because generally the href link title tag provides more information to the user when they scroll their mouse over the link - but this action does not happen on mobile!  Users have no mouse and thus no extra information would be displayed.

I'm really wondering if it still matters for SEO purposes on mobile though.

-The UnEnlightened

[Chris_Hickman]

Hello Michael, valid question. Unfortunately, the title attribute has no direct impact on search rankings. The title tag is primarily for usability purposes.

I'm not positive, but I believe there may be apps for the visually impaired that read the content of title tags and alt image tags. If you're using the same content on desktop and mobile devices I would go ahead and add the title if it helps clarify what the link is pointing to.

However, it is not recommend to use the title tag if it is the same as your anchor text. It should be unique and clarify what the link is. Hope this helps.

[Linda-Vassily]

The title tag is what Google often shows in the search results. And external websites, especially social, often use title tags as anchor text for links. So even though you don't see it at the top of the page in mobile, it is an important element.

[Chris_Hickman]

I think Linda is referring to the head <title>tag. The original question references link title attribute which is not shown on search engines.</p></title>

[Stew222]

Hi Chris,

Thank you - that is what I am referring too.  I work in taxes so I'm sure that we have some visually impaired customers - I will continue to put the attribute on my links!

-The SEO Impaired