Title Attribute Length + Use

[UnderMe]

Hi,

Is there an optimum character limit for attribute titles like there is for meta titles?

On my ecommerce site I am adding about 280 characters product category page headers to succinctly describe what the page is such as in the example below;

MENS BRIEFS + TANGAS

We stock a range of mens briefs from leading designer brands that offer popular cuts and fabrics such as mens cotton briefs. You will also discover styles that are a little more risqué for those looking for something more daring in sexy mens briefs and tangas.

I have added the following [title attribute] to this header text (MENS BRIEFS + TANGAS)so it displays the following title attribute text when you hover over it. My intention behind this is so that it enables me to provide visitors with access (via assistive reading software or hovering their cursor over the header text) to a bit more information, which they my find useful

[title attribute text] - Mens briefs and tangas. These are possibly the most common and long established style of mens underwear, yet they still come in a variety of cuts and styles. The common feature amongst all men’s briefs is that they have a full rear panel that partly or entirely covers the bottom. They will have cut away legs, a pouch at the front and are supported with an elasticated waistband. Briefs and tangas can vary in the amount coverage in the side panels around the hips and top of the legs and the rear. The more revealing and skimpier tanga style usually consists of only a pouch at the front that is supported with an elasticated waistband and a minimalist rear, with no side panels that exposes the hips.[title attribute text]

Is this too much?

Can search engines penalise me for it?

Am I using/misusing title attributes?

Thanks

[Chris.Menke]

By my count, that's an additional 677 characters "with spaces" and all but 34 of them are worthless to you.  It doesn't matter how many words you want to use in your title, only about 70 characters count.  The title is just not the place for a paragraph worth of words-save it for the body of your html page.

Useful words: rear panel mens underwear, briefs & tangas

Useless words: These are possibly the most common and long established style of , yet they still come in a variety of cuts and styles. The common feature amongst all is that they have a full  that partly or entirely covers the bottom. They will have cut away legs, a pouch at the front and are supported with an elasticated waistband. Briefs and can vary in the amount coverage in the side panels around the hips and top of the legs and the rear. The more revealing and skimpier style usually consists of only a pouch at the front that is supported with an elasticated waistband and a minimalist rear, with no side panels that exposes the hips.

Will you get penalized? Not per se. Is such a long title hurting you? Yes--what do the first 70 words tell someone about your product?  Keep it short and simple.

[mark_baird]

I agree with chris.

It's called a title tag for a reason. the best seo in my book is to use things for the purpose they were designed. By all means optimise but adding content to a title will only dilute your seo and waste your time.