Using link TITLE attributes has become more popular since the rise of such widely used scripts as WordPress which by default duplicates the post title link in its TITLE attribute. Still, despite being the common behavior, this method of using TITLE attribute is both not right and annoying.
The title is not meant to be a duplication of the anchor text (related post: Image Alt Text Vs. Image Title). It’s supposed to provide additional / advisory information (expand on the meaning of the link). The anchor text is supposed to “name” the link, while the title text provides information about where the link will send the user. (especially with “click here” and “more” anchor text). Look:
<a href=”/ann-smarty/” title=”Author’s biography”>Ann Smarty</a>
OR
<a href=”/ann-smarty/” title=”More posts by Ann Smarty”>Ann Smarty</a>
Let’s first learn why we need to use TITLE attribute at all:
Link TITLE attribute for SEO: title attribute carries no weight on search engines (per my experience and based on other SEO’s opinion).
A couple of years ago, Googlers confirmed they did not use TITLE attribute in the algorithm because it was used too seldom. This has changes since then but I still failed to spot any evidence that link TITLE attribute somehow influenced the rankings (you can run a simple test: include any non-existent word - that doesn’t exist in Google index - as a link title, wait for the link to be indexed, and in some time check if either the linking or linked page got ranked for that word). Anyway, if your experience is different from mine, please share.
Link TITLE attribute for usability: in most browsers it will pop up when you hover over the link.
Thus there is no need to duplicate the anchor text in a title tag. If the title tag can’t provide more information, then don’t use it:
Do not add link titles to all links: if it is obvious from the link anchor and its surrounding context where the link will lead, then a link title will reduce usability by being one more thing users have to look at.
Exception: title attribute can copy the link text when not the full link text might be displayed (due to design limitations for example):
Link TITLE attribute for accessibility:
…visual browsers frequently display the title as a “tool tip” (a short message that appears when the pointing device pauses over an object). Audio user agents may speak the title information in a similar context. For example, setting the attribute on a link allows user agents (visual and non-visual) to tell users about the nature of the linked resource.
One should bear in mind that very often screen readers won’t read the title attribute, so if you put anything too vital in there, many users won’t hear it:
If the supplementary information provided through the title attribute is something the user should know before following the link, such as a warning, then it should be provided in the link text rather than in the title attribute.
For example, for acronyms you should both include a title attribute and provide a plain text expansion the first time it is used on the page.
Conclusions on TITLE attribute usage:
- use it for your users, not search engines (this approach always pays back);
- don’t duplicate it with link text (this hurts usability: for example some blind users will hear the same text twice);
- don’t put too much weight on the title attributes as not all screenreaders may render it (make sure either surrounding text or anchor text explains the link at least the first time you use it).
Comments
17 responses so far ↓
Mercy on Sep 15, 2008 at 9:11 am
So the bottom line is, don’t make your title attributes as keywords anchor; have it as descriptive for users.(rather than search engine)
Claudia on Sep 15, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Thanks for the info. I thought I had found a new way to go better in searches by using more the title attribute.
It looks like I was wrong again. Usually my theories are wrong :D
elan on Sep 16, 2008 at 3:43 am
Many wordpress themes has the predefined tiitle attribute as link name. We need to customize it!
Touchy line - “some blind users will hear the same text twice”
SEO Ecreeds on Sep 16, 2008 at 4:26 am
Thanks for demystifying the myth of using the same title and anchor text.
But I think using different keyphrases for anchor text and title can improve the ranking of a website in search engines. If nobody has a proof in its favor then nobody has a proof against it also.
SEO Consultant India on Sep 18, 2008 at 7:54 am
Great tips…
Xersmith on Sep 18, 2008 at 10:11 pm
This is a gret tips… THanks!!!
Uncornered Market on Sep 22, 2008 at 6:07 am
Perfect timing to find this article. I was giving my blog an SEO facelift and searching specifically for whether or not search engines place value on the title attribute.
Good to know that they do not - at least for the moment. Another victory for users.
Budget Hotels In Delhi on Sep 29, 2008 at 2:23 am
thanx for the article
Dan on Oct 19, 2008 at 5:03 pm
very usefull your article Ann, I’m agreed also with SEO Ecreeds comment <>
Software Testing Training on Dec 16, 2008 at 11:50 pm
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andri on Feb 15, 2009 at 4:52 pm
thanks… i like the article :)
Erhan on Mar 19, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I still use the title tags a bit ‘keyword spammy’ like, but it makes sense when you highlite the link / image link with the mouse.
George Bounacos on Apr 10, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Nice common sense approach. Bottom line is that you probably should design as much for users as possible. I like to use the title to warn of a PDF or big file because reading it inline always breaks my train of thought.
I can see some limited applications in areas where highly technical data is also at the link, say in a footnote, but for intrasite linking and most garden variety links, the process just adds time and may actually strike your visitor as a little too slick.
göğüs büyütücü on Jun 4, 2009 at 5:43 am
link, say in a footnote, but for intrasite linking and most garden variety links, the process just adds time and may actually strike your visitor as a little too slick
Jürgen Klameth on Jun 7, 2009 at 4:16 am
Gott sei dank bin ich auf Ihren Artikel gestossen! Ich habe mir alles übersetzt und werde mich in den nächsten Wochen an die Arbeit machen, alle meine Links mit Titel-Tags zu versehen. Danke sehr!
frenchesca on Jun 11, 2009 at 9:26 pm
so link title won’t help us to rank the targetted keywords… thanks for the information.
daniel on Jun 23, 2009 at 2:54 am
ok. so link titles wont help much form the seo point of view. might not emphasize on this from now on.
thanks for sharing.
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