Title vs. Domain Name

[Buzliteyear]

Okay, I am planning a new site, and I have 2 questions.

1. Should the title of the site be the same as the domain name? My plan was to have a short, simple, brandable domain name, but with a longer title.

2. Second question is how long is too long for a site title?

Thanks.

Buz

[CygnusX1]

I would say yes. The title is the most valuable part of a website in my mind. Also if the domain reflects a keyword out of the title, it only supports the website more for that keyword or the field you’re in.

I personally would use the real title as the first 30 characters or so. Then I would use the rest of what’s left of the 80 characters that you’re allowed with something that reflects another keyword as long as it sounds good. Then again it really depends on the field your. Some fields are harder to come up with the perfect title and domain.

[mosaic service]

what better you can do then to have one of your keyword as your domain name.

This only re-enforces to SEs that your website is most relevant for that keyword.

As for the title the maxumin length is 75 charecter. Use 3-4 keywords in it effectively

[CygnusX1]

mosaic service,

I would have to disagree with you on the maximum number of characters that can be in a title. Unless the rules have changed the maximum number of characters you can have in a title is 80. The most characters that Google will display are about 65, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the characters aren’t being counted in the value of the title.

[ratherbeboating]

If you are doing your webpage for a long term investment, I would check what MSN likes and not worry about Google.

The next operating system coming out of Redding is giong to have a search engine built into it. To me it looks like a repeat of the Netscape thing, when Netscape had 80% market share and MS claimed that they couldn't remove their browser because it was built into their operating system. Now, they are going after Google with essentially the same plan, build a search engine into their operating system.

Anyway, regardless of whether or not you agree with their tactics, it seems clear that MSN will own the search industry in a few years after the longhorn release. And for that reason, I would optimize something unchangable like the name, by the MSN standards.