Does it matter if one adds a non keyword to a hub title, while keeping all the k

1. 91

   Greensleeves Hubsposted 11 years ago

   Does it matter if one adds a non keyword to a hub title, while keeping all the key search words?
   
   I always end my hub titles with 'A Greensleeves Page' (my username) so all my hubs are instantly recognisable and linked together by a common identity in much the same way as Wikipedia entries on Google always come up in the search as 'Subject Matter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia'). (eg: the title of my most recent hub is 'Reflections on Beauty - A Greensleeves Page'.
   
   Does this policy detract at all from the success of getting the hubs high on Google searches? Would 'Reflections on Beauty' without the addition of my username, receive more hits or will it make no significant difference?

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2. 72

   livewithrichardposted 11 years ago

   I really don't see any benefit to adding that phrase to the end of your hubs.  That is a technique that some use to build a brand and that is also something mostly reserved for your own blog posts.  Each Hubpage should stand on its own merit and deliver what is promised in the hub title.  Sure it may be a "Greensleeves Page" but to the average surfer that really means nothing to them if you haven't already established brand recognition.  The best thing you can do to sort it out yourself is to test it out on a sampling of your hubs, your best performing and your least performing so that you can compare the results and traffic values.  If you only make the changes on your least performing hubs, you many never realize the differences it could make.  From an SEO look, the added phrase will not detract from the search value but neither does it add to it without an established brand which is also socially recognized.

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   1. 91

      Greensleeves Hubsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks. I am sure that it won't increase traffic, but I do like the idea of having a common theme to all my hub titles. My only concern is if it actually harms the traffic as its not strictly relevent. I guess I may have to experiment as you suggest.

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3. 84

   Marisa Wrightposted 11 years ago

   Yes, it probably detracts from your success.  Google sees repetitive titles as a sign of "spinning" - i.e. that you've rewritten the same article several different ways.   It's irritating because it means you can no longer write a numbered series of articles (e.g. "How to care for your dog #1:  Deworming", "How to care for your dog #2: Grooming"), because Google will penalize those titles for repetition.
   
   Your Hubs are already linked by a common identity because they are all on your sub-domain so the URL has your ID in it, and they all link to your profile.

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   1. 91

      Greensleeves Hubsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Marisa, thanks. I take your first point, and can see how a related problem could arise in the example you give. It's a shame tho'. Presumably, large sites like Wikipedia are exempt from that penalty, or are big enough to ignore the effects of it?

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