When searching for something on Google, the first thing that catches consumers’ attention is usually the title of the pages listed in the search results. They are looking for the most relevant result in the quickest amount of time. As a business owner, it is important to make sure that your page titles are optimized to stand out in the search results and attract potential customers. If you notice that your page titles are either defaulting to your website’s name, have a spelling error, are missing target keywords, or are cutting off, you may want to consider changing them. Depending on the website platform you are using, there are different ways to change the page title that Google displays in search results. In this blog, we will discuss how to update your page titles and what to include for optimization.
To learn more about optimizing and increasing your Google rankings, contact Boston Web Marketing for professional advice and SEO services.
What Is a Page Title?
A page title is the blue clickable link that appears in the search results on Google. It can often be confused with an H1, or Header 1, tag, which is the main headline on the page itself. However, a page title is specific to search engines and provides a brief description of the content on your webpage. It can be up to 60 characters long, and it is important to build it with strategic keywords to improve your search engine optimization.
Why Is My Page Title Cutting Off in Search Results?
As mentioned above, page titles should be no longer than 60 characters. If your title is longer than this, it will be cut off in search results, potentially leaving out important information or keywords. This can happen if you have not manually entered a page title and your website has defaulted it to the H1 tag. It can also occur if you have included too many keywords or special characters in your title, causing it to exceed the character limit.
How Do I Change My Page Title for SEO Optimization?
To change your page title, you will need to access the backend of your website. Depending on the platform you are using, this may involve going into the HTML coding or using a specific section within your page editor.
WordPress
If you are using WordPress, you can easily edit your page title by going to the “Pages” section in your dashboard and selecting the specific page you want to edit. From there, click on the “Edit” button next to the page title. When you scroll down, you will see a section where you can input your page title.
HTML
If you are comfortable with HTML coding, you can change your page title by locating the <title> tag within your webpage’s code and editing the text between the opening and closing tags. Make sure to save your changes.
What Should You Include in Your Page Title for SEO?
When writing a page title, it is important to keep in mind that it should accurately reflect the content of your page while also being optimized for search engines. This means not only including relevant keywords but also making it user-friendly and easy to read. Some of the best tips for writing an optimized page title are:
- Use your target keyword at the beginning of your title
- Avoid using hyphens or special characters
- Include your business name if possible
- Try to include a call to action, such as “Read More” or “Learn More”
- Use location-specific keywords if your page targets a specific geographic area
- Keep it under 60 characters to avoid getting cut off in search engine results
How Often Should You Update Your Page Titles?
Although it is not necessary to update your page titles frequently, it is recommended to review them every few months or when significant changes occur in your business or website content. This allows you to keep your page titles relevant and updated for current search trends. Additionally, updating them too much can actually hurt your search ranking, so it is important only to do so when necessary.
Learn More About & Get Professional Help with Updating Page Titles, Metadescriptions, & On-Page SEO from Boston Web Marketing
At Boston Web Marketing, we provide professional SEO and digital marketing services to help businesses optimize their website content and improve their online presence. Our team of experts can assist with updating your page titles, metadescriptions, and other on-page SEO features to ensure they are optimized for both users and search engines. We work with businesses of all sizes and industries to create customized strategies that grow success. To learn more and get a free quote, contact us online or call us at 857.349.5062.