Glossary
What is a title tag?
A title tag is the HTML element of a page. Search engines usually use it as the clickable headline in results (Google calls it the title link), and browsers show it in tabs. A good one says what the page is in roughly 50 to 60 characters. Google may rewrite titles it finds unhelpful.
Writing good titles
- Lead with what the page is: the main topic or question.
- Be specific: numbers, year, audience.
- Make each title unique across the site.
- Avoid keyword stuffing and boilerplate repeated on every page.
- Match the page's H1 closely.
Google measures display by pixel width, so about 50 to 60 characters fits on most screens. Our page titles are capped at 62 characters.
Why Google rewrites titles
Google generates title links from the title tag and other sources, such as the H1 and anchor text. It rewrites when titles are too long, stuffed with keywords, boilerplate, or don't match the content. Clear, accurate titles are kept.
Example
"Home | Product | Best CRM Software CRM Tool Online" gets rewritten by Google; "Pipely: simple CRM for freelancers" is shown as written.
FAQ
How long should a title tag be?
About 50 to 60 characters to avoid truncation.
Is the title tag a ranking factor?
It helps Google understand the page and strongly affects clicks.
Should the title and H1 be the same?
Close. They can differ slightly, but should describe the same thing.
Should I put my brand in every title?
Often at the end, if space allows; for well-known brands it can help clicks.