Does page title affect SEO? Yes, discover how to fix yours!

You’ve created helpful content ✔️ but your website collects dust because Google lists it somewhere on page 10 – no man’s land. 

Good news: if your content already targets the search query, there’s an easy fix.

Perhaps your search preview snippet isn’t clear or engaging enough to:

1. Impress the technical algorithms that set the ranking order of indexed websites
2. Capture the attention (and clicks) of users searching for related keywords

We explain the power of a page title to attract online visitors, then show you how to create inviting page titles, or fix existing ones. Let’s go!

But first: why trust us? Our SEO page title examples outrank Google AI!

We know our stuff, here’s proof.

Many of our top-ranking blogs contain page titles that we crafted for SEO, using the steps you’re about to learn.

We won’t bore you with too many examples – reach out to us if you want more!

Example 1: SEO writing for beginners 

         Search volume for the main keywords we rank on the first page for:

            “SEO writing” = 260 a month

            “SEO writing for beginners” = 10 a month

Note: We even outranked Google’s AI Overview, which is a rare feat for any website!

Google promotes web pages above its own AI section only 12 per cent of the time, when users show a preference for that website by scrolling past the AI Overview to visit the link.

Example 2: Australian local SEO checklist 

       Search volume for the main keywords we rank on the first page for:

               “Australian local SEO” = 320 a month

               “Local SEO checklist” = 50 a month

What is the page title of a website and how to find it?

The page title is what people see before they enter your website from search engines like Google. It previews what your page is about, giving users a clear idea of the content before they click.

Other descriptions: title tag, meta title tag, or SEO title.

Page titles serve two purposes:

1. Help search engines like Google understand your page’s topic for ranking purposes.
2. Entice users to click through to your page and browse the content. First impressions are everything!

What does the page title look like?

Imagine you’re searching for something online, and a list of results pops up. 

That clickable blue headline for each result? That’s the page title. It’s your website’s virtual “storefront sign” in the bustling digital marketplace of search engine results pages (SERPs). 

You’ll also see the meta title tag in the top tab of your web browser.

How to find the title of a web page using code:

 

The HTML title tag can be found within the head section of a webpage’s code. See for yourself by right-clicking on any webpage and selecting “View Page Source”.  You’ll find it nestled between the <title> and </title> tags. 

By the way, don’t confuse page titles with post titles!

As you know, the page title resides in the search results and browser tabs.

You’ll find the post title in the main content section after you’ve clicked and landed on the actual webpage. The post title is the main headline (H1 heading). 

How does page title affect SEO for better or worse?

Technical search algorithms pay attention to keywords in title tags:

Google examines keywords in your page title to understand how clearly your content addresses the query. Search engines pay attention to keywords and many other elements to determine ranking order. 

The more technical elements you include that signal “this is helpful content”, the higher your chances of gaining top visibility in Google and other search engines.

Keywords please the search gods, so should you stuff your page title with keywords?

No, perish the thought!

Remember, user behaviour ALSO influences how Google ranks websites.

Imagine you see this result when looking for new running shoes:

The flood of keywords seems manipulative, right? I’m staying away. 

By all means, incorporate popular keywords into your page title, but do this SPARINGLY to reflect the natural way that people speak.

What happens when users click on your search result often?

Green flags everywhere! 

High click-through rates (CTR) alert Google that your page is a good fit for the query, which can lead to higher rankings over time. 

But the search gods give with one hand and TAKE with the other. 

If the link in your SERP snippet attracts few clicks, Google assumes your page isn’t as useful as others, potentially causing your rankings to drop. 

By the way, don’t be offended if Google rewrites your page title! This sometimes happens when titles are too long, spammy or irrelevant to the page content and search query. 

How to create an inviting page title (SEO best practices)

Now you know that a clear and engaging page title can move your search preview to the top of Google, ESPECIALLY when that title reflects quality content inside your website.

Do you regret any of your existing page titles?

Don’t worry, this guide will help you to improve online visibility by either:

• Writing a brilliant page title from the start
• Changing a page title at any time after publication

Follow our tips before or after publication, it doesn’t matter.

3 steps to optimise your page title for search engine optimisation:

 

ONE: Knowledge is power! 

Keyword research: Select a popular target keyword that represents the content of your page. This article shows you how to use the low-cost Keywords Everywhere tool to find relevant keywords with decent search volume. 

Spy on competitors: Search for your target keyword and observe the top search results on the first page. Take inspiration from their snippets and think about how you can make yours stand out.

TWO: Create multiple title drafts that include your main keyword:

Keyword placement: Place the most important keyword towards the start of your title, if it makes sense to do so. This may increase the relevance of your page, according to Moz. 

No keyword stuffing, but you can be strategic:

Don’t include multiple variations of the same keyword!

However, bonus points if your target keyword has a suitable long-tail variation: one phrase that includes more than one keyword in a natural manner. 

For example, our search preview below contains a two-in-one keyword:

         SEO writing for beginners (10 searches a month)

         SEO writing (260 searches a month)

Higher volume keywords are harder to rank for. Ranking first for the low-volume keyword helped us to quickly rank for the higher-volume keyword.

Add a power word: Grab attention with power words in your title: Power words evoke specific emotions that entice users to click your link. We suggest including a power word in both your page title and the meta description under it (blue underline in the above image).

Include a number in your title: Numbers in both the meta title and description tend to catch people’s attention. Don’t force it though, only if applicable (see blue circle in the above image). 

Page title SEO length: Google measures pixel width, which can vary depending on the characters used. A general rule of thumb is to aim for between 30 and 60 characters, which typically corresponds to around 580 pixels for desktop results. Tools like Yoast SEO check the width to ensure your title is optimal and not cut off. 

Exercise your creativity: Don’t stop at the first idea. Focus on a message that’s quick, concise and easy for users to process. Your title must represent the page content. Avoid vague or unhelpful descriptors, and ensure your title is descriptive and relevant to the content. 

THREE: Don’t forget to optimise your meta description too! The meta title and description work together. There’s more room in the description (160 character limit), so you can provide information that adds to the title. 

Give your audience a reason to care. What part of your content would appeal to people the most? Point this out, succinctly.

Can you craft a summary that includes the main keyword, a number and power word in the description? That’s best practice, but only if it flows well and makes sense to your topic.

Finally, this free snippet optimisation tool lets you see what your search preview will look like if Google doesn’t change it (this usually happens if you haven’t optimised the description for SEO). Good luck!

No time to create content that attracts more visitors to your website?

We understand you want high-ranking content that attracts clicks (CTR).

Let us help you move past vague campaigns and into tailored strategies that attract the right traffic. 

Our Sydney-based team has 25 years of experience getting thousands of clients noticed online. Our SEO campaigns have even been recognised in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC Search Awards).

We create original and helpful content that both search engines and consumers love!

Ready to attract more traffic and watch your sales soar?

Connect with us today: Call 1800 785 122 or fill out this form to find out how we can bring more people to your website!