How To Stay on Top of the Title Changes
Google updates your title to improve user experience and provide the most accurate information to search queries. However, if you want the original version of your title to be displayed on search engine results pages, here are some guidelines:
Keep it Short:
Even with a perfectly written title, if it is too long, i.e., it exceeds 60 characters, chances are Google will cut it short. It is best to keep the title between 50 to 60 characters. Keep your title crisp, clear, and concise, and avoid unnecessary phrases in your title. You also use Rank Watch’s meta tag analyzer to determine if you meet the guidelines set by the Google update.
Brand your Titles:
Adding your brand name is another practice to help you effectively deal with the Google title change update. However, remember that you must be mindful of adding your brand name in the title, meaning that you must use it only when it is necessary and doesn’t look forced.
Highlight Page Content:
Your title should be relevant and highlight the content on your web page. It should clearly indicate what your content is about so that the search engines can accurately understand and rank your page.
Use Different H1 Tags:
A mistake the website owners make is adding identical H1 tags to all their pages. Similar H1 tags will make it harder for Google to differentiate between the content on the web pages, which may lead to your web pages not getting ranked. It is best to have different title tags to help Google distinguish between the content on each page.
Over-optimization and Keyword Stuffing:
While you must optimize your title and add relevant keywords to make it stand out, don’t overdo it. You must focus on adding one or two keywords within the 50-60-character limit. Moreover, ensure that the keywords you are adding look natural and don’t impact the readability of the title.
Ignoring Branding and Unique Selling Points:
Every brand has unique selling points; adding them to your title will help improve your brand awareness and search engine rankings. Moreover, including your USP will make you stand out from your competitors and increase the chances of your title getting displayed on search engines.
Skipping Targeted or Engaging Titles:
Your title should be clear and concise. But at the same time, it also needs to be engaging to encourage your target audience to click on your website. You must closely study your audience to understand their preferences and frame titles that are clear, relevant, and grab your audience’s interest.