Title tag

What title tags do

Title tags are the first thing searchers see about your page in search results. They appear as the blue clickable headline in Google. Browsers show them in tabs. Social platforms use them when you share links. This makes title tags one of the most visible SEO elements.

Beyond visibility, title tags are a significant ranking factor. Google uses title tag content to understand what pages are about. Including target keywords helps, but compelling copy that encourages clicks matters equally.

Title tag best practices

Keep titles under 60 characters. Longer titles get truncated with "..." in search results, cutting off your message. Front-load important keywords—they carry more weight and ensure visibility even if truncation occurs.

Write unique titles for every page. Duplicate titles waste opportunities to communicate specific value. A homepage title should differ completely from service page titles, case study titles, or blog post titles.

Make titles compelling, not just keyword-optimised. "5-Day Website Launch | Fast, Modern Sites | Fernside" promises specific value. "Website Design Services | Web Development" is generic and forgettable.

Title tags vs H1 tags

Title tags (in HTML head) differ from H1 headings (visible on page). Title tags target search results and social shares. H1s target visitors already on your page. They can be identical, but often shouldn't be.

Title tags benefit from brand inclusion: "Keyword | Brand Name". H1s typically skip brand names—visitors already know whose site they're on. H1s can be longer and more descriptive since they don't face search result length limits.

Testing and optimisation

Monitor click-through rates via Google Search Console. Low CTR despite good rankings suggests weak title tags. Test variations to see what resonates with your audience.

We write strategic title tags for every page during builds, balancing keyword targeting with compelling copy that drives clicks from search results.