What is a meta title?

The meta title is the clickable title of a page as it appears in Google’s search results and in the browser tab. It is an important on-page ranking factor and strongly determines whether people click through. A good meta title contains the main keyword and stays within about 60 characters.

Why is the meta title important?

The title is often the first thing a searcher sees of your page. A relevant, appealing title raises the click-through rate and helps Google understand what the page is about. That makes it one of the most influential on-page SEO elements.

Writing a good meta title

Put the main keyword at the front, keep it under about 60 characters so it is not cut off, and make it unique for every page. A clear promise or addition (such as the year or your brand name) can raise the click-through rate.

Meta title versus H1

The meta title appears in the search results; the H1 is the heading at the top of the page itself. They may differ: you optimise the title for the search results and the H1 for the visitor on the page.

Does Google sometimes change my meta title?

Yes. Google can show its own title if it thinks that fits the search query better. A strong, relevant title reduces that chance.

How long can a meta title be?

Aim for about 50 to 60 characters to avoid it being cut off in the search results.