Title Tag
The HTML element that defines a page's title and appears as the clickable heading in search results. One of the strongest on-page ranking signals. Every page needs a unique, descriptive title.
Why It Matters
The title tag is the most visible on-page SEO element. It appears as the clickable blue heading in search results, in browser tabs, and when pages are shared on social media. It's one of the strongest on-page ranking signals - Google heavily weights title tags when determining what a page is about.
A well-written title tag does double duty: it tells Google what the page covers (for rankings) and it convinces searchers to click (for CTR). Getting title tags right has an outsized impact relative to the effort involved.
In Practice
Keep title tags under 60 characters to avoid truncation in search results. Include your primary keyword naturally, ideally near the beginning. Make each title unique - no two pages should share the same title tag.
Write titles for humans, not just algorithms. "Best SEO Agency Melbourne | SEO Services | Top SEO Company" is keyword-stuffed garbage. "SEO Agency Melbourne - Results-Driven Search Marketing" is better.
Google sometimes rewrites title tags if it thinks it can create a better match for the query. If Google consistently rewrites your title, it's telling you the original wasn't good enough. Check what Google generates and learn from it.
Common Mistakes
Duplicating title tags across pages. Keyword stuffing titles with multiple variations. Using your brand name as the entire title. Writing titles that are too long and get truncated. Using the same generic format ("Page Name | Brand") for every page without customisation.
Related Terms
Glossary
Meta Description
The text snippet below your title in search results - your ad copy for organic search.
Glossary
Click-Through Rate (CTR)
The percentage of searchers who see your listing and actually click it.
Glossary
Header Tags (H1-H6)
HTML heading elements that structure content hierarchically for users and search engines.
Glossary
Search Intent
The reason behind a search query - matching it is more important than matching keywords.
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