What is a meta title?

A meta title, or a title tag, indicates the topic of your web page. Displayed as a title on the search engine results page, it works in tandem with the meta description to inform a web user of your page’s content. 

For example, if a user had the search query: “the best restaurant on the Sunshine Coast” the meta titles that google would display would typically be along the lines of “dine at the best restaurant on the Sunshine Coast.” The page title should try to directly answer the intent behind someone’s search query. 

An important part of SEO or search engine optimization is to ensure that the primary keyword for a website is in the meta title. This will ensure that the title will be a response to the top queries that people are googling.

Common mistakes when writing a title tag

  • Keyword stuffing without coherency. Even though it is important to have keywords in your meta, it’s also important that this meta makes sense. You’re not just writing for google, you’re writing for the users reading your titles and descriptions. If your title is gibberish, no one will click on your site
  • Duplicate title tags where your meta title and meta description are too repetitive. If you don’t take advantage of the ability to offer information to entice users, your site will suffer
  • Not including keyword phrases or important keywords in the title tag 
  • Bad page titles that have no unique selling point. What should make a user click on your site instead of all the other websites also advertising the same thing?
  • Not targeting the intent behind someone’s search query. What is it about your website that should make people click? 
  • Not summarising the content of your web page in the title. People shouldn’t get a surprise when your site loads. Your title should let them know exactly what they’re in for 

Is there a character limit on meta titles?

How many characters should your meta descriptions and meta titles have? Is there even a limit? 

Meta titles should stick to about a 580px limit. If your title is too long, google won’t be able to display your meta correctly, and you could potentially lose clicks. 

Use a free SERP (search engine result pages) optimising tool to ensure you stick within the title length limit. Having a concise title with a direct call to action is the best way to use a title tag. 

Do you even need to have a good meta title?

Are title tags even important? Why should you bother with writing unique page titles if you already have a great website?

A meta title is typically the first introduction anyone has to your web page. As a heading it’s a distinct descriptor that google displays to search engine users. No matter how good your website content is or how high you are displayed on google, no one will click on your site if your meta title is bad. 

To make the most of your meta, you need to write meta descriptions and title tags that succinctly summarise your website on google’s search results. Having a good meta description and a good title tag could be the difference between someone clicking on your site or scrolling past you to use other websites. 

Don’t just write for search engines, write for the person you’re trying to get clicks from.

Tips for writing better meta titles 

  • Use at least one of the most popular keyword phrases in your title tag. 
  • Although having a unique title is good, make sure your meta is still relevant to your web page. 
  • Investigate your competitors on search engine results pages. What techniques do they use to get user clicks? Get inspired!
  • What search query would you expect someone to type in to get your site as a search result? Make sure your title answers their query.
  • Make sure you use a SERP optimising tool when writing your meta. Don’t use too many or not enough characters. Take advantage of the amount of words you can use.