Write a proper page title
The single most important on-page SEO element — 50–60 characters that sell the click.
What it means
The page title (<title> tag) is the blue headline shown in Google results and the browser tab. It's the strongest on-page ranking signal and your ad copy on the search results page.
Why it matters
A missing, duplicate, or vague title makes Google invent its own snippet and weakens your ranking for every search that describes your business. Fixing it is the highest-value 10-minute SEO task there is.
How to fix it
- Describe what the page offers, for whom, in plain words — e.g. 'Wedding Photography in Leeds | Studio Name'.
- Keep it between 50 and 60 characters so Google doesn't truncate it.
- Put the most important keyword phrase near the beginning.
- Make every page's title unique — duplicate titles make pages compete with each other.
- In most CMSs this is an 'SEO title' field (Yoast/Rank Math on WordPress) or an SEO settings panel.
Common mistakes
- Using the same title on every page, so Google can't tell the pages apart.
- Stuffing keywords ('Cheap Shoes | Buy Shoes | Shoes Online') instead of describing the page.
- Leaving the CMS default, such as 'Home' or 'Untitled'.
How to check it worked
Search Google for site:yourdomain.com and read the blue headlines. Each should be unique, readable and not cut off with '…'. Re-run an audit to confirm the title check passes.
Helpful tools
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs/Semrush site audit
Not sure if this affects your site? Analyze your website for free or compare it with a competitor.
Related guides
- Add a meta description: Your 150-character pitch shown under the title in search results.
- Add Open Graph tags for social sharing: Control the title, description, and preview image shown when your page is shared.
- Match content to search intent: Give searchers the page they were actually looking for when they typed the query.
- Use exactly one H1 heading: The H1 tells Google and visitors what the page is about — there should be one per page.