What is a Website Title ?
- Marco Baez Vergara
- Apr 16
- 6 min read
You’ve probably noticed that little text at the top of your browser tab when you open a website. Maybe it’s a brand name, a catchy phrase, or just a plain old “Home.” That right there? That’s the website title — and it’s more important than it looks.
A website title (also called a title tag) is one of the first things search engines and people see when interacting with a webpage. It’s the line of text that shows up in your browser tab, in Google search results, and in previews when someone shares a page on social media.
It might seem like a small detail, but the title can make or break your first impression online. Whether you’re a business owner, a content creator, or just launching your first portfolio site, understanding how a website title works — and how to craft a good one — is crucial.
Let’s break it all down: what a website title is, why it matters, how it affects SEO and user experience, and what best practices you should follow to get it right.
What Exactly Is a Website Title?
At its core, a website title is a piece of HTML code that defines the title of a web page. It sits within the <head> section of a webpage’s HTML and is wrapped in a <title> tag.
Here’s what it looks like in code:
<title>Isaac Design Studio | Modern Visual Identity</title>That one line of code can influence how people perceive your brand, how often they click your link in search engines, and even how your site ranks.
But don’t let the techy part scare you off — the important thing is what the title communicates to users and how it's used.
Where You See the Website Title
Let’s go through all the common places the website title appears:
Browser Tab:When you open a website, the title appears in the tab of your browser. It helps users identify and switch between tabs quickly.
Search Engine Results Page (SERP):Google (and other search engines) show your page’s title as the blue clickable headline in search results.
Social Media Previews:When you share a link on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Slack, the page title is used in the preview along with the meta description.
Bookmarks and Favorites:If someone bookmarks your page, the title becomes the name of that bookmark.
In short, the title tag is everywhere — even though it's invisible on the actual page, it's working behind the scenes to boost visibility, credibility, and clickability.
Why Your Website Title Matters
Now that we know what it is, let’s talk about why it matters so much. It’s not just a formality. The title tag serves multiple important roles:
1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Google pays a lot of attention to your title tag. It’s one of the strongest on-page SEO signals, helping search engines understand what your page is about.
If your title includes relevant keywords that match a user’s search intent, it increases the chances of your page appearing in search results.
Let’s say your website title is:
“Handmade Leather Wallets | Isaac Craft Goods”
If someone searches “handmade leather wallets,” your page is more likely to rank higher than a page with a vague title like:
“Home Page”
Search engines also consider click-through rate (CTR). A clear, compelling title encourages users to click your link — and that engagement can influence rankings over time.
2. User Experience
Titles help users orient themselves. Whether they have five tabs open or are browsing through search results, a strong title gives them confidence that they’re clicking on the right thing.
A good title sets expectations. If your title is misleading, vague, or overly clever, it can frustrate users or cause them to bounce.
3. First Impressions
Your website title is often the first thing people see about your brand — before they even land on your page. That’s why it needs to be clear, accurate, and persuasive.
Would you click on a page titled:
“Welcome to Our Site”?
Or one that says:
“Affordable Web Design for Small Businesses | Isaac Web Studio”
Titles give you a chance to pitch yourself. Use them wisely.
The Anatomy of a Good Website Title
Here’s what makes a great title tag:
Relevant Keywords
Include 1–2 main keywords that describe what the page is about. These should match what people are likely searching for.
Bad: “Home”Good: “Custom Logo Design Services | Isaac Studio”
Clear and Descriptive
People should know what to expect before they even click. Avoid vagueness.
Bad: “Click Here!”Good: “Interactive Motion Graphics Portfolio | Isaac Design”
Compelling but Not Clickbaity
It should be inviting without being misleading. You want users to feel satisfied when they land on the page.
Bad: “You Won’t Believe This Design Hack!”Better: “10 Smart Layout Techniques for UI Designers”
Unique Per Page
Each page of your site should have its own unique title. Google doesn’t like duplicates. Neither do people.
Bad: Using “Isaac Design” on every pageGood: “About Isaac – Digital Animator & Designer”
Brand Name at the End
This is a common structure that balances SEO with branding:
Primary Keyword or Phrase | Brand Name
Like this:
“Modern Typography Trends for 2025 | Isaac Creative Lab”
Best Practices for Writing Website Titles
Let’s get practical. Here are some dos and don’ts to keep your titles optimized and user-friendly.
DO:
Keep it under 60 charactersGoogle cuts off long titles. Try to stay under 60–65 characters to make sure your full title appears in search.
Put keywords firstStart with the most important topic, and add your brand name after a separator like a pipe (|) or hyphen.
Match the page contentYour title should reflect what’s actually on the page. Don’t promise what you can’t deliver.
Use sentence case or title caseFor example: “Web Development Services” not “WEB DEVELOPMENT SERVICES”
Write for humans, not just search enginesDon’t stuff in keywords unnaturally. Clarity wins.
DON’T:
Use the same title tag on multiple pages
Start every title with your brand name (unless you're super well-known)
Go overboard with symbols, emojis, or ALL CAPS
Ignore mobile — titles can be even more truncated on small screens
Let your CMS generate boring auto-titles like “Untitled Page” or “New Post”
Examples of Good vs. Bad Website Titles
Let’s look at some real-world comparisons:
Bad Title:
“Home”
Why It’s Bad:Too vague. Doesn’t say what the site is or who it’s for.
Better Title:
“Freelance Branding & Logo Design | Isaac Studio”
Bad Title:
“Blog”
Better Title:
“Design Tips, Branding Ideas, and Portfolio Insights | Isaac’s Blog”
Bad Title:
“Contact Us”
Better Title:
“Contact Isaac – Let’s Build Your Brand Together”
How to Add or Edit Website Titles
For HTML Sites:
Just edit the <title> tag in the <head> section of your HTML.
<head> <title>Custom Web Design for Startups | Isaac Creative</title> </head>For WordPress:
Go to your post or page editor.
Scroll to the SEO section (if you’re using a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math).
You’ll see a field for the title tag — customize it there.
For Webflow, Squarespace, or Wix:
These platforms have a built-in SEO or page settings area where you can edit the title for each page.
The Risk of Ignoring Your Website Titles
If you don’t write your own title tags, Google will often auto-generate them — and trust me, it’s rarely pretty. You could end up with:
Cut-off sentences
Repetitive or irrelevant titles
Poor rankings due to missing keywords
Low click-through rates
Confused users who leave right away
A generic title is like showing up to a job interview in pajamas — it doesn’t tell the right story, and it definitely doesn’t build trust.
Titles vs. H1 Tags — What’s the Difference?
People often confuse the title tag with the H1 tag on a webpage. They’re both
important but serve different purposes:
Title Tag: Shows in browser tabs, search results, and social shares. It’s part of the page’s metadata.
H1 Tag: The visible headline on your webpage. It helps users (and search engines) understand the structure and topic of the page.
You can make them similar, but they don’t have to be identical. Just make sure both are relevant and descriptive.
In Conclusion
Your website title is the quiet MVP of your site. It works behind the scenes to improve your SEO, attract visitors, and communicate what you’re all about — often before your content even loads.
So don’t overlook it. Craft titles with intention. Use them to tell people (and search engines) exactly what to expect and why they should care.
Remember, you only get one chance at a first impression — and on the internet, that starts with your title.
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