What is a website title?
A website title is a short phrase that appears at the top of a web browser window or tab, identifying the currently viewed web pages. A browser typically displays a website title alongside the favicon (the icon on the left of the tab), and in search results engines website titles appear as bold hyperlinked texts. As you work on deciding how to make your website, consider your website title for your homepage, and any pages on your website.
For example, if you visit the Wix blog and look at the top of your web browser tab, you will see the website title "Wix Blog | Web Design & Small Business Tips to Promote Your Site"
You can find the website title in a web page’s HTML code. It is typically contained in the head element, within the title tag. For example, the code for the previously mentioned page would look like this:
<title>Wix Blog | Web Design & Small Business Tips to Promote Your Site</title>
It is important to note that the website title can differ from a title tag and an article title.
Title tag: A title tag is an element that specifies a web page’s title within the head element of HTML code. Search engines use title tags to understand a web page’s content. Often, title tags appear as a web page’s title on a search engine results page (SERP).
Article title: An article title is the headline or title of a specific article or blog post within a website. It is typically displayed at the beginning of the article or post and summarizes the article’s main topic.
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Why website titles matter
Website titles play a significant role in both search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience. When it comes to SEO, search engines use website titles to understand a web page’s content and determine if it is relevant to a particular search query. A well-written and descriptive website title can help a web page rank higher in search engine results pages, which can lead to increased visibility and traffic.
Website titles also allow users to quickly and easily identify a web page’s content as well. When a user performs a search on a search engine, the results page presents a list of relevant web pages, each with its own website title. A clear and concise website title can help a user determine the most relevant result for their query and encourage them to click through to the web page. Therefore, strong website titles increase website traffic, click-through rates, and sales.
Website titles should be unique and accurately describe the content of the web page. Search engines may penalize websites for spammy or misleading titles.
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Best practices for website titles
As you consider best practices for how to build a website from scratch, and create website titles, follow these tips to ensure that your titles effectively attract visitors and improve your search engine rankings:
Use the "4-U's formula": The 4-U's formula is a useful tool for creating descriptive and compelling website titles that are both descriptive and compelling. The formula suggests that website titles should be:- Unique: Each web page on your website should have a unique title that accurately reflects the web page’s content. Having multiple pages with the same title on a website can confuse search engines and negatively impact your SEO.- Useful: A website title should provide value to the user and clearly communicate the web page’s main topic or theme.- Urgent: A website title should create a sense of urgency or importance for the user, encouraging them to click through to the webpage as soon as possible. Use strong action verbs and create a sense of curiosity or excitement.- Ultra-specific: A website title should be as specific and focused as the content it describes.
Keep it short: Website titles should be concise and to the point. Keep website titles under 60 characters, as search engines may truncate longer titles in search results.
Use relevant keywords: Including relevant keywords in your website titles can help improve your search engine rankings and make it easier for users to find your website based on their intent.
Consider the user: When creating a website title, consider your target audience’s needs and interests. They will more likely click on a website title that seems relevant and valuable to them.
Test and optimize: Use website analytics tools to track the performance of your titles and make adjustments as needed.
Website titles examples
Here are some examples of website titles from the Wix blog:
"Is Wix SEO Friendly?"This website title effectively communicates the main topic of the web page (whether Wix is SEO friendly) and includes the name of the website (Wix.com Blog) to provide context and credibility.
"How to Create a Professional Portfolio Website: A Step-by-Step Guide"This website title clearly states the webpage’s main topic (how to create a professional portfolio website) and also sets expectations for how the content will be delivered (step-by-step guide) to encourage users to click through.
"The Top 10 Wix Apps to Boost Your Online Presence"This website title highlights 10 Wix apps that a user can use to improve their online presence. It also includes the name of the website (Wix.com) to provide context.
When considering how long it takes to build your website, choosing and planning your website title is just one consideration. Be sure also to make it a part of your website launch checklist - great title, check.
Looking to learn how to create a professional website? Our guide has you covered.
