Title tag optimization is important for boosting your visibility in Google’s SERPs. While there’s no perfect length for a title tag, aim for 50-60 characters. This will give you enough space to include your target keyword while still keeping your title readable. In the past, shorter title tags were often better.
While there’s no perfect length for a title tag, in 2023 it’s best to aim for 50-60 characters. This will give you enough space to include your target keyword while still keeping your title readable.
Other SEOs say that it is okay to have title tags up to 70 characters long.
There is concern that having your title truncated or rewritten by Google can negatively affect organic performance.
Let’s Take A Look At a Few Examples of Title Tag Cut Off in SERPs
Google has been measuring title tags by pixel length. If your title tag is long, it will show like this.
Title Tag Update
Google released an update last August 2021 on the title tag which enables Google to show a different title to users in SERPs from one available in HTML.
Reasons why title tags are re-written:
- If it is too long.
- If there is keyword stuffing.
- The title tag doesn’t reflect what’s in your content.
Google’s Official Statement About Title Tag Length
Google has provided some recommendations regarding title length. According to Google, the ideal length for a title is between 50-60 characters. This is because Google typically displays the first 50-60 characters of a title in its search results. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that your titles are concise and to the point, so that users can see what your content is about at a glance.
While there is no hard and fast rule about title length, it’s generally advisable to err on the side of shorter rather than longer titles. Not only will this help ensure that your titles are visible in Google’s search results, but it will also help make them more clickable. After all, users are more likely to click on a title that is concise and easy to read than one that is long and drawn out.
When it comes to writing titles, remember to focus on quality over quantity. A well-written title that accurately reflects the content of your article is worth more than a dozen poorly written ones. So take the time to craft titles that are both informative and engaging, and you’ll be sure to see an uptick in traffic.
Google’s John Mueller asked Gary Illyes about the title tag length on the Search Off the Record episode
“I have a question that is, maybe, just a yes or no thing, Gary. Is there a value in having <i>title</i> tags that are longer than the displayable space and the sections of it?”
To which Illyes gave a very clear and precise answer, “Yes.”
He also added, “The <i>title</i> length, that’s an externally made-up metrics… Technically, there’s a limit, like how long can it be anything on the page, but it’s not a small number. It’s not 160 characters or whatever– 100, 200, 20, or whatever.”
He recommended to “Try to keep it precise to the page, but I would not think too much about how long it is and whether it’s long enough or way too long. If it fills up your screen, then probably it’s too long, but if it’s just one sentence that fits on one line or two lines, you’re not going to get a manual action for it.”
Would longer titles impact rankings?
There is no definitive answer to this question since there is no specific length that is known to directly impact rankings. However, it is generally accepted that longer titles may give your content a slight boost in terms of SEO. This is because longer titles tend to be more descriptive and keyword-rich, which can help your content rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
In addition, longer titles can also help you stand out from the competition. With so many websites competing for attention online, anything you can do to make your site more visible and user-friendly can be beneficial. So, if you’re considering lengthening your titles, it’s definitely worth giving it a try!
Mueller said in Google’s SEO Office Hours from Dec. 11, 2020.
Whether your titles get cut off or rewritten in SERPs, Google still uses the HTML title tag for ranking considerations and not the titles shown in SERPs.
Conclusion
There is no single answer to the question of how long your titles should be. However, by following the tips above, you can create titles that are both effective and user-friendly. Ultimately, the goal is to create titles that accurately reflect the content of your page and that will help your site rank higher in search engine results pages.
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Janice is an SEO specialist with several years of experience optimizing websites and building high-quality natural backlinks from websites with high domain authority. She also has experience with WordPress.
