Moz Q&A is closed.
After more than 13 years, and tens of thousands of questions, Moz Q&A closed on 12th December 2024. Whilst we’re not completely removing the content - many posts will still be possible to view - we have locked both new posts and new replies. More details here.
When Google rewrites a title tag, do you get the SEO impact for the original version?
-
Let's say you're writing a homepage title tag like this:
KEYWORD | BRAND
and Google rewrites it as
BRAND | KEYWORD
From Moz and best practices, we believe that keywords closer to the beginning of a title tag may have more impact on search rankings. So, when Google rewrites the title tag, do you get the impact you would have made with the keyword being closer to the front? Or, does Google give you the impact you would have received with the keyword being at the end?
-
When Google rewrites a title tag, the impact on search rankings is difficult to predict with certainty. However, it's generally recommended to place the most important keywords closer to the beginning of the title tag, as this is often seen as a stronger signal to Google about the content of the page.
If Google decides to rewrite the title tag and places the brand name first, it's possible that the SEO impact of the original version may be reduced. However, it's also possible that the rewritten title tag may actually improve the page's search visibility by making it more relevant to certain search queries.
Ultimately, it's important to remember that Google's algorithms are constantly changing, and there's no guaranteed way to predict the exact impact of any particular change. However, by following best practices for title tag optimization, such as placing important keywords closer to the beginning of the tag, you can help ensure that your page is well-optimized and likely to perform well in search results.
-
No, you do not get the SEO impact for the original version when Google rewrites the title tag. The rewritten version is the one that will be used for SEO purposes.
-
If Google is rewriting the Page Title (not the title tag), it is directly in relation to the content of the webpage.
The reason why the page title has been changed is because Google either feels that the content is not relevant or doesn't justify the webpage content OR Google is prioritizing brand name so that it is easier for the user to recognize the brand in SERPs.
You must focus on the on-page content rather than just the position of the keywords in the title tag.
Relevant content on the webpage and good user experience will be rewarded over keyword positioning in the page title.
The position of the keyword won't matter that much as there are way more ranking signals that Google considers before ranking a webpage today.
To summarize, the SEO impact will be negligible irrespective of the position of the keyword in the page title.
Bonus Tip: You can utilize the H1 Tag to optimize keyword positioning in this case.
-
@Tomalaweb said in When Google rewrites a title tag, do you get the SEO impact for the original version?:
When Google rewrites a title tag, it's possible that you may not get the full SEO impact of the original version.
Google may rewrite a title tag for a variety of reasons, such as to better reflect the content of the page or to make it more user-friendly. However, if the new title tag is significantly different from the original, it could potentially impact the search engine optimization (SEO) of the page.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Title tags are an important on-page SEO element that can impact rankings. If Google changes the title tag, it may affect how the page is perceived by search engines.
Google's algorithms are designed to show the most relevant and useful content to users. If Google feels that a new title tag better reflects the content of the page, it may prioritize it in search results over the original.
However, if the new title tag is less relevant or optimized for the target keywords, it could potentially hurt the SEO of the page. In this case, it may be worth updating the title tag to a version that is more effective.
In summary, while Google may rewrite a title tag to improve the user experience, it's important to monitor the impact on SEO and make changes if necessary.
-
When Google rewrites a title tag, it's possible that you may not get the full SEO impact of the original version.
Google may rewrite a title tag for a variety of reasons, such as to better reflect the content of the page or to make it more user-friendly. However, if the new title tag is significantly different from the original, it could potentially impact the search engine optimization (SEO) of the page.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Title tags are an important on-page SEO element that can impact rankings. If Google changes the title tag, it may affect how the page is perceived by search engines.
Google's algorithms are designed to show the most relevant and useful content to users. If Google feels that a new title tag better reflects the content of the page, it may prioritize it in search results over the original.
However, if the new title tag is less relevant or optimized for the target keywords, it could potentially hurt the SEO of the page. In this case, it may be worth updating the title tag to a version that is more effective.
In summary, while Google may rewrite a title tag to improve the user experience, it's important to monitor the impact on SEO and make changes if necessary.
-
@Kateparish Thanks for your response! I'm trying to determine whether Google gives you "credit" for having keywords earlier in the title tag when Google rewrites that title tag.
A similar question might be, "Does Google give you 'credit' for using a specific keyword in the title tag if Google rewrites that title tag without the specific keyword?"
Are you saying that you believe Google gives weight to the rewritten version of the title tag?
-
When Google rewrites a title tag, it does so to match the content on the page as closely as possible to the search query. As a result, the rewritten title tag may contain different keywords than the original version and may be more suited to the search query. This can have an impact on the page’s search rankings, as it make the page more relevant to the search query.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Unsolved What are the best SEO plugins for WordPress?
Before embarking on a programming language learning journey, the first thing to think of is your motivation.
Local Website Optimization | | Kate_balls0 -
Solved Recommended title length for Google search results
I read the recommended title length is 50-60 characters depending on alphabets, etc,.
On-Page Optimization | | Mike555
Anyways, my question is, is there any harm of having longer title?
If all my important keywords are within the 50-60 characters that will show up on search results, I can still make the title longer, it's just that those keywords outside won't have any effect on search results?0 -
Is it OK to shorten your brand name in your title tags
If your title tag is over 55 characters, is it generally OK or good practice to abbreviate your brand name (at the end of the title tag) for the sake of the other keywords in the tag?
On-Page Optimization | | AliMac261 -
My target keyword is "moringa powder" but my product title is "moringa ultimate original powder". Is this a problem?
The focus keyword is "moringa powder". The product title and default H1 tag is "moringa ultimate original powder". The url also has "moringa ultimate original powder". Yoast is saying the keyword does not appear in the url or any subheadings. So should I change the product title and url to Original Ultimate moringa powder or is having them separated ok? https://greenvirginproducts.com/product/moringa/150-gram-moringa-ultimate-original-powder/ Thanks
On-Page Optimization | | Jeremy-Marion0 -
How does Google treat Dynamic Titles?
Let's say my website can be accessed in only 3 states Colorado, Arizona and Ohio. I want to display different information to each visitor based on where they are located. For this I would also like the title to change based on their location. Not quite sure how Google we treat the title and rank the site.... Any resources you can provide would be helpful. Thanks
On-Page Optimization | | Firestarter-SEO0 -
Does Title Tag have to be in the HEAD tag?
We are using templates that load the same header for every page. I'd like to just include a different title tag in the "body" template of each page. If I was to do this, does it affect SEO at all?
On-Page Optimization | | moziodavid0 -
Title tag for category page
I'd like to know your views on the best approach for title tags for category pages for ecommerce sites. 3 examples A) Category name | Free delivery on $50 purchase | Brand name B) Discover best "category name" on brand name C) Category Name | 1st Keyword, 2nd keyword | Brand name Thanks!
On-Page Optimization | | walidalsaqqaf0