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
-
Filter By Category bad for seo?
Hello Everyone! I know that a single product should not have filter by color option since it will create duplicate content, and you have to use canonical tags to solve it. BUT how about sorting through products via category/brands?
On-Page Optimization | | Safxmed
Filter by category changes the URL of the General shop page (ex: hello.com/Shop/Category1022039 ). This page only displays the products within, no content/ descriptions etc unlike the original category page (ORIGINAL CATEGORY PAGE) Each of these category/brand already have their own individual pages (ex: hello.com/Shop/A). This is the page that will be optimized for content, FAQ, and ranking etc. Unlike in the url created when filtering through the categories. So technically I would have 2 URL for each Brand/Category. Would they compete with each other? What would you guys suggest. Please advise me on this. Thank You0 -
titles length, URL length and meta descriptions on a subdomain effecting SEO on main domain?
Hi all, I am currently evaluating areas for optimization on my main domain. When doing this, Moz has identified multiple titles and urls that should be shortened and missing meta descriptions on my subdomain (a help center of sorts). As far as I am aware, we have not set up any "no-index" rules for this subdomain. Are these items affecting SEO on my main domain? Thanks,
On-Page Optimization | | annegretwidmer
Kasey0 -
Page Title versus H1 title
What's the difference between the Page Title and the H1 title? It seems like both summarize the page. Is it a wasted opportunity to make them the same? Should they be similar but slightly different?
On-Page Optimization | | amybethmegjo1 -
Less Tags better for SEO?
I am currently reviewing my strategy when it comes to categories and tags on my site. Having been no-indexed for some time, and having many tags with just one entry I am thinking that this is not optimal for SEO purposes. This is what I am planning: Categories - Change these to Index, but only after adding a hundred words or so by way of introduction (see this example - https://www.besthostnews.com/news/hosting/a-small-orange-news/). With the categories I am thinking of highlighting key articles as well to improve link juice distribution to older articles that are important. Tags - About half my tags have only 1 entry, with a few more just having 2 entries. I am thinking of deleting all tags with just one entry, and trying to merge those with just two or 3 entries where it makes sense to do so. I will keep these as no-index, but I think this will mean more optimal distribution of link juice within the site. I would appreciate your thoughts \ suggestions on the best practices here.
On-Page Optimization | | TheWebMastercom0 -
Choosing a title tag in seo (H1 or H2 or H3)
I look many times on google that what is the best tag to set in title for seo, H1 or H2 or H3 In many forums and sites they are asking that you need to put only H2 tag in title and someone ask to put H1 in title and i am confused, Some body tell me the correct tag for seo in google, or any other search engine.
On-Page Optimization | | seom20140 -
Any SEO effect(s) / impact of Meta No Cache?
Hi SEOMoz Guys, Hope you guys are doing well. I've been searching online and bumped into this archived page (http://www.seomoz.org/qa/view/34982/meta-nocache-affect-ranking). I would like to get an updated take on this issue whether or not the meta no cache code on a page bears negative/positive or no SEO impact / effect. <meta http-equiv="Pragma" content="no-cache" /> <meta http-equiv="Cache-Control" content="no-cache"/> Thanks! Steve
On-Page Optimization | | sjcbayona-412182