SEO skill
Title tags: a step-by-step method and prompt
Write unique, descriptive title tags near 60 characters with the main keyword first and a reason to click.
Updated · 2 min read
A title tag is the HTML title of a page, shown as the clickable headline in search results and browser tabs. Write a unique title for each page, put the primary keyword near the start, keep it around 50 to 60 characters, and give searchers a reason to click. Then check Search Console to see if clicks improve.
What it is
The title tag lives in the page head: <title>Your title here</title>. Search engines use it, along with other signals, to build the title link in results. Google describes how it does this in its guide to title links.
A title tag has two jobs:
- Tell search engines what the page covers. Clear keywords help match the page to queries.
- Earn the click. Searchers compare titles in a list. The most relevant and specific one wins.
Common title patterns:
| Page type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Blog post | Keyword: specific benefit | UTM naming conventions: a simple system for teams |
| Product page | Product: what it does for whom | Ledgerly: invoicing for freelance designers |
| Category page | Keyword for audience | Free SEO tools for small businesses |
| Tool page | Free [tool]: what it outputs | Free robots.txt generator with presets |
| Homepage | Brand: core value proposition | Brand: one-line promise |
When to use it
- Publishing any new page
- A page ranks on page one but gets a low click-through rate
- A site audit flags duplicate, missing or long titles
- Google keeps rewriting your title in results
- You changed a page's focus or keyword
Step-by-step method
- Confirm the primary keyword. Check which query the page targets and which queries it already gets impressions for in Search Console.
- Check the results. Search the keyword and read the top titles. Note common words and formats, and look for an angle they miss.
- Draft three to five options. Lead with the keyword or a close variant. Add a specific qualifier: audience, year if truly relevant, format, or outcome.
- Fit the length. Keep each option near 50 to 60 characters. Put the brand at the end only if space allows, separated by a pipe or hyphen.
- Make it unique. Make sure no other page on your site uses the same or a near-identical title.
- Match the page. The title must describe what the page actually delivers. Mismatches lead to rewrites and quick exits.
- Publish and measure. Note the date. After four to six weeks, compare CTR and position in Search Console against the previous period.
Ready-to-use prompt
You are an SEO specialist writing title tags. Page URL: [URL] Page type: [BLOG / PRODUCT / CATEGORY / TOOL / HOMEPAGE] Primary keyword: [KEYWORD] Other queries the page gets impressions for: [QUERIES] Competing titles in the top results: [PASTE_TITLES] What the page delivers (one sentence): [SUMMARY] Brand name: [BRAND] Tasks: 1. Write 5 title tag options, each between 45 and 60 characters. 2. Put the primary keyword or a close variant in the first half of each. 3. Give each a different angle: benefit, audience, format, outcome, comparison. 4. Show the character count beside each option. 5. Recommend one and explain why it beats the competing titles. Rules: no keyword stuffing, no all caps, no clickbait, no em dashes, must match what the page delivers.
Checklist
- One unique title per page
- Primary keyword in the first half
- About 50 to 60 characters
- Specific qualifier that sets it apart
- Matches the page content and H1 topic
- Brand added only if space allows
- No keyword stuffing or repetition
- CTR checked in Search Console after a few weeks
How Thig automates it
The SEO agent flags missing, duplicate and overlong titles in its audit, and the Coding agent can ship the fixes as a GitHub pull request you review. Check any page with the Meta Tag Checker, and write descriptions with the meta descriptions skill.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a title tag be?
Google does not set a strict limit, but titles longer than roughly 60 characters are often cut off in results. Aim for about 50 to 60 characters and put key words first.
Why does Google show a different title than mine?
Google may rewrite titles that are too long, stuffed with keywords, or do not match the page. Its Search Central guide on title links explains the common causes.
Should the title tag match the H1?
They should describe the same topic, but they do not need to be identical. The title tag can be shorter and include the brand, while the H1 can be more conversational.