What is Meta Title?

Meta Title (also known as page title) is a fundamental concept in web development and search engine optimization (SEO). It is a textual title that appears in the HTML code of a page in the <title> tag and serves as the official title of the page. This headline is displayed in two key ways. Either in the top bar or tab of a web browser, or in search results (for example, on Google) as a clickable title of a link to the page. The Meta Title is therefore the first thing users and search engines see about a page.

What is Meta Title and where is it displayed? 

Meta Title is the text found in the HTML code of a page inside the <title> element. This text is not directly visible to the web visitor on the page itself, but it does appear in several important ways. In an open browser, it is displayed in the browser tab (panel) as a page label. This helps users navigate between multiple open windows or panels. More importantly, it is displayed in Search Results, for example Google displays it as a blue heading for each result. A user who enters a query into a search engine will see your Meta Title and use it to decide whether to click on the link. The Meta Title is thus literally your site's calling card in the search engine environment.

Importance of Meta Title for SEO

From a search engine optimization perspective, Meta Title is of great importance. Search engines use the content of the title as one of the main signals for understanding what the page is about and for matching results to user queries. A relevant and accurate title increases the chances of the page appearing in better positions. In addition to the impact on the actual ranking of the page by the algorithm, Meta Title has a big impact on the click-through rate (CTR). 

What should Meta Title look like?

There are a few best practices to follow when writing a Meta Title:

• Title length - It is recommended to keep the length roughly between 50 and 60 characters including spaces. Longer titles may be truncated in search results.
• Content and wording - The headline should clearly and specifically describe the content of the page. The user should already know from the headline what they will find on the page. Avoid generic or non-speaking headlines such as "Home Page" or "Article 1". Such titles are uninteresting and contain no information about the content. Instead, include keywords relevant to the content of the page in the headline. For example, if you are writing an article with a recipe for a cake, a better headline would be "Homemade Cake Recipe - Easy Step-by-Step Procedure" rather than simply "Recipe" or "Cake".
• Keywords and naturalness - The use of headline keywords is especially important for search engines, but always keep in mind that people are reading the headline in the first place. 
• Branding and other information - Often the name of the website or company is added to the end of the headline. This is usually separated by a hyphen or a vertical bar (for example, " | Site Name"). Be careful, however, that the branding section is not too long. You don't want it to drop important information about the content of the page. 

Comparing good and bad titles

Well-written 

An example of a well-written headline could be the following "How to start running - 5 tips for beginners | RunningBlog". This headline clearly reveals what the article is about, offers advice on how to start running and emphasises that it contains 5 practical tips for beginners. The use of a number and a specific promise makes the headline attractive and piques curiosity. It also includes the keyword running (or jogging) right at the beginning, which will help search engines match the page to queries about running. The site name is then included at the end of the headline, which builds credibility and brand awareness. 

Badly written

"Running, beginner, tips, how to run, running beginners". This headline is cluttered at first glance and comes across as an incoherent list of words. For the user, such a headline is not appealing because it is not obvious at first glance what exactly the site offers and lacks any added value or creativity. Google might even ignore such a headline. This example shows that keyword overcrowding at the expense of clarity is counterproductive. 

Recommendations for optimizing Meta Title

Based on the above information, here are some practical tips and recommended practices for creating an effective title:

• Maintain an optimal length - Roughly 50-60 characters.
• Include important keywords 
• Be concise and specific
• Write attractively for the reader
• Each page must have a unique headline
• Consider adding a brand/website name
• Avoid errors and redundancies

Conclusion

Meta Title is a seemingly small element of a web page, but its importance is crucial. A well-written title can tell search engines what the page is about and help it to rank better in the results. Equally, it can catch the attention of users and bring them to your website. That's why it pays to take the time and care to create Meta titles.

In summary, the Meta Title is the first information people will see about your site in search engines.

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