The phrase “website title” can mean several different things.
It might refer to the name of your whole website, the title of an individual page, the text shown in a browser tab or the clickable title Google displays in search results.
These titles are related, but they are not interchangeable.
Understanding the difference is useful when managing a WordPress website because changing the wrong title can affect more than you intended.
This guide explains the main types of website title, where they appear and how they work in WordPress.
What Is a Website Title?
There is no single technical element officially called a “website title”.
People commonly use the phrase to describe one of several things:
| Term | What it identifies | Where you might see it |
|---|---|---|
| Site Title | The entire website | Website header, WordPress settings and branding |
| Page or post title | One specific page or post | At the top of the content |
HTML <title> element |
The browser document title | Browser tab and page source |
| SEO title | The preferred title configured for search engines | SEO plugin settings and usually the <title> element |
| Google title link | The clickable title Google chooses for a search result | Google Search |
| Google site name | The name Google associates with the whole website | Above individual results in Google |
If you are trying to change a website title, the first step is working out which one you actually mean.
What Is the WordPress Site Title?
The Site Title is the name of your entire WordPress website.
For example, the Site Title for this website is Newt Labs.
In a traditional WordPress installation, you can find it under:
Settings > General > Site Title
Block themes may also let you edit the Site Title through the Site Editor.
The Site Title is a site-wide setting. Depending on your theme and plugins, it may be used in places such as:
- your website header
- title templates
- browser titles
- feeds
- structured data
- search engine information
Because it applies across the website, you should not change the Site Title simply because you want to rename one page or blog post.
That requires changing the individual page or post title instead.
WordPress documents the Site Title and other general site settings in its General Settings documentation.
What Is a Page or Post Title?
Every WordPress page and post has its own title.
This is the title you enter when editing the content in WordPress.
For example, a blog post might be called:
How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress
That title identifies one specific article rather than the website as a whole.
Most WordPress themes display the page or post title prominently near the top of the content. It is also commonly used as the main heading, although the exact HTML output depends on your theme or template.
A good page title should clearly tell visitors what that particular page is about.
This is separate from the WordPress Site Title.
What Is the HTML <title> Element?
Every normal HTML web page can have a <title> element inside the <head> section of the document.
It looks something like this:
<title>How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress</title>
This title is commonly used for the text shown in the browser tab.
Search engines can also use it when deciding how to label the page in search results.
Modern WordPress themes usually allow WordPress to generate the <title> element dynamically rather than hard-coding one into every page.
If you use an SEO plugin such as Yoast SEO, the plugin can influence what WordPress outputs there.
Is the <title> Element a Meta Tag?
No.
You will often hear people use terms such as “meta title”, but technically the HTML <title> element is not a meta tag.
A meta description, for example, uses a <meta> element.
The page title uses its own <title> element.
Using “SEO title” is usually clearer when talking about the title you configure through an SEO plugin.
What Is an SEO Title?
An SEO title is the title you want WordPress to output for search engines and other services that read the page’s <title> element.
SEO plugins such as Yoast SEO let you control this separately from the visible page title.
Yoast can generate SEO titles automatically from templates or let you enter a custom SEO title for an individual page or post.
For example, your visible page title might be:
WordPress Maintenance Services
while your SEO title could be:
WordPress Maintenance Services | Newt Labs
Both describe the same page, but the SEO title includes the brand name.
The SEO title is normally your preferred title for search engines, but it does not guarantee that Google will display exactly the same wording.
Page Title vs SEO Title: Should They Be the Same?
They often can be.
If your page title already describes the page clearly, there is usually no need to invent a substantially different SEO title.
Keeping them closely aligned can also make the page easier for visitors and search engines to understand.
There are situations where a small difference makes sense.
For example, an SEO title might:
- add your business name
- remove wording that is useful visually but unnecessary in search
- use a slightly shorter version of a long page heading
- follow a consistent site-wide title format
The important thing is that both titles accurately describe the same page.
Avoid using an SEO title that promises something different from the content visitors actually find.
What Does Google Show in Search Results?
Google calls the clickable heading for an individual result a title link.
The page’s <title> element is an important source for that title link, but it is not the only source Google can use.
Google may also consider information such as:
- the main visible title on the page
- heading elements such as an H1
- the
og:titlevalue - other prominent text on the page
- anchor text from links on the website
- text from links pointing to the page
- WebSite structured data
This means the title you enter in Yoast or another SEO plugin is a preference rather than an instruction Google must follow.
Google may generate a different title link if its systems believe another version better represents the page.
Google explains these signals in its title links documentation.
What Is the Site Name Above a Google Result?
The site name is different from the title link.
A Google result might effectively contain:
Newt Labs
How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress
In this example:
- Newt Labs is the site name
- How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress is the title link for the individual page
The site name identifies the website as a whole.
Google can use several signals when deciding which site name to show. Website owners can indicate their preferred name through WebSite structured data on the homepage.
WordPress SEO plugins can help generate this structured data.
Again, changing the title of one WordPress page is not the same as changing the site’s overall name.
Google documents how site names are selected in its site names guidance.
How to Write a Good Page and SEO Title
A useful title should describe the page accurately and help someone quickly understand what they will find.
Be Specific
Avoid vague titles when a more descriptive option is available.
For example:
Services
does not tell someone very much.
A title such as:
WordPress Maintenance Services
gives considerably more context.
Keep Each Important Page Distinct
Different pages should normally have different titles.
If several pages use the same or nearly identical title, it can become harder for visitors and search engines to distinguish between them.
Use Relevant Terms Naturally
Include the main subject of the page where it makes sense, but do not force keywords into the title repeatedly.
A title should still read naturally to a person.
Avoid Keyword Stuffing
Repeating variations of the same phrase does not make a title more useful.
For example:
WordPress Support, WordPress Help, WordPress Support Services, WordPress Help Services
is harder to read than a concise title that describes the page properly.
Keep Branding Concise
Adding a business or website name can be useful, particularly in SEO titles.
However, repeating a long slogan or large amount of boilerplate across every page can make titles unnecessarily cumbersome.
Do Not Rely on a Fixed Character Count
You may see recommendations telling you that every title must stay within a specific number of characters.
There is no universal character limit that guarantees how a Google title link will appear.
Google can truncate titles to fit the available display space, which can vary by device.
It is better to focus on making the important information clear and reasonably concise rather than treating a particular character count as a hard technical rule.
Why Might Google Change Your Title?
Google automatically creates title links.
Sometimes it will display wording that differs from the <title> element you supplied.
Reasons can include:
- the title is vague
- the title no longer matches the current page
- a date in the title is outdated
- several pages use repetitive boilerplate
- the title contains excessive keyword repetition
- the page has several equally prominent headings
- another prominent piece of text better describes the page
If Google changes a title unexpectedly, inspect the page as a whole rather than only changing the SEO title repeatedly.
Make sure the visible page heading, <title> element and main subject of the content all clearly agree with each other.
Where Do You Change Titles in WordPress?
The correct place depends on which title you want to change.
Change the Website’s Site Title
Go to:
Settings > General
Then edit the Site Title field.
If you are using a block theme, you may also be able to edit the Site Title through the Site Editor.
Remember that this affects the identity of the whole website.
Change a Page or Post Title
Edit the individual page or post in WordPress and change its main title.
This only changes that piece of content, although your theme or plugins may reuse the title elsewhere automatically.
Change the SEO Title
If you use Yoast SEO, edit the page or post and open its Search appearance settings.
You can then adjust the SEO title for that specific piece of content.
Yoast also provides templates for automatically generating titles across different content types.
The exact interface may change between plugin versions, but the underlying distinction remains the same.
Common Website Title Mistakes
A few common misunderstandings can lead to unintended changes.
Changing the Site Title Instead of a Page Title
The WordPress Site Title describes your entire website.
Do not change it simply because one page needs a new name.
Assuming the Page Title and SEO Title Must Always Match Exactly
They can match, and often do.
However, a small difference can be perfectly reasonable as long as both versions accurately describe the page.
Calling Every Title a Meta Title
“Meta title” is widely used informally, but the HTML page title is a <title> element rather than a <meta> element.
Using more precise terminology makes troubleshooting much easier.
Reusing the Same Title Everywhere
Each important page should have a title that identifies its own content.
Repeated titles make pages harder to distinguish.
Adding Keywords Repeatedly
A title should describe the content rather than become a list of keyword variations.
Adding Dates That Will Quickly Become Outdated
A year can be useful when the date genuinely matters.
Do not add one simply to make a title look current if the page will immediately appear outdated the following year.
Expecting Google to Use Your SEO Title Word for Word
You can influence Google’s title link, but you cannot force a particular result title to appear.
Google generates title links automatically from several page and website signals.
Website Title Checklist
Before publishing or updating a page, check that:
- the WordPress Site Title still correctly identifies the website
- the page or post has a clear individual title
- the main visible heading accurately reflects the content
- the SEO title describes the same page
- important pages have distinct titles
- wording is natural rather than stuffed with keywords
- branding is concise
- dates are only used when they are genuinely useful
- the title does not promise content the page does not provide
Keeping these elements aligned gives visitors, WordPress and search engines a much clearer understanding of each page.
Need Help With WordPress Title Settings?
If you are unsure which WordPress title or site setting needs changing, avoid experimenting with site-wide settings until you know what they control.
Newt Labs provides one-off WordPress support for individual technical jobs, fixes and configuration changes.
If a WordPress title, theme setting or plugin configuration is not behaving as expected, we can help identify the correct setting and make the required change without unnecessarily altering the rest of the website.
