What are the rules for <title> tags?

title-tag-violation page

The issue

The <title> is the headline of the page’s search result and the name on its browser tab. A missing title leaves both blank or filled with the URL. One that is too long is cut off; one too short or too generic doesn’t say why this page, and search engines rewrite titles they find unhelpful.

The cause is usually the template: a missing title element, a title built from too little, or one that copies the <h1> word for word.

Scope

Each page needs its own title. Probeo reads the first <title> element in the page’s HTML and compares it with the page’s first <h1>.

How to check you have it

In probeo: the page reports Missing <title>, Title too short (<30 characters: N), Title too long (>60 characters: N), or Title and primary <h1> are identical; consider differentiating them slightly.
By hand: view the page source and read the <title> in <head>. Ask whether it would tell a searcher what this page is, among the other results.
With a tool: search site: plus the page’s URL in Google to see the title it shows, which may be a rewrite of yours.

The fix

Give each page one <title> of 30 to 60 characters that names what the page is, with the distinctive words first.

Build it from page-specific content, and add the brand at the end if you use one, as in Page topic | Brand. Word it for the search result rather than repeating the <h1>: the two can name the same topic in different words.

Done when: every page has one distinct, descriptive title within that range, and the check above comes back clean.

Do not

Do not use the same title on multiple pages.
Do not use generic text such as “Home” or “Page”.
Do not include more than one <title> element.
Do not stuff the title with keywords or repeated phrases.

FAQ

What is the optimal character length for title tags?

Search engines don’t publish a character limit; long titles are cut off by display width. Probeo flags titles under 30 and over 60 characters, a range that keeps titles informative and usually whole. Put the important words first in case they are cut.

Should the brand or site name appear in every title?

It can, at the end, after the page-specific part. A well-known brand earns its place; otherwise the page’s own topic matters more in the space available.

Can search engines change or ignore the provided title?

Yes. Google documents that it may generate a different title link when the title is missing, too long, boilerplate or stuffed with keywords. A clear, specific title is the best way to keep yours.

How does the title element differ from the h1 heading?

The title names the page outside it: search results, tabs, bookmarks. The <h1> names it for someone already reading. They describe the same topic, but probeo warns when they are identical, since each works better worded for its own place.

What prevents titles from becoming outdated as content changes?

Nothing automatic. When a page changes substantially, its title should be reviewed with it. Titles generated from page fields stay current with those fields.

Should pagination or filter states be reflected in the title?

Yes, where they have their own URL. “Shoes, page 2” tells a searcher and a browser history something “Shoes” doesn’t.

Which product detects this

Probeo checks this on every page of your site as part of Site Clarity. This page explains one instance; the product tells you every page that has it.