Do you know what an SEO title is in WordPress? If you don’t, you’re missing out on a big part of SEO.
The simplest way to explain what it is is to think of it as a digital storefront sign. It’s the first thing Google notices about your page, and the same goes for potential customers. If it’s confusing or bland, nobody will be interested in it, even if your product or service is exactly what they’re looking for.
The same will happen with search results. You could spend days creating top-notch content, but if the title that shows up on Google isn’t grabby, you’ll get zero clicks.
Zero clicks translates into zero traffic, and without traffic, does it even matter if your content is high-quality or trash?
Nobody sees it anyway.
What Is an SEO Title in WordPress and Why Does It Matter
An SEO title in WordPress is the <title> element of a website page; it’s commonly referred to as ‘Meta Title’. Google (and other search engines) use it to generate the clickable title link on the search engine results page (SERP).
It’s important to differentiate it from the title you see at the top of your post or page because these aren’t the same thing. The title of your post or page is written for people who have already clicked on your site. The SEO title, on the other hand (also called the title tag), is written for search engines and people who are still deciding whether to click on the page or not.
For those reasons, SEO titles are one of the more powerful tools for getting your website noticed. Search engines (e.g., Google) look at the words in them to see what your page is about. If you include the right keywords in a natural way, your site has a better shot at ranking higher.
At the same time, potential customers also scan titles before they decide what to click on, which means that an SEO title is how you make the first impression.
A strong first impression is more likely to get you clicks, which will eventually translate into higher rankings. It’s also a good practice to include the name of your brand at the end of the title so you’re easier to recognize. While good titles definitely have a positive impact on CTR, Google hasn’t confirmed CTR as a ranking factor; indirectly, it helps.
So, for example, instead of writing “10 Pasta recipes You Can Make Right Now,” you can write “Easy Pasta Recipes | YourFoodBlog.” (You can also use an en dash ‘–’ as an alternative separator.) Get it?
All of this can feel overwhelming for beginners, or even for businesses that require visitors, hot leads, and/or a boosted online presence. That’s why it’s best to outsource your SEO.
It’s a good idea to look for a reputable agency that offers personalized SEO services for higher rankings. Working with pros will save you a lot of time and even money in the long run. Just imagine having to hire a whole in-house dedicated team to do all of this for you.
How to Optimize Your SEO Title in WordPress
Now you know the theory, so let’s see how this works in practice.
Use Target Keywords (No Stuffing)
You need to have a main keyword, and that needs to show up close to the start of your title. This is where Google and potential visitors notice it first. Please don’t go wild with keyword stuffing, because inserting the same word over and over will make the title look fake, unnatural, uncontextual, clunky — none of which looks ‘good’ in the eyes of search engines. It’s best to keep it simple and easy to read.
Optimal Length
You’ve probably already noticed that Google only shows a certain number of characters in search results. More precisely, Google truncates by pixel width (≈600 px). As a rule of thumb, aim for 50-60 characters, which typically fits.
If your title is longer than that, it’ll get cut off, which looks unprofessional.
Imagine trying to write something like “Best Hiking Boots for Winter Adventures in the Mountains of Colorado.” This is way too long and users won’t see it in full; make sure to trim your title if you need to. Shorter is stronger and more clickable — make sure it’s descriptive.
Writing? Humans First, Search Engines Second
Google won’t buy your product, so it shouldn’t be your priority when it comes to writing. Sure, it might be the one that decides your rankings, but it’s the people who decide whether to click or not.
That’s why your title needs to sound like something an actual person would want to read, instead of being fully robotic. As important as keywords are, a flat title won’t do you any favors.
You can add words such as “guide,” “tips,” “right now,” or even “2025” to make it feel more accurate/relevant (and useful, which is very important for UX).
Power Words!!!
Some words grab attention better than others (e.g., “Best”, “Ultimate”, etc.). This is because they add that ‘punch’ that makes people stop for a second, and want to click. Since they’re already there, they’re more likely to click.
Here’s a great example: The title “10 Cookie Recipes for Beginners” is okay, but “10 Best Cookie Recipes for Beginners” feels as if it offers something extra. You can even go overboard and capitalize the full word “10 BEST Cookie Recipes for Beginners”; now you DEFINITELY have something going on.
And if you have content that offers original research or expert advice, even if it’s about cookies, the title should hint at it.
If it’s not misleading users and it helps grab attention, use it!
Conclusion
Keep it clear and simple, like something a human would want to read, and you’ll do just fine.
And, as tempted as you get to stuff as many keywords as you can in a title, resist the temptation because that won’t do any good.
Even if all you do is make small tweaks to the titles, it can still make a big difference. Experiment and track your performance to see what works. And if you don’t think you can do it on your own, hire pros to do it for you.