To change the title of your website as it appears in Google search results for a WordPress site, you primarily use an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or adjust the site title in WordPress General Settings.
Understanding Website Titles in WordPress and Google
When we talk about your "website title" in Google search, we're usually referring to the SEO Title or Meta Title. This is the clickable headline that appears for your website in search engine results pages (SERPs). It's distinct from your internal WordPress "Site Title," though they often start the same.
- WordPress Site Title: This is set in your WordPress General Settings and is the foundational name for your website. It often appears in your browser tab and is used by themes.
- SEO Title (Meta Title): This is what you specifically optimize for search engines. It's usually set using an SEO plugin and is the most direct way to influence how your title appears in Google.
While you control the SEO title, Google ultimately decides what to display based on the user's search query, relevance, and other factors. However, providing a well-optimized SEO title is crucial for guiding Google.
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Website Title for Google Search
The most effective way to change your website's title for Google search results is by using a dedicated SEO plugin.
Method 1: Using an SEO Plugin (Recommended)
SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, Rank Math, or All in One SEO Pack allow you to precisely control the meta title for your entire site and individual pages/posts.
For Yoast SEO Users
Yoast SEO is one of the most popular choices for WordPress SEO. To change your website's primary name that Yoast SEO communicates to search engines:
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Navigate to Yoast SEO > Settings from the left-hand menu.
- Click on the General tab.
- Select the Site Basics section.
- Locate the "Website name" field. This is where you can change the site name that Yoast SEO uses, which is then used in your homepage's title tag and often displayed in search results.
- Enter your desired website title.
- Click the Save changes button.
For Other Popular SEO Plugins (e.g., Rank Math, All in One SEO Pack)
While the exact path may vary, the general principle remains the same:
- Install and activate your chosen SEO plugin.
- Access the plugin's general settings (often found under its main menu item in the WordPress dashboard).
- Look for options related to "Global Title," "Homepage Title," "Site Title," or "SEO Title." Here, you can define your website's main title for search engines.
- Save your changes.
Method 2: WordPress General Settings (Primary Site Name)
This method sets your default site title for WordPress itself. While important, an SEO plugin often overrides this for search engine purposes.
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Go to Settings > General.
- Locate the "Site Title" field.
- Enter your desired new title.
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
Changing Individual Page/Post Titles
For specific pages or blog posts, you'll need to edit their individual SEO titles:
- Edit the specific page or post in your WordPress dashboard.
- Scroll down to the SEO plugin's metabox (e.g., Yoast SEO, Rank Math).
- Find the "SEO title" or "Title" field.
- Enter your optimized title for that specific piece of content.
- Update the page or post.
Why Google Might Display a Different Title
Even after you set your preferred SEO title, Google might sometimes display a different one. This usually happens because:
- Query Relevance: Google may choose a title more relevant to a user's specific search query, drawing text from your page content.
- Outdated Cache: Google's index might not have caught up with your latest changes yet.
- Title Too Long: If your title exceeds pixel limits (roughly 50-60 characters for desktop), Google may truncate it or rewrite it.
- Duplicate Titles: If many pages have similar titles, Google might adjust them to make them more distinct.
- Missing Keywords: If your title doesn't accurately reflect the page's content or relevant keywords, Google might pick a more descriptive alternative.
Best Practices for Optimizing Your Website Titles
Crafting effective SEO titles is crucial for attracting clicks from search results.
| Aspect | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Keywords | Include primary keywords that users would search for. | Best Organic Coffee Beans - [Your Brand] |
| Length | Aim for 50-60 characters (approx. 512 pixels) to avoid truncation. | Healthy Smoothie Recipes for Weight Loss - [Your Site] |
| Clarity | Make it easy to understand what the page is about at a glance. | *How to Grow Tomatoes Indoors |
| Uniqueness | Ensure each page/post has a distinct title to help Google differentiate your content. | Avoid: Home, About Us, Contact (too generic) |
| Branding | Consider adding your brand name at the end, especially for your homepage or high-value pages. | *Premium Web Design Services |
| Actionable | Use power words or numbers to entice clicks (e.g., "Guide," "Best," "Tips," "2023"). | 10 Easy Ways to Save Money on Groceries |
After Making Changes: Requesting Re-indexing
After changing your website's title, it might take some time for Google to re-crawl and update its index. To speed up the process:
- Verify your website in Google Search Console.
- Go to the "URL Inspection" tool.
- Enter the URL of your homepage (or the specific page you updated).
- Click "Request Indexing." This prompts Google to re-crawl your page sooner.
