60 Characters. That's All You Get.
Your meta title is your headline in the search results.
It's the first thing millions of potential readers see.
And most people treat it like an afterthought.
"Blog Post Title | Company Name"
Groundbreaking. rolls eyes
What a Great Meta Title Does
It includes the primary keyword (near the front). It communicates clear value. It creates enough curiosity to earn the click. It differentiates you from the 9 other results on the page. Google's documentation on title links explains exactly how they use your title tag.
All in 60 characters or less.
Meta Title Formulas That Work
The How-To: "How to [Desired Outcome] in [Timeframe]"
The Number: "[Number] [Adjective] [Topic] Tips for [Year]"
The Negative: "[Number] [Topic] Mistakes Killing Your [Metric]"
The Bracket Hack: "Title Here [Free Template]" or "Title Here (2026 Guide)"
Studies show brackets and parentheses boost click-through rates by 38%.
Common Mistakes
Too long. Google truncates after ~60 characters. Don't lose your key message.
Missing keyword. Your primary keyword needs to be in there.
Boring. If it sounds like a textbook chapter title, rewrite it.
Duplicate. Every page needs a unique meta title. No exceptions. Pair your title with a strong meta description and solid headlines for maximum click-through impact.
Check every meta title with SEO Checkup. 113 tasks. 4 checklists. Free. 30 seconds. No credit card.
Small tag. Big impact.