Google has been known to change its search engine algorithms often, in an effort to provide the best user experience possible. Recently, they made a change that impacts how websites are displayed in mobile search results. Now, instead of showing the title tag of a website, Google is only displaying the site name. This new feature does not apply to subdomains, so you will still see the title tag for pages on those sites.
Some website owners may be wondering how this change will affect their search rankings and traffic. It’s important to note that while the title tag is still a ranking factor, it’s not the only one. Google looks at many different elements, including site performance and user engagement, to determine the relevance of a webpage for a certain search query. So even without the title tag being shown in mobile search results, it’s still important for website owners to focus on creating compelling and relevant content.
Why Is Google Using Site Names?
Some believe that this change is meant to simplify search results and make them more user-friendly. When searching for a website, seeing its name in the result can make it easier for users to identify and navigate to the right page. It also allows for more space within the search result, potentially leading to more clicks on other sites listed.
What Does This Mean For Your Website?
If your website has a unique and descriptive title tag for its homepage, it may be disappointing to see that not displayed in mobile search results. However, there are steps you can take to ensure your site stands out in searches. Optimizing the website name listed on your Google Search Console can help, as well as create an enticing meta description for your homepage.
Structured Data for New Site Names Feature
Google has also added a new structured data feature called “corporate contacts”, which allows websites to provide their official name and contact information. This can help search engines better understand and display your website, potentially increasing its visibility in search results.
What if a Site Has an Alternate Name?
If a website has an alternate name that is commonly used or recognized, it can use the ‘alternate name’ property within its structured data to indicate this. This can potentially help with search visibility as well. It’s also important to make sure your website’s official name is consistent across all platforms, including social media and business listings.
As with any Google update, it’s important to monitor how this change affects your website’s search presence and make necessary adjustments to your SEO strategy. But overall, the new site name feature can potentially improve user experience and make it easier for searchers to find and navigate to your homepage.
Google Site Names vs Title Tags: Which Is More Important?
It’s important to have both an optimized title tag and site name, as they serve different purposes. The title tag helps search engines understand the content of a page, while the site name is used to identify and navigate to the website as a whole. Both are important factors in improving search visibility and driving traffic to your site.
As Google continues to make updates and changes to its search algorithms, it’s important to keep an eye on how these affect your website and make necessary adjustments to your SEO strategy. Ultimately, having both a well-optimized title tag and site name can help improve your search presence and drive traffic to your homepage.
