Google Still Uses Original Page Titles For Search Rankings - Search Engine Journal

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Google’s John Mueller confirms a webpage’s original title will still be used for ranking purposes even when it’s replaced in SERPs.

This is stated during the Google Search Central SEO hangout recorded on September 3, 2021.

A question is asked regarding the recent page title update, which replaces titles for select pages with text Google considers more relevant.

A concerned SEO wants to know if the initial title will be used for rankings if it’s not shown in search results.

Here is Mueller’s response.

Google’s John Mueller on the Page Title Update

In response to being asked if original titles are relevant for rankings, Mueller confirms that’s currently the case though it could change in the future.

If your original title targets an important keyword, and that keyword isn’t featured in Google’s replacement, rest assured it’s still being used by Google’s search ranking algorithms.

“Yes. At least that’s the way it is at the moment. You never know how these things evolve over time, but at least at the moment it is the case that we continue to use what you have in your title tag, in your title element, as something that we can use for ranking.

It’s not like something that replaces everything for the website, but it is a factor that we use in there. Even if...

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