Google Search has made an update to its search documentation, giving it the ability to use the OG title meta data for title links in search results. This means that there is now a ninth source from which Google may pull the title link for your website.
But what exactly does this mean? Let’s break it down.
The title link in Google Search is the clickable title that appears in the search result snippet. It is what catches the user’s attention and entices them to click on your page. Google typically uses the title element in your HTML as the source for the title link. However, it has other sources it can pull from as well.
The list of title link sources includes content in
elements, content in og:title meta tags, other large and prominent content styled differently, other text on the page, anchor text on the page, text within links pointing to the page, and Website structured data.- Advertisement -
What’s new is that Google now has the option to use the content in og:title meta tags as a source for the title link. An og:title is the title of your object as it should appear within the open graph. Social media platforms often use it to determine the title for URLs shared on their platform.
This update gives website owners another opportunity to influence the title link that appears in Google Search results. While Google is most likely to use the title element in your HTML, it may choose to use another source instead. It’s worth noting that many sites synchronize the title HTML element with their OG:title, but this is not always the case.
So why should we care about this update? Well, having control over the title link that appears in search results can greatly impact click-through rates and overall visibility. By optimizing your OG:title and ensuring it accurately reflects the content of your page, you can increase the chances of attracting users to click on your website.
It’s important to stay on top of these updates and understand how they may affect your website’s search performance. Google is constantly evolving its algorithms and features, and being aware of these changes can give you a competitive edge.
In conclusion, Google Search now has the ability to utilize the OG title meta data for title links in search results. This is an additional source that Google may use to determine the title link for your website. Optimizing your OG:title can help improve click-through rates and increase visibility in search results. Stay informed about these updates to ensure your website remains competitive in the ever-changing world of search.