Write a search title that matches the page.

Write the plain version first

Finish this sentence: “This page helps someone…” Then use the answer to draft a title. If your article walks through reviewing an AI summary, say that. “The future of knowledge is here” might sound bigger, but it tells a reader less about what they will find.

Keep the title, main heading and opening aligned. They can differ slightly in wording, but should describe the same subject. Google uses multiple sources to generate a title link, including page headings and title elements. Consistency makes the intended subject clearer; it does not guarantee the exact result shown.

A before-and-after example

Fictional original: “Unlock your writing potential with the ultimate AI secrets.” The page actually contains a checklist for checking a generated summary against its source. The title promises far more than the article delivers.

A closer title is “How to check an AI summary against its source”. A description could be: “Review claims, numbers and missing caveats with a short checklist and a worked example.” Both describe the material on the page. Neither needs to promise a ranking, a transformation or a secret.

Treat the description as a second chance to explain

Use the description to add information rather than repeat the headline word for word. Name the example, format or limit that will help someone choose. Write a distinct description for each page rather than pasting the same publication slogan everywhere.

Google may generate a snippet from the page instead of using the meta description. Displayed length varies. The character counters in our preview tool are drafting aids, not fixed limits or a pass/fail score. Read the preview, then check that the page delivers what it suggests.

Remove words that do no work

Read the title aloud. If several phrases mean the same thing, keep the most precise one. Put the subject early enough that someone can identify it in a short result. Add the publication name briefly, without listing every topic the site covers.

Avoid adding a year just to make an evergreen guide look current. Use one when the date actually defines the information, such as a version-specific walkthrough. Update dates when the article materially changes, and tell the reader what changed.

A final check

• Does the title identify one clear subject?
• Does the article answer the question it raises?
• Does the description add a useful detail?
• Are the title and description unique to this page?
• Have you removed inflated claims and repeated keywords?
• Does the actual page look right on a small screen too?

Use this next

• Try the search snippet preview
• Use the editing checklist