What Is a Title Tag?
The title tag is an HTML element in the <head> section of your page. It defines the title that appears in:
- Google search results (the blue clickable headline)
- Browser tabs
- Social media previews when the page is shared
The title tag is not visible on the page itself — users only see it in search results and browser tabs. It is written like this in HTML:
<title>How to Write Meta Tags That Rank — SearchRankTool</title>What Is an H1 Tag?
The H1 tag is the main visible heading on your page. It is what users see at the top of your content when they land on the page. Every page should have exactly one H1 tag.
<h1>How to Write Meta Tags That Actually Rank in Google</h1>Key Differences
| Title Tag | H1 Tag |
|---|---|
| Appears in search results | Appears on the page |
| 50–60 characters ideal | Can be longer |
| Critical for CTR in search | Critical for on-page UX |
| Often includes brand name | Usually no brand name |
| In <head> section | In <body> section |
Should They Be the Same or Different?
They can be the same, but they do not have to be — and often it is better if they are slightly different. The title tag is optimised for search click-through rate (concise, keyword-forward, with brand name). The H1 is optimised for users already on the page (can be longer, more descriptive, more engaging).
For example:
- Title tag: "Keyword Density Checker — Free Tool | SearchRankTool"
- H1: "Free Keyword Density Checker — Analyse Any Text Instantly"
Both contain the primary keyword, but the title is formatted for search results while the H1 speaks directly to the user on the page.
What Google Does With Each
Google uses the title tag as the default headline for your search result snippet — though it sometimes rewrites it if it considers your title too short, too long or keyword-stuffed. Google uses the H1 to understand what the page is primarily about as part of on-page relevance scoring.
Note: Google sometimes uses the H1 as the search result headline instead of the title tag if it finds the H1 more descriptive. This is another reason to keep both well-optimised.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using multiple H1 tags on one page — use only one H1
- Title tag over 60 characters — gets truncated in search results
- Missing title tag — Google will generate one from your content, usually poorly
- H1 that does not relate to the page topic — confuses both users and Google
- Keyword-stuffed title tags — triggers Google rewrites and looks spammy
Use our free SERP Preview Tool to see exactly how your title tag will appear in Google search results before publishing, and our Meta Tag Generator to create properly formatted title tags for every page.