Google Adds Open Graph Title to Search Result Sources

Hey there! Let’s talk about something pretty cool that Google just did. They’ve added a new way to figure out what to show as the title in search results. It’s called the og:title tag, and it’s part of this thing called Open Graph.

Screenshot from: developers.google.com/search/updates, August 2024.

What’s the Big Deal?

So, Google uses a bunch of different stuff on your webpage to come up with those clickable headlines you see in search results. Now they’ve added og:title to that list. It’s like giving Google another clue about what your page is really about.

Here’s what Google looks at now:

1. The regular title tag
2. The main title you can see on the page
3. Headings (like H1)
4. The new og:title tag
5. Other big, noticeable text
6. Other stuff on the page
7. Text in links to the page
8. Structured data (that’s special code that tells search engines extra info)

Why Should You Care?

If you’re running a website, this means you might want to pay attention to your og:title tags. They’re not just for Facebook anymore! Make sure they describe your content well and sound interesting to people searching.

What Should You Do?

Don’t worry, you don’t have to change everything. Google still says the best way to go is:

• Make unique titles for each page
• Don’t stuff them full of keywords
• Make sure they match what’s actually on the page

Just remember, if you do make changes, it might take a little while for Google to notice and use them in search results.

Fun Fact: Did you know that about 93% of online experiences start with a search engine? That’s why getting your titles right is so important!

So there you have it! Google’s giving us one more tool to help our pages shine in search results. Pretty neat, huh?