What’s the Difference between the Squarespace Page Title, Navigation Title & SEO Title?
And why those titles shouldn’t look the same!
So, you’ve just clicked on the cog icon next to your web page name to open up the Squarespace page settings and now you’re confused.
Why are there three different kinds of titles and how the heck do you fill them in? Is there a difference between a Page Title, Navigation Title and an SEO Title?
The answer is yes, there is a difference between these types of titles and filling them in correctly can help your website visitors and your SEO.
What is a Squarespace Navigation Title?
Navigation titles could also be called navigation labels or navigation links. These are the link names that you see in your website header (or main navigation).
You have a small amount of space on the header, so you’ll want to keep the navigation titles short and simple. Use one to two words in this field. It’s also a good idea to use familiar terms like “about” or “contact” to make it quick and easy for users to find the page they want.
Squarespace navigation titles don’t show for pages in the Not Linked section, but it’s a good idea to fill in the field anyways. That way, if you move the page at a later date, it’s already in place.
What is a Squarespace Page Title?
The Squarespace page title is the headline that will display in your search engine results and social media shares. It tells search engines and your users what your page is about. So, it’s important to make it relevant and include your keywords.
Want to change the page description in your browser tab? That’s your page title too.
Page titles are not generally the same as your page heading (headline) or H1. In Squarespace 7.1 you can have a completely different heading and page title. It does show up on the page in some 7.0 templates. Also, your blog headline automatically becomes your page title.
What is a Squarespace SEO Title?
When you add in an SEO title, it overrules and replaces the page title in search engines. This optional title is most important to add on pages like your blogs where your H1 heading becomes your page title. This gives you the option of making sure you have a title that is optimized for search engines.
*Note: Nothing guarantees that Google or any other search engine will use your SEO title. They may decide that your title doesn’t describe your page properly and pick something else entirely.
How to Change your Squarespace Page Title and Navigation Title
When you add a new page a page title and navigation title are automatically added. They will either be named new page, or the name you added in the blank field in the menu.
It’s easy to change one or both of these names.
From the Home Menu click on Website
Hover over the page you want to edit
Click on the cog icon
In the Page Settings write your new Page Title or Navigation Title in the fields
Click Save
How to Change the Squarespace SEO Title?
The SEO title is optional so it’s not on the main page of the page settings like the page title and navigation title. It’s just one extra step to get there.
From the Home Menu click on Website
Hover over the page you want to edit
Click on the cog icon
In the Page Settings click on SEO
Write your new title in the SEO title field
Click Save
Tips to Optimize Your SEO Title for Search Engines
Ready to add in your SEO title? Here are a few tips to make it more appealing to the search engines and click-worthy to your potential visitors.
Describe Your Page
Writing a good and accurate description of your page content helps you in two ways. One, Google is more likely to use your title if it thinks the title accurately represents your page. This way you get to control the message. Two, if visitors go to your page and don’t see the information they’re expecting they are more likely to go back to search. So, your bounce rate will increase.
Write Unique Titles
Give your pages unique titles. Duplicate titles can cause confusion and your website pages can end up stealing search traffic from each other (cannibalization). Plus, Google hates duplicate content in general.
Use Your Keywords!
You don’t want to overstuff your title with keywords, but you do want to include terms that your users are searching. And it’s a good idea to use them at the beginning of your title. Google takes this to mean it’s more important (which it is).
Keep Your Title between 50-60 Characters
There aren’t actually any character limits to page titles, but since Google and other search engines will cut your title off at around 60 characters you probably want to stop there.
Avoid Using All Caps
ALL CAPS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO READ!
Sorry for shouting at you. I just wanted to tell you to be careful when using all caps.
Write your SEO title in sentence case or title case instead. These are both much easier to read. So both your visitors and the search engines will be happy. Google wants you to write for users.
