Page Title

A page title helps identify the page in search results, browser tabs, bookmarks, and shared links. A good page title is clear, specific, and easy to understand. It should help people quickly tell what the page is about without sounding vague, repetitive, or overly long.

 

Give each page a clear, unique title

Every page should have its own title. If several pages use the same or nearly identical title, it becomes harder for people to tell them apart.

 

A good title usually names:

  • the page topic

  • the office, department, or program when helpful

  • the specific service or content on the page

 

Examples

  • Student Affairs

  • Financial Aid

  • Residency Application Requirements

  • Website Update Request

  • Campus Parking Map

 

The title should help people know what they are opening before they select it.

 

Be specific, not vague

Titles should clearly describe the page. Avoid titles that are too broad, too generic, or too short to be useful.

 

Avoid

  • Home

  • Information

  • Resources

  • Services

  • Page 1

 

Better

  • Student Resources

  • Information Technology Services

  • Faculty Development Resources

  • Parking and Transportation Services

 

The more specific the title, the easier it is for users to understand the page at a glance.

 

Keep titles concise

Page titles should be short enough to stay readable, but long enough to make sense. Long titles can become harder to scan and may get cut off in browser tabs or search results.

 

Aim for a title that is focused and direct. Remove extra words that do not add meaning.

 

Less effective

  • Important Information About Student Services and Available Campus Support Resources

 

Better

  • Student Services and Support Resources

 

The goal is clarity, not length.

 

Match the title to the actual page content

The page title should reflect what users will actually find on the page. Do not use a broad or polished title if the content is more limited.

 

For example:

  • If the page is about admissions requirements, the title should say that.

  • If the page is mainly a contact page, the title should make that clear.

  • If the page is a request form, the title should reflect the request.

 

A title should set accurate expectations.

 

Avoid repeating the same wording too often

Do not overload the title with repeated department names, branding, or extra wording that is already being added elsewhere by the template.

 

For example, if the template already adds school or institutional branding, the page title itself should focus on the unique part of the page.

 

Less effective

  • Office of Student Affairs Student Affairs Services and Resources

 

Better

  • Student Affairs Services

 

Use a naming pattern when it helps

For sections with many related pages, a consistent naming pattern can make the site easier to scan.

 

Examples:

  • Student Affairs | Foster School of Medicine

  • Admissions Requirements | School of Nursing

  • Faculty Resources | Office of Faculty Development

 

This works well when users need to tell related pages apart quickly.

 

Avoid keyword stuffing

Do not pack extra terms into the title just to cover more topics. If the title starts sounding unnatural or repetitive, it is probably trying to do too much.

 

Avoid

  • Nursing School Nursing Admissions Nursing Program Requirements

 

Better

  • Nursing Admissions Requirements

 

Write titles for people first.

 

Think about how the title appears in context

A page title may appear in several places, including:

  • browser tabs

  • bookmarks

  • search results

  • shared links

  • internal navigation tools

 

That is why the title should still make sense even when seen by itself.

 

Before publishing

Use this quick review before adding or approving a page title:

  • The page has a unique title.

  • The title clearly reflects the page content.

  • The wording is specific, not vague.

  • The title is concise and easy to scan.

  • Repeated or unnecessary wording has been removed.

  • The title still makes sense on its own.

 

Related guidance: Define the Purpose of Page, Page Description, Page URL, and Content Development.