How to Change Site Title in WordPress​?

Changing your WordPress site title might seem like a minor task, but it’s a crucial step that many website owners overlook. A poorly chosen site title can confuse users, harm your credibility, and hinder your SEO efforts, making it harder for your audience to find you.

The good news is changing your WordPress site title is simpler than you might think. In this blog, we’ll guide you through five effective methods to update your site title, ensuring it aligns with your target audience. We’ll also dive into the best practices followed by WordPress development experts when creating a new title for your website.

Importance of Site Title in WordPress

The site title in WordPress is a crucial element for several reasons, including branding, user experience, and search engine optimization (SEO). Here are the key points highlighting the importance of a site title in WordPress:

• Builds Brand Identity: A well-crafted site title communicates your website’s identity to visitors. It is often the first impression users get, helping them understand your site’s focus and creating a memorable brand presence.
• User Experience: The site title appears in the browser tab, making it easier for users to identify and navigate back to your site when they have multiple tabs open. It also displays in places like the footer or header of your site, contributing to a consistent user experience.
• SEO Benefits: The site title helps search engines understand your website’s purpose. It’s used in search engine results, improving discoverability when optimized with relevant keywords. It also reflects in the title tag, enhancing your website’s technical SEO.

By crafting a site title that reflects your brand and aligns with your target audience, you can improve its performance in search engines and user engagement metrics.

For example, keeping the title concise (up to 60 characters), including keywords, and making it audience-focused can maximize its effectiveness.

When to Change the WordPress Site Title?

Knowing when to change your WordPress site title is essential for maintaining a relevant, engaging, and effective online presence. Here are some common scenarios when you might consider changing your WordPress site title:

• Rebranding Your Website: If your website undergoes rebranding to reflect a new focus, audience, or identity, updating the site title ensures consistency with your brand’s goals.
• Improving SEO: A poorly optimized site title can hinder visibility in search engines. Updating it with relevant keywords can enhance WordPress SEO and attract the right audience.
• Clarifying Your Niche or Purpose: If your current title doesn’t clearly communicate the website’s purpose, revising it can make it more engaging for visitors and search engines alike.
• Matching a Domain Change: If you’ve changed your WordPress website’s domain, updating the site title aligns the branding across all digital touchpoints.
• Reaching a New Audience: If you are targeting a different demographic, updating the title to reflect their preferences and expectations can improve engagement.
• Enhancing Professionalism: As your website evolves, the original title may no longer suit your professional standards. A change can reflect growth and maturity.

The decision to change your site title should be based on your specific business goals and the needs of your target audience. By carefully considering these factors, you can ensure that your site title effectively represents your brand and drives traffic to your website.

How to Change Site Title in WordPress​?

Changing the site title on WordPress is a straightforward process that can be done through various ways. Here are the detailed steps for each method:

Method 1: Using the WordPress Customizer

This method is the easiest and allows you to see a live preview of your changes before making them permanent. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Login to your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Appearance > Customize.

Step 3: In the customizer menu, look for the Site Identity section.

Step 4: You’ll see two fields, Site Title and Tagline. Edit these fields with your desired title and tagline.

Step 5: Check the changes you made in the live preview which is on the right side of the screen and will update to reflect your changes.

Step 6: Once satisfied, click Publish to apply the changes.

Ideal For: Users seeking a simple, visual method with live preview capabilities to update the site title.

Method 2: Using WordPress Setting

Another way to change your site title is through the WordPress settings menu. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Navigate to your WordPress admin panel by going to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and logging in with your credentials.

Step 2: Go to Settings > General in your dashboard.

Step 3: In the General Settings page, you will see a field labeled Site Title. Enter your new site title in this field.

Step 4: You can also update the Tagline field, which is a short description of your site that often appears below the site title.

Step 5: After making changes, click Save Changes to update your site title.

Step 6: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Save Changes button to apply your new site title.

Ideal For: Beginners or anyone looking for a straightforward, built-in way to change the site title without extra tools or complexity.

Method 3: Using Plugin

While there are few plugins that directly change the site title, you can use an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO to control how the site title appears in search engines:

Step 1: If you haven’t already, install and activate the Yoast SEO plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.

Step 2: In the WordPress dashboard, navigate to SEO and then click on Search Appearance.

Step 3: Under the General tab, you will see fields for SEO title and Meta description. Enter your new site title in the SEO title field.

Step 4: Click the Save changes button to apply your new site title.

Ideal For: Users wanting additional control, especially for SEO-related changes or more advanced configurations using plugins like Yoast SEO.

Method 4: Editing Theme File (function.php)

If you’re comfortable with coding, you can directly edit the functions.php file to update the site title. Always backup your website before making any changes to the theme files or create a child theme:

Step 1: Go to Appearance > Theme File Editor and open functions.php.

Step 2: Add the following PHP code at the bottom of the file:

add_filter( 'wp_title', 'my_custom_title' );
function my_custom_title( $title ) {
    $new_title = 'Your Desired Site Title'; // Replace with your desired title
    return $new_title;
}

Step 3: Click the Update File button to save your changes.

Ideal For: Developers or advanced users with coding experience who want to programmatically control the site title through custom PHP code.

Method 5: Using phpMyAdmin

For advanced users, you can change the site title directly in the database using phpMyAdmin:

Step 1: Log in to your phpMyAdmin via your hosting control panel.

Step 2: Select the database associated with your WordPress installation from the list on the left.

Step 3: Look for the wp_options table and click on it.

Step 4: Find and edit the row with option_name = blogname. Update the option_value of blogname with the desired title.

Step 5: Click the Go button to save your changes.

This method involves modifying your WordPress database directly using phpMyAdmin. It’s strongly recommended to avoid this method as it can be risky if you’re not familiar with databases.

Ideal For: Advanced users comfortable with direct database manipulation, typically when other methods are not accessible or when dealing with database issues.

Each of these methods provides a different level of control and ease, so you can choose the one that best suits your requirements. If you’re unsure about editing code, consider getting in touch with our WordPress development company to build extensively customized websites.

Best Practices for Choosing a Site Title

Choosing the right site title is crucial for a website’s branding, user experience, and WordPress SEO. Here are some best practices to follow when selecting a site title:

Keep it Simple and Memorable

Your site title should be concise, easy to spell, and easy to remember. Avoid using complicated words or phrases that could confuse visitors or make your site harder to find in search engines. A short, straightforward title enhances recognition and recall, which is essential for brand building.

Reflect Your Brand or Purpose

The site title should clearly reflect what your website is about. Whether it’s a blog, a portfolio, or an eCommerce store, ensure your title gives users a sense of what to expect when they land on your site. For instance, a photography portfolio might include words like “Photography” or “Studio” to communicate its purpose effectively.

Incorporate Relevant Keywords for SEO

Including relevant keywords in your site title can help improve search engine rankings. For example, if you run a local bakery in New York, a site title like “NYC Best Bakery” could improve your visibility when users search for related terms like “best bakery in NYC”. However, avoid keyword stuffing and aim for natural phrasing that still reflects your brand identity.

Use Your Brand Name, if Possible

If you’re building a business or personal brand, try to incorporate your brand name in the title. This builds consistency across your digital presence and enhances recognition. A brand name-driven title also helps in the long run, as users tend to remember names they’ve seen repeatedly.

Avoid Using Numbers or Special Characters

Unless they are part of your brand, avoid using numbers, special characters, or excessive punctuation in your site title. These can be hard to remember, and search engines might treat them as less credible or harder to index. Stick to alphanumeric characters that are universally understood.

By following these best practices, you can create a site title that is not only effective for SEO but also strengthens your brand identity.

FAQs About Changing Site Title on WordPress

Wrapping Up

Changing the site title in WordPress is a straightforward process that can significantly impact your website’s branding and user experience. If you want to use a simple method change the site title using WordPress Customizer, General setting, or using a plugin like Yoast SEO.

If you are an advanced user, you can opt for methods like editing theme files (function.php) and using phpMyAdmin to change titles. Ensure your new title aligns with the product and services you offer along with other best practices while creating a title for the website.

To build a website that is well-designed, robust, and scalable, hire WordPress developers.