#31 Your Page Titles Need a Purpose (Not Just a Vibe)
Mini-Series: Building an Accessible Website (Even If Tech Isn’t Your Thing)
You know those little titles that appear at the top of your browser tabs? Or the thing a screen reader reads first when someone opens your website? That’s your page title—and if it just says “Home” or “Untitled Page 3,” well… that’s like naming your book “Book.”
Today, we’re making sure your page titles actually tell people what to expect. Not just for style—but for accessibility, clarity, and good ol’ navigation.
What’s a Page Title?
Accessibility Rule: Each page should have a clear and descriptive title that tells people (and screen readers!) the page’s topic—and includes your site’s name.
This helps screen reader users jump between tabs, and it also tells Google what your site’s about. A win-win.
Example: This blog post’s page title is “#31 Your Page Titles Need a Purpose (Not Just a Vibe)—Maisie M. Meyers Books”. It’s a little long, but when a screen reader user has multiple tabs open and switches to mine, they’ll know exactly where they are.
What Makes a Good Page Title?
Here’s what to include:
The topic or purpose of the page
The name of your website or brand
Examples:
“About the Author – [YourName] Books”
“Preorder – [Book Title]”
“Contact | [Your Author Name]”
Bad titles look like:
“Home”
“Page 1”
“Untitled”
How to Edit Page Titles
Most website builders (like Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, etc.) let you edit your page title in the settings. Look for a field labeled “Page Title,” “SEO Title,” or “Meta Title.”
Change the page title and then check out the final result in your browser.
Need to Do Next:
Check each page of your website (use browser tabs to see current titles)
Update vague or generic ones to be clear and helpful
Add your name or brand at the end for extra clarity
Preview the tabs and test with a screen reader if you can
Let’s Talk!
Have you ever opened 10 tabs and had no idea which was which? (Same.) What’s the weirdest or vaguest page title you’ve seen? Drop it in the comments—I love a good “Mystery Page 5” sighting.
And if you want more friendly, bite-sized tips to make your author site easier to use (even for lost forest sprites), subscribe to my newsletter. It’s like a map for your publishing journey—no tech wizardry required.