Blogger Article Titles Cut Off in Google After a Template Update

Daftar Isi

Blogger Article Titles Cut Off in Google After a Template Update

I noticed something uncomfortable after updating my Blogger template: my article titles were suddenly truncated in Google search results. Not just shortened visually — but sometimes rewritten entirely.

At first, I blamed Google. Then I blamed indexing. Eventually, I realized the real culprit was much closer: the template structure itself.

If your Blogger article titles are cut off in Google after updating your template, this article will help you diagnose the issue technically — and fix it without damaging your SEO foundation.

What Actually Changed After the Template Update?

When we update a Blogger theme, we usually focus on design — layout, typography, mobile responsiveness. But under the surface, templates control:

• The structure of the <title> tag
• Meta tags implementation
• Heading hierarchy (H1, H2, H3)
• Canonical and structured data behavior

In my case, the template silently changed the <title> logic. Instead of:

Article Title | Blog Name

It became:

Blog Name - Article Title - Tagline

That extra branding pushed my core keyword too far to the right. Google responded by trimming what it considered “less important.” Unfortunately, sometimes that meant my actual article topic.

Why Google Truncates or Rewrites Blogger Titles

1. Pixel Width Limit, Not Character Count

Many bloggers still believe the limit is 60 characters. It is not that simple.

Google truncates based on pixel width (around 580–600px on desktop). A long word like “Optimization” consumes more space than “SEO.”

If your template adds:

• Site name at the front
• Category label
• Tagline or separator symbols

You are eating valuable pixel real estate.

2. Misaligned H1 and Title Tag

If your <title> differs significantly from your H1 heading, Google may rewrite it.

I found one article where the H1 was clean and keyword-focused, but the title tag included unnecessary branding repetition. Google chose the H1 version instead.

3. Over-Optimization Signals

Templates sometimes auto-generate keyword-rich titles. If repetition looks manipulative, Google simplifies it.

This often happens after bloggers install “SEO optimized” templates from third parties.

How I Diagnosed the Problem (Practical Steps)

Step 1: Inspect the Title Tag Directly

Right-click → View Page Source → search for <title>.

Do not rely on what you see inside Blogger’s post editor.

Step 2: Use URL Inspection in Google Search Console

I checked how Google indexed the page title via GSC. If you haven’t read about crawling vs indexing confusion, this helps:

Read also:
Why Google Crawls Your Website But Doesn’t Index It

Step 3: Compare CTR Before and After Template Update

Search Console performance data tells the truth. My CTR dropped slightly after titles were altered. That confirmed this was not cosmetic — it affected click behavior.

The Clean Fix (Without Breaking Your SEO)

1. Adjust Title Structure in Blogger Theme

Go to:

Theme → Edit HTML

Find the title section. Ideally, article pages should follow:

<title><data:blog.pageTitle/></title>

And ensure it does NOT prepend blog name unnecessarily on post pages.

2. Keep Branding at the End (If Needed)

Best practice for SEO clarity:

Primary Keyword - Context | Brand

Not the reverse.

3. Simplify Separators

Avoid decorative symbols like:

• ★
• ✔
• 🔥

They waste pixel width and rarely improve CTR meaningfully.

An Honest Opinion (From Experience)

Many Blogger users obsess over design updates because a template looks “modern.” I did the same.

But design changes without technical verification can quietly harm performance.

What surprised me most is this: a template that looked faster and cleaner visually actually complicated the SEO structure underneath.

Minimalism in code beats visual sophistication almost every time.

Preventing This Issue in Future Template Updates

Before Updating:

• Screenshot current SERP appearance
• Export current template backup
• Document current title structure

After Updating:

• Check page source immediately
• Inspect 3–5 important articles
• Monitor CTR changes for 7–14 days

SEO damage often happens silently. Monitoring prevents long-term loss.

Related Reading (Internal Strategy)

If you are serious about building a sustainable Blogger site, these are relevant next reads:

• Blogger Tips: Secrets to Successful Blogging
• Blogging Tricks: How to Make Money
• Earning Money from Blogging Effectively
• Google AdSense Blog Monetization Guide
• How to Create a Blog & Benefits of Being a Blogger

Final Reflection

When Blogger article titles are cut off in Google after a template update, the problem is rarely “Google being random.” It is usually structural.

Templates control your technical SEO more than most bloggers realize.

If you treat design updates casually, you risk losing clarity in search results. And clarity is what earns clicks.

Fix the structure. Simplify the title logic. Let your primary keyword breathe. Google tends to reward clarity more than decoration.