Long post titles look clever… until Google chops them in half. If you run a Ghost blog, keeping titles short and sharp (≤60 characters) can lift clarity, clicks, and consistency across search, social, and email.

In this guide you’ll learn why long titles get cut, how it affects SEO and CTR, and the quickest way to find and fix offenders—using Ghostboard’s SEO report as your weekly action list. Let’s ship tighter titles. ✂️🚀

Why title length matters (SEO + CTR)

Google often truncates or even rewrites long titles in the SERP. Truncated titles lose meaning and click appeal; rewrites can dilute your keywords or remove your branding.

Shorter titles tend to display as you intended and are less likely to be rewritten.

There’s no hard character limit—Google uses pixel width—but multiple large studies and industry benchmarks converge on a safe range: ~50–60 characters, roughly up to 575–600 pixels. Aim there to prevent cut-offs and limit rewrites.

Also important: Google can generate the blue title link from several places (your <title>, on-page headings, visible title).

Writing concise, accurate titles increases the chance Google uses yours.

What “too long” actually does to performance

• Cuts key information. The part that sells the click—benefit, number, or differentiator—may disappear behind an ellipsis. That can drop CTR.
• Triggers rewrites. Long or vague titles are prime candidates for Google to rewrite with on-page headings. You lose control of messaging.
• Splits relevance. Over-stuffed titles can dilute focus, making it harder for search engines to match intent. Short, specific titles usually win.

The 60-character rule of thumb (and when to break it)

Use ≤60 characters as your default guardrail. It’s not a law, but it’s a proven sweet spot for visibility and clarity across devices.

If you go longer, expect more truncation risk. Keep the most important words first so the visible part still makes sense.

Bonus signal from the Ghostboard blog: recent headline guidance also targets 50–60 characters / 6–12 words for scannability and SERP display.

How to edit your SEO title in Ghost

1. Open your post in Ghost.
2. Click the ⚙️ Post settings (top right).
3. Expand Meta data.
4. Fill Page title (this is your SEO title) in ≤60 characters; save.

Example:

💡 Write titles Google likes: unique, concise, and aligned with the page’s content. Avoid boilerplate and keyword stuffing.

Find long titles fast with Ghostboard (your fix list)

Scanning posts manually is slow. Ghostboard’s SEO report surfaces on-page issues—including title problems—so you can jump straight to the posts that need edits.

Open a flagged post, trim the title in Ghost, and publish the fix. Rinse, repeat.

How to shorten a too-long title (without losing meaning)

Try these edits in order:

1. Front-load the core keyword. Move it to the first 3–5 words.
2. Cut filler. Drop “ultimate,” “complete,” “really,” “actually,” “guide to.”
3. Use one colon or dash, not both. Pick a single separator.
4. Replace clauses with numbers. “Ways to” → a number list.
5. Trim branding. If your brand is long, put it at the end or omit it—Google often appends site names anyway. Search Engine Land

Before (82 chars):
The Ultimate, Really Complete Guide to Improving Your Ghost Blog SEO in 2025
After (57 chars):
Ghost SEO: 10 Proven Ways to Grow Traffic in 2025

When longer can still work (rarely)

Some niches tolerate longer titles (e.g., product names + specs). If you must go long, front-load the query, keep the visible part compelling, and accept a higher risk of truncation or rewrites. Testing is key—watch impressions vs. CTR in Search Console after changes.

Quick checklist ✅

• ≤60 characters
• Keyword first, benefit after.
• Unique per page; matches on-page content.
• No filler words, one separator.
• Brand at end (optional).
• Logged and tracked in Ghostboard for follow-up.

FAQ

Is there a “hard” Google limit?
No. Google uses pixel width, not a strict character cap. But 50–60 characters is a widely supported safe zone.

Why did Google rewrite my title?
Titles that are too long, mismatched to page content, or boilerplate are commonly rewritten from headings or on-page text. Keep titles concise and accurate.

Where exactly do I change it in Ghost?
In the editor, open Post settings → Meta data → Page title and write a compact SEO title there. Save and update the post.

Where can I see which posts need fixes?
Use Ghostboard’s SEO report to surface title issues and jump directly to the posts to edit. The report is included on Growth plans and above.

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