How to Write SEO-Friendly Product Titles for Shopify
Learn the proven formula for writing Shopify product titles that rank higher and convert better. Includes examples, templates, and common mistakes to avoid.
Your product title is the single most important on-page SEO element for any Shopify product. It’s what appears in search results, browser tabs, and social shares. Get it right, and you’ll see more organic traffic and higher click-through rates. Get it wrong, and your products remain invisible.
This guide breaks down exactly how to craft product titles that both search engines and shoppers love.
Why Product Titles Matter for Shopify SEO
Product titles serve multiple critical functions:
- Search ranking signal: Google uses your title to understand what your product is
- Click-through rate driver: The title is often the only thing searchers see before deciding to click
- Social sharing preview: When products are shared, the title becomes the headline
- Internal search: Shoppers use your site search to find products by name
A poorly optimized title means lost rankings, lost clicks, and lost sales. A well-optimized title compounds over time, driving consistent organic traffic.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Product Title
The ideal Shopify product title follows this structure:
[Brand] + [Product Name] + [Key Feature/Variant] + [Size/Color if relevant]Example Breakdown
Poor title: “Blue Shirt”
Optimized title: “Nike Dri-FIT Running Shirt - Men’s Lightweight Athletic Tee - Navy Blue”
Let’s break down why the optimized version works:
| Element | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Recognition + branded searches | Nike |
| Product name | Core keyword | Dri-FIT Running Shirt |
| Key feature | Differentiator + long-tail keywords | Men’s Lightweight Athletic Tee |
| Variant | Specific searches | Navy Blue |
The 60-Character Rule
Google typically displays 50-60 characters of your title in search results. Anything beyond gets truncated with ”…”
Best practices:
- Keep primary keywords within the first 60 characters
- Front-load the most important information
- Save less critical details (like color codes) for the end
- Don’t stuff keywords - write for humans first
Character Count Examples
| Title | Characters | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| ”Leather Wallet” | 14 | Too short, missing opportunity |
| ”Men’s Genuine Leather Bifold Wallet - RFID Blocking - Brown” | 58 | Perfect length |
| ”Premium Handcrafted Genuine Italian Leather Bifold Wallet for Men with RFID Blocking Technology in Rich Mahogany Brown Color” | 124 | Too long, will truncate |
7 Product Title Formulas That Work
Formula 1: Brand + Product + Feature
Best for: Branded products, electronics, apparel
Apple AirPods Pro 2 - Active Noise Cancellation
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - 256GB Titanium BlackFormula 2: Benefit + Product + Audience
Best for: Problem-solving products, health items
Anti-Fatigue Kitchen Mat - Memory Foam Standing Pad for Home Cooks
Posture Corrector Back Brace - Adjustable Support for Office WorkersFormula 3: Material + Product + Use Case
Best for: Handmade items, furniture, jewelry
Solid Oak Dining Table - Farmhouse Style for 6 Guests
Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings - Everyday Minimalist JewelryFormula 4: Size + Product + Specification
Best for: Technical products, parts, supplies
32oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle - Vacuum Insulated Cold 24hrs
King Size Bamboo Sheet Set - 400 Thread Count Cooling FabricFormula 5: [Number] + Product + Benefit
Best for: Bundles, multipacks, kits
12-Pack Organic Cotton Face Towels - Ultra Soft Absorbent
5-Piece Knife Set - German Steel with Magnetic BlockFormula 6: Occasion + Product + Style
Best for: Fashion, gifts, seasonal items
Wedding Guest Dress - Floral Midi Wrap Style
Birthday Gift Box - Gourmet Chocolate AssortmentFormula 7: Problem + Solution Product
Best for: Specialty items, niche products
Snoring Solution Pillow - Ergonomic Neck Support Design
Pet Hair Remover Roller - Reusable Lint Brush for FurnitureCommon Product Title Mistakes
Mistake 1: Keyword Stuffing
Bad: “Wallet Mens Wallet Leather Wallet Brown Wallet Bifold Wallet RFID Wallet”
This triggers spam filters and reads terribly. Google is smart enough to understand synonyms and context.
Good: “Men’s Leather Bifold Wallet - RFID Blocking - Brown”
Mistake 2: ALL CAPS or Excessive Punctuation
Bad: “AMAZING!!! BEST WALLET EVER!!! WOW!!!”
This looks spammy and unprofessional. It may even hurt your rankings.
Good: “Premium Leather Wallet - Handcrafted in Italy”
Mistake 3: Missing Key Product Information
Bad: “Our Best Seller”
Search engines and shoppers have no idea what this product actually is.
Good: “Bestselling Organic Cotton T-Shirt - Unisex Fit”
Mistake 4: Duplicate Titles Across Variants
Having 10 color variants all titled “Cotton T-Shirt” creates duplicate content issues.
Solution: Include the variant in the title: “Cotton T-Shirt - Forest Green” and let Shopify handle canonical URLs.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Search Intent
If people search for “running shoes for flat feet,” your title should include that phrase - not just “Athletic Footwear.”
Research what your customers actually search for using:
- Google’s autocomplete suggestions
- Shopify search analytics
- Tools like StoreAuditor for keyword analysis
How to Optimize Existing Product Titles
Already have hundreds of products with poor titles? Here’s a systematic approach:
Step 1: Audit Your Current Titles
Use a tool like StoreAuditor to scan your entire catalog and identify:
- Titles that are too short (under 30 characters)
- Titles that are too long (over 70 characters)
- Titles missing brand names
- Duplicate titles across products
Step 2: Prioritize High-Value Products
Focus first on:
- Products with high traffic but low conversion
- Products ranking on page 2 (close to page 1)
- Bestsellers that could perform even better
- Products with high margins
Step 3: Research Keywords
For each product, identify:
- What customers call the product (not industry jargon)
- Long-tail variations people search for
- Competitor title patterns for similar products
Step 4: Rewrite in Batches
Group similar products and rewrite in batches using consistent formulas. This ensures brand consistency while being efficient.
Step 5: Track Results
After updating titles, monitor:
- Organic traffic changes per product
- Click-through rate from search console
- Conversion rate changes
Give it 2-4 weeks for Google to re-crawl and re-index.
Product Title vs. SEO Title in Shopify
Shopify lets you set a separate “Page title” (SEO title) in the Search engine listing preview section. Use this strategically:
| Field | Character Limit | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Product title | No limit | Display in store, cart, emails |
| SEO title (Page title) | 60 characters | Optimized for Google search results |
Pro tip: Use the product title for a cleaner shopping experience and the SEO title for keyword optimization.
Example:
- Product title: “The Classic Oxford Shirt - White”
- SEO title: “Men’s White Oxford Shirt - 100% Cotton Button Down | YourBrand”
Checklist: Before You Publish
Before saving any product, run through this checklist:
- Title includes the primary keyword
- Title is 50-60 characters (or has key info in first 60)
- Brand name is included (if applicable)
- Key differentiators are present (size, material, feature)
- Reads naturally - not keyword stuffed
- No duplicate titles with other products
- Separate SEO title is set if needed
- Title matches customer search language
Automate Title Optimization with AI
Manually optimizing thousands of product titles is time-consuming. Modern tools can help:
StoreAuditor analyzes your product titles against SEO best practices and suggests improvements. The AI-powered system considers:
- Keyword relevance and placement
- Character length optimization
- Competitor analysis
- Search intent matching
Instead of spending hours per product, get instant recommendations and apply them in bulk.
Key Takeaways
- Front-load keywords: Put the most important terms first
- Stay under 60 characters: For full visibility in search results
- Include brand + product + feature: The winning formula
- Write for humans: Natural language beats keyword stuffing
- Use separate SEO titles: For advanced optimization
- Audit regularly: Titles should evolve with search trends
- Track performance: Measure what works for your specific audience
Your product titles are working 24/7 to attract customers. Make every character count.
Ready to audit your product titles? Try StoreAuditor free and get instant SEO scores for your entire catalog.
