How to Change WordPress Site Title (Easy)

For all WordPress website operators out there, you would agree that the title of your site bears significant importance. It drives traffic, helps with SEO, and represents your brand. If you need to alter it for whatever reason, this beginner’s guide will walk you through how to change your WordPress site title with simple and easy-to-implement steps.

Understanding the Importance of a WordPress Site Title

Your site’s title is the first point of interaction that visitors have with your site. It gives them an insight into what your website is about and what content they can expect. Think of it as your online business/store’s front sign. If it doesn’t reflect your brand accurately, you might lose potential clicks and visits. So changing your site’s title when necessary is a crucial management task that can affect your website’s performance.

Two Easy Steps to Change Your WordPress Site Title

To change your WordPress site title, follow these detailed steps:

I. Accessing the General Settings

1. Log in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Settings > General.

On this page, you’ll spot two fields: Site Title and Tagline. These fields control what appears on your site’s header and in the SEO description.

II. Modifying the Site Title and Tagline

1. In the Site Title field, insert your new site title. It’s best to keep your site title concise and descriptive.
2. Enter a new Tagline if necessary. A tagline is a short phrase or sentence that describes your site further. It’s typically displayed beneath the site title in most WordPress themes.
3. Don’t forget to click Save Changes to secure your updates.

Now, view your site to see the changes in action. If you’ve done everything correctly, your new site title should appear in the header of your website.

Manipulating Your WordPress Site Title via Customizer

Another way to change your WordPress site title is via the Customizer. This method is beneficial because it lets you preview changes before implementing them. To modify your site title in this way:

1. Navigate to Appearance > Customize on your WordPress dashboard.
2. Under Site Identity, you’ll find the Site Title and Tagline options.
3. Update them as per your requirements and click on Publish to implement your updates.

Remember, adjustments made in the Customizer override those previously made in the General Settings.

Refreshing Your Site Title in the WordPress Theme

If your site title is not updating even after implementing the mentioned steps, it might be because your WordPress theme uses a hard-coded title. In such cases, you need some basic knowledge of PHP and HTML.

The default header code in your site’s header.php file should look something like this:

<title><?php wp_title('|', true, 'right'); ?></title>

Replace it with the customized one below:

<title><?php echo get_bloginfo('name'); ?></title>

This replacement forces the WordPress theme to respect the Site Title in your Site Identity settings.

Exploring Plugins for Changing Site Title

There are WordPress Plugins like Yoast SEO that can help with changing your site title. This plugin allows you to set different titles for your various posts and pages for maximum SEO benefits.

However, remember to update somewhat frequently. Out-of-date plugins might become incompatible with newer versions of WordPress, thus causing more harm than good.

Final Thought

Changing a WordPress site title is not a technically complex process thanks to WordPress’s user-friendly interface. However, it is crucial to think through the changes as the site title plays a significant role in SEO and establishing your brand image. Consider all the possible aspects carefully and apply the changes that align best with your website’s content and purpose.

Remember to keep it short and snappy. Maintain a balance between incorporating keywords for SEO purposes and making it readable for actual human viewers.

For more advanced cases involving hard-coded themes or when using plugins for SEO benefits, always ensure to back up your data before making any changes to prevent any mishaps.

Follow this beginner-friendly guide, and you’ll surely enhance your website branding by updating the site title effectively. Practice makes perfect, even in the world of WordPress!