SERP Preview Tool - Free SEO tool

The snippet is the only part of your page most searchers ever read. It decides whether a ranking turns into a visit. Writing it blind, then discovering in the results that the title is cut in the middle of a word, is a habit worth dropping.

The Sorank SERP Preview Tool renders your title and description the way a result appears, on desktop and on mobile, and shows exactly where each one is truncated.

Why pixels matter more than characters

Google truncates on width, not on a character count. A title in narrow letters fits far more characters than one full of capitals and wide letters, which is why every rule of thumb expressed in characters is approximate. The usable space is roughly 600 pixels on desktop and less on mobile, so the only reliable test is to render the text and look.

Two practical consequences:

Put what matters first. Whatever sits past the cut may as well not exist, so the subject and the qualifier go at the front and the brand goes at the end.
Write for the width you have, not for a target length. A short, complete title beats a long one that ends in an ellipsis.

What actually shows in results

Your title and description are proposals, not guarantees. Google rewrites them often, usually when the description does not match the query, when the title is padded with keywords, or when a different part of the page answers better. The way to be rewritten less is to describe the page accurately and specifically, and to keep one clear promise per page.

The title should name the subject and the value in plain words. Repetition of the same keyword is the fastest way to get it replaced.
The description does not influence ranking, but it influences clicks. Write it as the answer to the question the searcher just typed.
The URL is shown as a breadcrumb. A short, readable path reads better than a string of identifiers.

A short checklist before publishing

The subject is visible before the truncation point on mobile, which is the narrower of the two.
The title is not a list of keywords separated by pipes.
The description says something the title does not, instead of repeating it.
Every page on the site has its own pair. Duplicated snippets across a template are a common and avoidable problem.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a title tag be?

Long enough to name the subject and short enough to survive truncation, which in practice means aiming for the width available rather than a character count. Around 600 pixels on desktop, and less on mobile. Preview it rather than counting characters, and put the important words first.

Why does Google show a different title than the one I wrote?

Google rewrites titles when they are padded with keywords, when they do not match the query, or when another element on the page describes it better. Writing an accurate, specific title that matches what the page delivers is the way to be rewritten less often.

Does the meta description affect rankings?

Not directly. It affects the click-through rate, which is why it is worth writing well. Treat it as the answer to the query the searcher just typed, and make sure it says something the title does not already say.