Google rewriting titles and descriptions?

[Rumbas]

I'm see more and more examples of Google using sub-par rewriting of titles and descriptions based on the query. Eg. we have done some extensive rewriting for a couple of clients and Google is in some cases, using their "own" titles which are kind of poor.

So, do anyone have any insights into the algo behind this and what triggers a rewrite?

[buckworks]

One thing I've seen that triggers a rewrite is anchor text on internal links to the page.

We cleaned up one set of sub-par rewrites by tweaking the anchor text on internal nav links.

Alas, there's lots of other sub-par rewrites still out there.

[Gurtie]

>> anchor text

you mean they rewrite the meta to refflect anchor text?  Is that based on inline links in content? I  don't think I'm seeing that but I can see the logic in it...

I've been struggling a bit with this lately too - not seeing terrible rewrites but if the onpage text is good and the meta's good its frustrating when they do something else, I've been running through directories etc looking for where they might be getting cues from, but in general it doesn't seem to be external.

[Adam C]

I see titles etc. changing relative to the query.  Brand terms are one such case, for titles that I've stuffed with generic keywords beyond the first 70 or so characters before mentioning the brand...

<title>Cheap red & blue widgets from your favourite scarlet and azure widget outlet - WidgetBrand</title>

get rewritten as

<title>WidgetBrand</title>

...when a user searches "widgetbrand", but displays as a truncated version of the original when users search for the generic keywords included (red/blue widgets etc..)

And yes, I do still stuff write descriptive tags like this  




In some cases, for queries that regularly result in altered titles, we can see higher than average CTRs in GWT, suggesting that Google might only keep the altered CTR when they see it working out for users.

Hard to believe entirely as I always tend to suspect any Google change is designed to drive AdWords CTR/revenue improvements, but maybe my cynicism is softening in my old age.

[Capone]

I've noticed extra long titles will get truncated and often overwritten by Google. Check the query for very similar page titles. Google wants to offer unique experiences on the SERP and if 2 results are almost the same, one will get the rewrite.

[gm66]

i've noticed descriptions being rewritten but not titles.