How to Write Product Titles That Rank on Google Shopping
Title formulas by category, what to include and leave out, and before-and-after examples that improve Shopping visibility.
In Google Shopping, there is no keyword bidding by phrase the way search ads work. Google matches products to searches largely by reading your product data, and the title is the most important part of it. A vague title like "Classic Kurta" competes for almost nothing; "Men's Cotton Kurta โ Navy Blue, Regular Fit, Size M" matches exactly what shoppers type.
The basic formula
Most strong product titles follow this pattern:
Brand + Product type + Key attributes (material, colour, size, model, quantity)
The order matters because Google often shows only the first 70 or so characters. Put the words shoppers use to decide first.
Formulas by category
- Apparel: Brand + Gender + Product type + Material + Colour + Size
Fabindia Women's Cotton Kurta โ Mustard, Size L - Electronics: Brand + Model + Product type + Key spec
Boat Airdopes 141 True Wireless Earbuds โ 42h Playback, Black - Home and kitchen: Brand + Product type + Material + Size/Capacity
Prestige Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker โ 5 Litre, Induction Base - Beauty: Brand + Product type + Key benefit/ingredient + Size
Mamaearth Vitamin C Face Wash โ 100 ml - Handmade or own brand: Product type + Material + Style + Size (brand last or omitted if unknown)
Handwoven Jute Table Runner โ Natural, 180 cm
What to leave out
- Promotional text: "Sale", "Free shipping", "Best price", "Limited offer". Google's policies disallow it, and it wastes space.
- ALL CAPS and excessive punctuation.
- Keyword lists: "Kurta Kurti Ethnic Wear Women Dress Top" is stuffing.
- Your shop name, unless it is the brand of the product.
- Internal codes that customers never search.
Length
Merchant Center allows up to 150 characters, but shoppers mostly see the first 70 or so. Use the full length when it adds useful attributes; just make sure the beginning makes sense on its own.
Before and after
- Before: Summer Special!!! Beautiful Dress
After: Women's Floral Print Cotton Maxi Dress โ Sleeveless, Blue, Size S - Before: Model X200
After: Philips X200 Electric Kettle โ 1.5 L, Stainless Steel, Auto Shut-Off
Your store page title matters too
The same principles help your product pages rank in normal Google search. Your on-page title tag can follow the same pattern, possibly with your brand at the end, as long as it fits the search result. Preview it with the SERP preview tool.
Optimize titles faster
The free product title optimizer checks a title against these best practices and suggests improved variants from your brand, product type and attributes. See how to optimize product titles with a free tool. To find the words shoppers actually use, start with the keyword research tool.
Related guides
More free tools: browse all our free ecommerce tools, no sign-up needed.
Frequently asked questions
Can my feed title differ from my website title?
Yes, a little. The feed title can be more attribute-rich, but it must accurately describe the same product.
Should I put the brand first?
For known brands, yes. For unknown or own brands, lead with the product type.
How many characters does Google Shopping show?
Typically around 70, depending on device and layout. Up to 150 are allowed in the feed.
Will changing titles reset performance?
No. Better titles usually improve matching within a few days of the next feed update.