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Why Google Won't Show Your Custom Site Name (And What You Can Do About It)

36 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → All in one seo

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One of the most common questions users have about All in One SEO is why their carefully chosen site name doesn't appear in Google search results. Instead, they often see their domain name or another automated title. This can be frustrating after configuring the plugin's settings, but the issue usually lies with Google's automated systems, not the plugin itself.

Why This Happens: Google's Automated Process

As seen in multiple support threads, the display of a site name in Google Search results is not something any SEO plugin can directly control. The 'All in One SEO' team, and Google's own documentation, consistently state that this process is fully automated. Google's algorithm generates the site name by analyzing your site's content and how other websites reference it across the web.

While All in One SEO provides a field to suggest a site name (in All in One SEO > Search Appearance > Knowledge Graph > Alternate Website Name), Google treats this only as a recommendation. They may choose to use it, ignore it, or select a different name they deem more relevant to the user's search query.

What You Can Do: Best Practices

Although you cannot force Google to display a specific name, you can take steps to improve the likelihood that your suggestion is adopted.

  1. Set a Clear Suggestion: Ensure you have populated the 'Alternate Website Name' field in the Knowledge Graph settings. This provides Google with a direct recommendation.
  2. Use Your Site Name Consistently: Use your desired site name prominently in your website's title, headers (H1 tags), and footer. Consistent internal usage helps Google understand your branding.
  3. Build External References: A significant factor Google considers is how other sites link to you. Seek backlinks and mentions from reputable websites using your desired company or site name as the anchor text.
  4. Be Patient: Even after making these changes, it can take weeks or even months for Google to recrawl your site and the wider web, process the new information, and potentially update the displayed site name.

Important Note on Favicons and Logos

It's important to distinguish the site name from the favicon or site icon. The favicon is set through your WordPress settings under Appearance > Customize > Site Identity and is not controlled by All in One SEO. Google has its own guidelines for displaying favicons in search results, which is also an automated process.

Similarly, the image that appears next to some search results is chosen automatically by Google based on the search query and cannot be directly set through the plugin, though adding a logo in the Knowledge Graph section provides a suggestion.

When to Look Elsewhere

If your site is showing a name in a completely different language (e.g., Chinese or Japanese characters), this is typically a sign of a security issue known as the 'Japanese keyword hack,' not a problem with All in One SEO. In this case, you should focus on securing your website.

Ultimately, displaying a custom site name in Google search results is not guaranteed. By following these best practices, you can strongly suggest your preferred name, but the final decision always rests with Google's algorithm.

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