Site command returns domain, not title - reason for lost traffic?

[backdraft7]

I just did a "site: www.domain.com" command on Google and the first result is my main page (www.domain.com), however, the actual title is missing and is simple replaced by "Domain.com". The description appears to be correct. Anyone else seeing this?
When I do a regular search, logged out, instant on, history disabled, my site appears in the top 3 for hundreds of keywords (7500 actually).
I am just wondering if they hobbled my site somehow, because even with all the apparent high listing, traffic is virtually zero.

[backdraft7]

Anyone know if this might signify a penalty of some sort?

[BenFox]

Google doesn't always display your page title and description as the appear in your meta data. It's plausible that because you used the site: command it determined you would be more interested in the URL than the page title - especially if the page title is very different from your brand or URL.

[jimbeetle]

Yes, what BenFox said on the title, Google has been rewriting them depending on query.

"site: www.domain.com"

Probably a typo, but just in case, there should be no space, [ site:example.com ]

[piatkow]

I regularly see a description from DMOZ on some SERPS from my site. I have never noticed the title being messed around.

[bumpski]

piatkow

FYI, you can ad this meta-tag to your page so your description will be used instead of DMOZ.

<meta name="robots" content="noodp">

[bumpski]

This used to be what happened if Google could not access your site for a couple times in a row. Check your logs to make sure Google has been crawling your site successfully.

Also I'd make sure somebody hasn't hacked your site's source code. Sometimes it's not obvious.

[tedster]

Google may still create their own title or description snippet - they're doing that a lot more recently. However, with that meta-tag you can at least stop them from using something inappropriate and out-of-date from DMOZ.

[scooterdude]

i am quite certain that google is able to recognise your pc even if you're logged out off google, after all, if advertisers can track web users,,,,,

you're probably seeing the SERPS generated just for you

This is not a unique experience

[tedster]

Ijust re-read your opening post. If you can verify that Google is changing your title for a key search, then yes - that could be a reason for a traffic drop. Is there any reason why your title might be considered poor that you can see? A multiple keyword list, for instance?

[misterjinx]

Please also consider this official answer from John Mueller when Google human quality raters rewrite titles: [google.com...]

[tedster]

Why do you think JohnMu's answer is about human quality raters? As I read that post, it could just as well be about an algorithm - which is the way I understand Google's title rewrites.

[misterjinx]

Tedster, you're right. Sorry for the mistake. Please skip "human quality rater" words in my post.