What is meta data?
Meta data is a series of HTML tags defined on each webpage of your website to specify information about the page, for SEO purposes. A meta title should describe the page, and will appear in the browser tab as well as in search engine results, such as google. A meta description summarizes a page's content and displays in the search results below the page title.
1. Keyword research
Keyword research involves identifying the most relevant and valuable keywords for your business or website. This involves understanding the search intent behind different queries and identifying the keywords and phrases that are most likely to drive traffic and conversions.
To choose keywords, resources like Google Trends and Keyword Tool are available to understand which searches are trending and why. Once you have Google Search Console (ask me how!) set up on your website, you can see which keywords are generating clicks and revise keywords based on that information.
When generating meta data, it's a good idea to choose 5 to 7 keywords that are relevant to your content and incorporate these when writing a meta title and description.
2. Meta titles
The meta title provides both users and search engines with a concise and accurate summary of the content on the page. It should be written with both human readers and search engines in mind, using relevant keywords and compelling language to encourage clicks and engagement.
A good meta title should typically be between 50-60 characters long, including spaces. This allows it to display properly in search results without being truncated or cut off.
3. Meta descriptions
A meta description should be no more than 155-160 characters, including spaces. This ensures that the entire description will be visible in search results and can help you focus on the most important information.
Each page on your site should have a unique meta description that accurately reflects its content. Avoid duplicating descriptions across multiple pages or using generic or vague language that doesn't provide value to users.
You should also include action words, such as, 'Discover', 'Explore' or 'Learn' to encourage users to click and improve your CTR (Clickthrough Rate).
Key takeaways
By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can create compelling titles and descriptions that not only improve your search engine rankings but also entice potential customers to click through to your website. Remember to keep your titles and descriptions concise, relevant, and unique, and always prioritize your target audience's needs and interests. With a little bit of effort and creativity, you can create meta descriptions and titles that stand out from the competition and drive more traffic to your website.
- Google Trends and Google Search Console are available tool to understand which keywords are trending
- Use relevant keywords in your meta data and website content
- Include action words, such as, 'Discover', 'Explore' or 'Learn'
- Meta title should typically be between 50-60 characters long
- Meta description should be no more than 155-160 characters
