Meta tags are snippets of text that describe a page’s content. They don’t appear on the page itself but rather in the source code. These small snippets of content basically tell the search engines what a page is about. Meta tags can help with SEO, but not all the time. Still, it’s important to know how to use these tags correctly.
Below you’ll find the main types of meta tags, along with tips for writing them to boost your SEO. If you need more insight, be sure to check out Google’s best practices for writing meta tags.
Title Tags
Title tags tell Google and users what the title of the page is. It is visible to users in the search results but not within the page. When writing title tags, be sure to summarize the main topic of the page, include your main keywords and be accurate and descriptive. Aim for around 60 characters.
Meta Description Tags
Meta description tags allow you to write a brief description of the page, and this is visible in the search results. Google doesn’t always post the content – sometimes it’s generated automatically from the content on the page.
To ensure your meta descriptions are high in quality, make them attractive and original, include your main keywords (preferably at the beginning) and summarize your content so readers know what to expect. Also stick within 140-160 characters.
Meta-robots
The robots meta-tag specifically tells a search engine whether a page should be indexed or followed or not. Typically, it defaults to index, follow, so you may not have to specify them if this is what you intend. But, if you don’t want a page indexed or followed, you’ll need to edit the robots tag with a plugin like Yoast SEO.
Meta Viewport Tag
The meta viewport tag is used to control the way the search engines render and display a page on different devices. We recommend using a meta viewport tag on your whole website so that your content adapts to the mobile version.
Meta Tags for SEO – Yes, You Need Them!
These are just a few of the tags you need to know for SEO purposes. Not all of them are ranking factors, but they do influence how your website ranks. Not to mention, optimizing your tags helps users understand what your content is about. This way, they’re more likely to click on it and interact with your content.
To learn more about meta tags and how to use them to communicate with users, contact the technical SEO experts at Magna Technology today.
