Title tags and meta descriptions are HTML elements that provide search engines and users with information about a webpage.

Title tags, which are frequently displayed in search engine results as the clickable headline for a webpage, provide a brief and accurate summary of the page's content. They are usually limited to 60 characters and must be unique for each page.

Meta descriptions are less than title tags in length and provide a more detailed summary of the page's content. They are usually limited to 155 characters and should be written in a way that entices users to click through to the page.

Title tags and meta descriptions are important for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) because they assist search engines in understanding what a page is about and can also be used to influence click-through rates from search engine results.

How title tags and meta descriptions should be done

There are a few best practices to follow when creating title tags and meta descriptions for your website:

Maintain unique title tags and meta descriptions: Each page on your website should have its own distinct title tag and meta description. Avoid repeating text across multiple pages.

Keywords should be used strategically: Include relevant keywords in your title tags and meta descriptions, but avoid keyword stuffing.

Title tags should be around 60 characters or less, and meta descriptions should be around 155 characters or less. Longer text may be truncated by search engines, so make sure the most important information is at the top.

Make it appealing: Your title tag and meta description should be written in a way that entices users to visit your website. Make sure your meta descriptions are coherent and descriptive by using action-oriented language.

Complement the content: Title tags and meta descriptions should accurately reflect the page's content. The use of clickbait or deceptive language should be avoided.

Use schema markup: Schema markup can be used to improve your title tags and meta descriptions.

Regularly review and update your title tags and meta descriptions: As you make changes to your website, make sure to review and update your title tags and meta descriptions as needed.

While title tags and meta descriptions are important for SEO, they are only two of many factors that search engines use to determine the relevance and quality of a webpage. Content, relevance, link popularity, and other factors all play a role in determining a webpage's search engine ranking.

This article was first published at https://topclick.co.za/what-are-title-tags-and-meta-descriptions/