Meta tags are like search engine optimization voodoo. Meta tags aren’t the sure all fix to move to the top of the search engine results page (SERP) but definitely are a piece of the pie to get there. It basically helps tell the search engines what your page is about.
Meta tags are code that lay within the header of the HTML and the main ones used are title tag, description meta tags and keyword meta tag.
- A title tag is what appears in the tab or bar of your browser, depending which browser you use, as well as in the search engine results page (SERP). It further helps the search engines explain what the page is about. A title tag should have less than 60 characters (including spaces) to accommodate most search engines.
- The description meta tag is a larger description of what the page is about. It also shows up in the SERP below the title and helps those searching to get a better idea about your page or website. This should give you an indication of how important it is. The more understandable the description is the better chance the consumer will understand what services or products you provide. A description meta tag should have less than 150 characters to accommodate most search engines.
- The last of the main meta tags is the keyword meta tag. This has recently lost its value in that too many people would put too many keywords in such a way that it was redundant or “spammy”. Since then, Google has given less weight to it so it is almost pointless. I still include 3-5 good long tail keywords for each page just in case. (A short tail keyword could be like car mechanic whereas a long tail keyword could be ford mustang car mechanic Palm Beach Florida.)
There are a couple of other points to mention here in that they are important to the optimization of your website, as a whole.
- Create unique and well written tags for each and every one of your pages. This is a great opportunity to add a few keywords and explain your website.
- The meta tags are located within the header code so they have a heavier weight of importance to the search engines. Think of putting the most important content at the top and work your way down. This is helpful to the search engines and the consumer. If a consumer loses interest in reading a page on your website, at least they would have seen the most important content, at the top. Make sense?
- On that same note, put the most important keywords in the beginning of your meta description as it is more important. Plus, if the search engine cuts if off due to too many characters, at least you had the most important keyword put out first.
- Even though you want to include keywords in your meta tags, still make a point to have them make sense. You are still writing to the consumer while optimizing for the search engines.
- There really isn’t a need to use your business name in your title tag as there shouldn’t be as much competition for your business name. However, if you feel it is necessary, but it at the end so if it gets cut off due to character length, you still have the important keywords in the beginning.
I hope this has helped explain meta tags and the importance of search engine optimization to your website as well as to the consumer. Should you need help with optimizing your website, please contact me with your questions or for a consult.
Please feel free to comment or ask questions below. Don’t forget to come back for the answer! 😉
~Kristen
Kristen is a small business owner and thus dedicated to other small business owners by helping them improve their online presence with search engine optimization, social media marketing, email marketing and pay per click advertising all of which are necessary 'evils' in the digital marketing sphere but enables small business owners the opportunity to compete with larger companies. When not in the digital arena, you can find her riding her Honda VTX1300 or drinking a margarita.
Well written… still don’t get the jest of it all at times! must be me! P
Silly girl! Thanks and you aren’t alone, it is confusing and doesn’t help that things constantly change, so no, it isn’t you! 🙂 Let me know if you ever need help.
Great article. I will pass it on to people who are confused about the differences. Thanks for saving me some work!!
Glad to assist, and thanks! Surely let me know if I could be of assistance! 😉
I am so glad you did this! It’s not easy to make techie jargon understandable, but you did a great job. And I don’t feel like you’ve insulted my intelligence either.
I would never intend to insult anyone’s intelligence, but glad I didn’t. You are so right, it is very hard to explain without belittling or making it MORE confusing. Glad to help, even if a little. Thanks Jac!
Great article! and pretty easy to understand! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
You are welcome Patricia, glad to help.
My head starts to spin when I try to make sense of all the tech talk! lol But thanks for the breakdown, I was actually able to follow what you were saying. 🙂
WIN WIN.. you get the deer in headlights look on this stuff BUT YET you still followed, excellent! 😉
Thanks for this! I so struggle with meta tags!
You are welcome Maria, no need to struggle, let me know how I can help. 😉
I didn’t realize that meta tags were still a thing. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Looks like I have some meta tagging to do!
Yea, definitely, it’s what consumers see in the search engines. If you have a crap title and description tag, Google makes one for you… you know how they talk don’t you – in binary. Way I see it, it’s my biz, I’ll do the explaining if you don’t mind. KW aren’t as essential but while you are in “there” might as well hit them up too. 😉 You should have separate tags and meta for every blog. WOWZA! lol
I’m with Crystal…my head spins and my eyes glaze over when someone mentions anything remotely techie but thanks for simplifying it for those of us who need all the help we can get.
I’m so sorry that it is so confusing, but that’s why you have me! 😉 Let me know if you need more help, you won’t have to glaze over anymore! lol
You just showed me how I need to study up more on this stuff! I know some but this was fascinating! I will be back!
YAY! So glad to help and that you found it fascinating… ever changing… looking forward to you coming back. 😉
Love the breakdown that you provided Kristen. Though the online world is ever changing at a rapid pace, there is power in having control over what we can and letting the chips fall where they may. Thanks for the breakdown and explanation.
Thanks Edmund, so true.. this is an ever changing world of technology. That’s part of why keyword meta tags aren’t as relevant. They used to have value, not now as much. Thanks!
Great post. Thank you well written and easy to follow.
Thank you for the explanation. You’ve laid out the terms in a way I can easily understand. Appreciate it!
Glad it makes sense, Stacey, but as a website designer, I’m sure you do!
Great informational post! So many people do not know what metatags are. This is a great reference.
Thanks so much Heather, glad you saw the value as a reference!