If you aren’t currently implementing strong title and meta description practices and making them a part of your SEO strategy, you are doing yourself a disservice. To appear in SERPs, or Search Engine Results Pages, Google and other search engines need to know the content of each of your web pages. By providing a title and meta description for each page, you’re taking the first steps towards setting yourself up for SERP success.
The Importance of a Title
Your title is essentially the first impression a user sees of your webpage in SERPs. When used correctly and strategically, it’s an invaluable tool. Be sure to use keywords appropriately and be short yet precise. Typically, your titles should remain under sixty characters but are determined by various factors. Keep in mind:
- Titles should be unique to each page or product
- Try to avoid generic titles (would you be tempted to click on the title “Home” or “Best Travel Rates for Your Vacation?”
- Try using your most important or relevant words at the beginning of your title. Think of quick scanners and words that will catch their eye.
The Meaning of Meta Descriptions
A meta description is your limited window of opportunity to shine and win their click. It is a short summary of what will be found on this particular page. Generally, one hundred and sixty characters or fewer in your descriptions can significantly determine your click-through rate. While keywords are relevant, you can risk getting penalized if you are keyword stuffing, so be mindful.
Your meta description is found under your title and URL and should ideally use enough of the allotted characters to provide search engines, such as Google, and their users with a clear mental image of what to expect if they click on your link. Think of this as free advertising real estate. Who are you targeting? What speaks to them that you are providing on this page? Make your descriptions as relevant and enticing as possible for better success in attracting your audience.
Get More Clicks
Using a captivating title and meta description catches the eye of SERP scrollers and can be a powerful tool that sends more people to your site. Think about your own search experiences. Would you click on a SERP result for Dog Collar or Fashionable Dog Collars for Your Stylish Pup? The right title and meta can help drive those clicks, so get inside the mind of your users and take advantage of this game-changing tool you’ve been neglecting. While the quality of your titles and meta do not directly impact SEO rankings, the click-throughs you receive certainly do. If you’d like to learn more about setting yourself up for SEO success, stop by our blog for tons of helpful information. If you’re ready to step up your game, we’d love to hear about your website, goals, and concerns so we can help you build a strategy that works for you. Contact us today to find out how we can help get you the results you deserve.