To understand how to write a great title and meta description for each of your website’s pages, we need to know what a title and meta description are!
- Title: The title is the blue text at the top of each search result.
- Meta Description: The meta description is the short explanation of each search result displayed under the title.
These descriptions are probably the shortest part of your webpages and blog posts, but they’re the most important. That’s because it’s your title and meta description that encourage people to visit your website from the search results. Your descriptions need to be click-worthy!
1. The Right Size
When your title and meta descriptions get too long, Google cuts them off. If they’re too short, Google is more likely to add information it thinks is important. YOU know what your webpage is about, so YOU should get to decide what is displayed in the search results. Sticking to the right size gives you a better chance.
- Titles should be about 60 characters long.
- Meta descriptions should be about 150 characters long.
Tip: The WordPress plugin Yoast SEO lets you know if your title and meta description are the right length.
2. The Right Words
SEO is all about being the best answer to the question someone typed into Google. Your title and meta description need to clearly explain what information someone is going to find on that webpage, so they know if they’ll find the answer their question.
Google highlights words and phrases similar to those a searcher used. Incorporate common search terms related to your page’s topic to help your title and meta description look more relevant.
3. The Right Information
Your title and meta description need to be small but mighty. You only have a sentence to describe a whole page of information about your center. How do you stand out among other centers in a sea of search results?
Infuse your center’s personality and values into your meta description. Just a few words can make a difference. Add emotion, reassure parents with your expertise and stay away from spammy language. Double check for typos because they can really stand out in such a small space.
Your website may automatically add the date you published your blog posts to your meta description. A recent date can make your website look like the best option in the search results. However, a date that’s a few years old makes your post look outdated, even if the information is still relevant.
