[This post is part of the WordPress Guide for Beginners – Step by Step Tutorials]
One of the best way to convince people to click on your search results is using proper Meta Title and Meta Description. It also drives traffic from Social Media.
What is the benefit if Google shows your posts on Search Listing but no one reads that out! Zero Benefit. I know you have GREAT content. But people won’t determine whether it is great or worst until they check that out.
So one of our main concern is that to enforce people to open our post. As you know Google serves million of results when you search for any term. And few of them show on the first page. Most of the time visitors visit the first page results. If your posts has good meta tags then you have the chance to get click on your post.
Lets check what Matt Cutts says about Meta Title and Description.
[video_skin style=”6″ title=”Watch this video…” tag=”h4″ player=”youtube” video_id=”THYguer_JrM” controls=”yes” width=”485″ height=”295″]
So you’ve realized the importance of Meta title and description. In this post I will show you how to add meta tags. Before we dive to the tutorial lets get more idea about meta title and meta description.
What is Meta Title?
Meta title is a meta tag that shows in the search engines. It may not be the same as Post Tittle. Actually it is the name of webpage, that displays at the top of the browser. See the screenshot.
Read: How to Optimize Post Title for SEO and Readers
What is Meta Description?
Meta Description is a meta tag that summarizes the content of a post/page. It provides the short description of a page. Sometimes Google shows it under Meta Title. Most of the Social Networking sites like Facebook, Google+ etc pull the meta description whenever you shared links with your friends.
In a nutshell, it lets the people know what about your post is. To make it more clear here the Meta Description used by Google.
Read: How to Write a Good Meta Description That Increases CTR
How to Add Meta Title and Description
Many WordPress Themes like Thesis, Genesis etc has the built-in option to add Meta Title and Meta Description. If your theme does contain that then you can easily use it. You will find that option under your Post Editor.
But I recommend you not to use that built-in option. The reason is you may lose your data when you change your theme.
So what should you do?
All you need to do in installing a WordPress Plugin that lets you add Meta tags. There are several plugins that help you to do that.
All in One SEO and WordPress SEO by Yoast are the two best plugin that allow you add meta tag box under your post editor. Most of the probloggers suggest to use SEO by Yoast Plugin.
Once you’ve installed the plugin, you will notice a box like that under editor
Just put your Meta Title on Title box and Meta Description on Description box. Once you’ve published your post you’ll notice the meta tags whenever you share it with your friends on Facebook.
Do let us if you use meta title and meta description for every post. If yes, Do you get any benefit from it? Share your opinions via comments.
14 Comments
Dear Istiak,
Thanks for sharing this valuable information.
Can you also show us how to add the meta description in Site header.So when search engines search our site a brief description of our site will be shown there.
You can use Yoast SEO plugin for that.
Nice sharing. Meta description is an important SEO factor. So we must add meta description in our blog posts. Your article will be helpful to add the meta description. I am using WordPress SEO by Yoast plugin. It allows me to add meta description easily.
Thanks for your informative article.
Is it possible to do without plugin ?
Yes, it’s possible. But using a plugin is the easiest way.
Hi Istiak, Thanks for this post.
Really it helped me much and I am following WordPress Guide for Beginners – Step by Step Tutorials.
Keep it continue. I am applying your guideline in my blog and it looks more easy now than before.
Glad I could help. I haven’t updated this page for a long time. I will update this with new posts soon. Thanks for stopping by.
Respected Sir
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thanks ..
Amit, thanks for your kind words. If you need any help, let me know.
Thanks bro for this awesome tips, need more post about WordPress.
Glad you liked it. BTW, have you checked our WordPress Guide for Beginners – Step by Step Tutorials?
Great !!! Yar ..you are student of BBA still now your content contain the details just like writeen by an IT Professional…Grat !!! Salute your Content yar :-)
Thanks Istiak for indepth tutorial on Title and Meta description. These indeed are real seo necessity. regards.
It’s important for CTR rather than SEO.