Why Are Meta Titles Important?

Meta titles play a crucial role in both SEO and user experience. Here’s why they matter:

1. Impact on SEO Rankings: Search engines like Google analyze title tags to determine what a page is about and how relevant it is to a user’s search query. A well-optimized title can improve your rankings.
2. Influence Click-Through Rates (CTR): Since the title appears in search results, it directly affects how many people click on your link. A compelling, keyword-rich title can increase traffic and enhance your brand’s perception.
3. Appear in Link Previews: When your page is shared on social media or messaging apps, the title appears in the preview. A clear and engaging title can encourage more clicks.
4. Enhance User Navigation: Titles are displayed in browser tabs, helping users easily identify and switch between multiple open pages. A well-structured title improves user experience.

Now that you know why meta titles matter, let’s dive into the ideal length and best practices for writing them effectively! 

How to Craft the Perfect Meta Title: Length & Best Practices

Title tags should ideally be between 50 and 60 characters long including spaces. However, there is no strict character limit, as Google may display more or fewer characters based on screen size, search query, and device type.

If your title is too short, it may not fully describe the page’s content, leading to lower engagement. For example, this title tag is very short and unable to deliver the right message to its audience.

If your title is too long, search engines might truncate it, cutting off important words and making it less impactful. For example, this title tag got cut off and now says, 8 best last-minute winter sun holiday destinations just a….. which doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Best Practices for Writing SEO-Friendly Titles

Search engine like Google sometime rewrites title tags when they don’t align well with page content or user intent. While you can’t control exactly how your title appears in search results, strategic optimization can significantly improve the chances of it being displayed as intended. Best practice for writing good SEO title 

1. Keep it under 60 characters to avoid truncation.
2. Place primary keywords early for better relevance.
3. Make it compelling with numbers or power words.
4. Align Your Title with Search Intent
5. Avoid all caps & keyword stuffing for readability.
6. Test & refine by tracking CTR and adjusting.

What Is a Meta Description?

A Meta Description is an HTML tag that provides a concise summary of a webpage’s content. It typically appears as a snippet below the page’s title and URL in search engine results pages (SERPs). While Google and other search engines may generate their own snippets based on the content of the page, a well-crafted meta description can improve click-through rates (CTR) by attracting users with a relevant and engaging summary.

Here’s an example of how a meta description may be displayed on a Search Engine Results Page (SERP), as shown in in the screenshot below.

Why Are Meta Descriptions Important?

While meta descriptions are not a direct ranking factor, they play a crucial role in SEO by influencing user engagement and click-through rates (CTR).

A well-crafted meta description serves as a search snippet, providing users with a clear and compelling preview of your page’s content. This not only helps your page stand out in search engine results but also encourages more users to click on your link, driving more organic traffic and increasing brand visibility.

Are Meta Descriptions Necessary for Every Page?

While adding meta descriptions to all your pages is beneficial, it isn’t always mandatory. Google often generates its own snippets based on the user’s search query and the content on your page. If your page meta description doesn’t fully align with the search intent, Google may replace it with a more relevant snippet to improve user experience.

That said, writing compelling meta descriptions can still help increase click-through rates (CTR) and make your pages more appealing in search results. When your description closely matches a user’s query, Google may also bold relevant keywords, making your snippet stand out even more.

Best Practices for Writing SEO-Friendly Description 

A well-optimized meta description should typically be less than 150 – 160characters, including spaces. However, Google does not enforce a strict character limit. The actual length displayed in SERPs may vary depending on factors such as screen size, search query, and device type. Best practice for writing good SEO descriptions:  

1. Keep it Concise & Clear: Aim for a compelling summary within 150-160 characters.
2. Use Relevant Keywords: Google may bold matching terms from a user’s query, making your snippet stand out.
3. Write for Click-Through Rate (CTR): Use action-driven language to encourage users to visit your page.
4. Avoid Duplicates: Ensure each page has a unique meta description to prevent redundancy.
5. Align with Search Intent: Make sure your description accurately reflects the content on the page.

By following these best practices, you can create meta descriptions that enhance SEO performance and attract more clicks from organic search results.

Steps to Write Meta Title and Description For Experience Cloud Pages

Before we begin, it’s important to note that SEO is only supported on production orgs for Experience Builder sites that are either fully public or have some public pages. SEO is not supported on Developer Edition, sandbox, or trial orgs.  Once your site is made public, search engines can index its public pages, making them discoverable in search results.

Now, let’s help Olivia create a meta title and meta description for Experience Cloud pages. She should follow the steps below:

1. In Experience Builder, navigate to Pages → Page Settings.
2. Select the Meet Rakesh Gupta page where you want to add the meta title and description.
   
3. Now Olivia can enter the Title and Description under SEO section, in the page settings.
4. Once done, be sure to Publish the Experience Cloud site.