If you’re new to search engine optimization (SEO), you may have come across terms like meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text.
As a content writer turned copywriter, it’s one of the most common things I see forgotten for big, established brands and startups. At the same time, it might seem like another thing to bout, but getting it right can be a big deal.
While it might seem like technical jargon you don’t need to know about, it plays a crucial role in improving your website’s visibility and ranking. This blog post will share what these terms mean and why they matter.
What are meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text?
These comprise a website's framework and provide information about its contents. They help with search engine optimization, and it's recommended that every well-optimized website have all three. This means that when someone types a keyword into a search engine, they will be sent to the best results for that keyword. Keyword research is crucial for compelling meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text.
Meta titles
A meta title, also known as a title tag, is an HTML element that appears in the head section of a webpage. The text at the top of a web browser window is typically the search engine result's headline. Meta titles must be concise, accurately describe the page's content, and contain pertinent keywords that users may search for. A meta title tells search engines and visitors what your page is about briefly and accurately. In addition to appearing in search engine results pages (SERPs), meta titles can also appear on the pane of your web browser. To view a page's meta title, right-click on any page area and select "View Page Source" from the menu that appears.
You will discover something that resembles this:
<heading> title>title>Example Title/title> /head>
However, this format may alter based on your content management system. For instance, if you're using WordPress, you can add the meta title in general settings under "Tagline." Meta titles, like meta descriptions, adhere to a standard for optimal format and duration.
A meta title should ideally be formatted as follows:
Your primary keyword – Your secondary keyword
The length of a meta title should be between 50 and 60 characters. More than that, and you risk having your text cut off by search engines like Google. If you want your titles to be displayed correctly, adhere to the above title length.
Why Are Meta Titles Important?
Meta titles give search engines and visitors a glimpse of what they can find in your page. They help them understand what your content on a particular page is about and can play a role in influencing a visitor’s decision to click on your link or not.
Regarding page rankings, meta titles can affect how well a page ranks on SERPs, given that they’re an essential on-page SEO component. Putting keywords closer to the beginning of your title tag gives them a higher chance to rank in keyword-based searches.
How to Write a Good Meta Title?
You can follow some rules to write a good title tag: Pay attention to how long your title is. As was already said, it's best to keep your title to 60 characters or less, including spaces. But it's not as simple as that. You can have no set number of characters in your title tag, but there is a 600-pixel box you need to know about.
Photo by Zyro
Regarding meta titles, it's essential to do a keyword study. Page results don't just depend on one primary keyword. In the case of long-tail keywords, they also consider related terms and other variations. And even though it may be tempting to put a lot of keywords in your title tag, don't do that. This is called keyword stuffing. This could harm the user's experience, hurting your ranking on SERPs. Keep in mind that you're not just writing for search engines but also for people.
Don't use title tags more than once. Duplicate title tags can make it harder for people to find your page on SERPs. Giving each page a different title can take some of your time, but it will help you make each page stand out in the long run. It makes it easier for your guests to understand what a page is about, making it more appealing. This means that more people will click through to your page.
Meta descriptions
A meta description is a short summary that provides users with an overview of the content located on a webpage. This HTML element appears beneath the meta title in search engine results. The primary purpose of a meta description is to provide users with an overview of the page's content. Like meta titles, meta descriptions must be concise and contain pertinent keywords. By including more context and specifics, readers will comprehend the significance and function of meta descriptions for search engine optimization of web pages.
Alt text
Alt text, short for alternative text, describes an image on a webpage. Screen readers use it to describe the content of an image to visually impaired users. Alt text also plays a role in SEO because search engine crawlers cannot “see” pictures, so it helps them understand what the image is about. Alt text should be descriptive and include relevant keywords.
Why meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text matter
SEO relies heavily on meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text. They can increase your website's visibility and search engine ranking when appropriately optimized. Meta titles and descriptions are frequently the first thing users see when conducting a keyword search; therefore, they should accurately characterize the page's content and include pertinent keywords.
Alt text, on the other hand, assists search engines in comprehending the content of an image, which can increase the overall relevance and authority of your website. Alt text is also suitable for those who use a screen reader, as it can read out what an image is; additionally, if your image cannot display for whatever reason, it will display the alternative text.
Meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text can enhance user experience and their SEO benefits. Clear, concise titles and descriptions can help users rapidly understand the content of a page and decide whether to click through to it.
Need help with your meta titles, meta descriptions, or alt text?
I can help to take the weight off your fingers by writing optimized meta titles, meta descriptions, and alt text for your site, whether you're starting from scratch or looking to optimize existing content.
Get in touch to find out more, and we can take your content to the next level together.