Adding meta descriptions and titles

Last updated: July 16, 2024

Read time: 7 minutes

Adding meta titles and descriptions is crucial for improving your site’s SEO and attracting more visitors. Here’s how to add meta titles and descriptions.

Scroll Down to the Yoast SEO Meta Box

In the post or page editor, scroll down to find the Yoast SEO meta box below the content editor or flexible content blocks.

the yoast meta box

Edit the Meta Title

In the Yoast SEO meta box, click on the “SEO” tab if it’s not already selected.
Under the “SEO Title” field, you will see a preview of how your meta title will appear in search engine results.
You can customise the meta title by clicking in the “SEO Title” field and entering your desired title. Yoast provides placeholders such as %%title%% and %%sitename%% which you can use to dynamically generate parts of the title.

adding a meta title

Edit the Meta Description

Below the “SEO Title” field, you will find the “Meta description” field.
Click in the “Meta description” field and enter a brief and compelling description of your post or page. The meta description should provide a concise summary and include relevant keywords.

adding a meta description

Check the Snippet Preview

As you enter your meta title and description, the snippet preview will update in real-time, showing how your post or page will appear in search engine results.

previewing the meta title and description

Save or Update Your Post/Page

Once you’ve added and reviewed your meta title and description, make sure to save your changes.
Click “Save Draft” or “Publish” if you’re working on a new post or page, or “Update” if you’re editing an existing one.

saving the post or page

Top tips

Keep it Concise: Meta titles should be under 60 characters and meta descriptions should be under 160 characters to ensure they display fully in search results.
Include Keywords: Use relevant keywords in your meta titles and descriptions to improve SEO.
Unique Descriptions: Ensure each post or page has a unique meta description to avoid duplicate content issues.

Frequently asked questions

What are meta titles and descriptions?

Meta titles and descriptions are essential elements of search engine optimisation (SEO) that provide concise summaries of your web pages.

The meta title, also known as the title tag, is the clickable headline displayed on search engine results pages (SERPs), while the meta description is a brief snippet that appears below the title, offering a quick overview of the page’s content. Using meta titles and descriptions can significantly enhance your site’s visibility and click-through rates by effectively communicating the relevance and value of your content to both search engines and users. They help attract the right audience, improve your rankings, and drive more organic traffic to your website.

What is Yoast?

Yoast is a popular SEO plugin for WordPress that helps users optimise their websites for search engines. It offers a range of features designed to improve your site’s SEO, making it easier for your content to rank higher in search engine results.