Meta Tags and Meta Descriptions SEO advice
What is a Meta Tag?
A Meta Tag is a HTML tag that provides information (Key Words) about a Web page. Unlike normal HTML tags, Meta tags do not affect how the page is displayed. Instead, they provide information such as who created the page, how often it is updated, what the page is about, and which keywords are represented the page’s content. Google does not look at Meta Tags when ranking your website/page and has not done so for a few years. Google says it has no plans to change this policy but we would advise you to add some in case this changes also bear in mind some of the other Search Engines do use Meta Tag information when they are ranking your website.
Meta Descriptions
The Meta Description is used to describe the content on the page and unlike the Meta Tags Google does still look at this and usually uses it in their search results.
Our SEO Expert always recommends that the Meta Description should use some of the pages keywords but don’t overdo it, the description should read like a sentence and should be 70 to 160 characters long. This description will be shown in the search results and is the black text on the listing, make sure it is punchy as what you write will determine whether or not a potential customer will click through to your website. Before you know it you will become an SEO Expert yourself telling everyone how and why to change their meta description or maybe you will just keep it to yourself.
Remember don’t overdo the Meta tags or Meta Description too many keywords will have a negative effect on your Google ranking. If you haven’t already read it please look at the Title Pages article.
Other useful articles;
- Choosing a domain name
- Research your Keywords
- Writing Content
- Page Titles
- Comply with internet standards
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