Meta Tags Analysis

Optimize your website's metadata for better search engine visibility

What Are Meta Tags?

Meta tags are snippets of HTML code in the <head> section of web pages that provide information about a page to search engines and website visitors. They are not visible on the page itself but play a critical role in how search engines understand and index your content.

These tags inform search engines what your page is about, helping them properly index your pages and display them in relevant search results. Some meta tags also control how your pages appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) and on social media when shared.

While meta tags are not a direct ranking factor today as they were in the past, they still indirectly impact your SEO performance through improved click-through rates and user experience.

<head>
  <title>Page Title Goes Here</title>
  <meta name="description" content="A brief description of the page content.">
  <meta name="keywords" content="relevant, keywords, here">
  <meta name="robots" content="index, follow">
  <meta property="og:title" content="Title for Social Sharing">
  <meta property="og:description" content="Description for Social Sharing">
  <meta property="og:image" content="https://example.com/image.jpg">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
</head>

Types of Meta Tags We Analyze

Title Tags

The title tag is the most important meta tag for SEO. It appears as the clickable headline in search results and is a major factor in helping users decide whether to click on your page.

<title>Primary Keyword - Secondary Keyword | Brand Name</title>

Best Practices:

Keep under 60 characters to avoid truncation in search results
Include your primary keyword near the beginning
Make each title unique across your website
Be descriptive and enticing to encourage clicks

Meta Descriptions

While not a direct ranking factor, meta descriptions appear as the snippet of text below the title in search results. A well-crafted meta description can significantly improve click-through rates.

<meta name="description" content="A compelling summary of your page content that includes relevant keywords and a call to action.">

Best Practices:

Keep between 120-158 characters
Include primary and secondary keywords naturally
Write compelling, actionable content
Provide a clear value proposition

Robots Tags

Robots meta tags tell search engines whether to index a page and follow its links. These tags are crucial for controlling which pages search engines should include in their index.

<meta name="robots" content="index, follow">
<meta name="robots" content="noindex, nofollow">

Best Practices:

Use "index, follow" for pages you want in search results
Use "noindex, nofollow" for private, duplicate, or thin content pages
Consider more specific directives like "noarchive" or "noimageindex" when needed

Open Graph Tags

Open Graph meta tags control how your content appears when shared on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. They help create more engaging and visually appealing social shares.

<meta property="og:title" content="Your Social Title">
<meta property="og:description" content="Your social description">
<meta property="og:image" content="https://example.com/image.jpg">
<meta property="og:url" content="https://example.com/page">
<meta property="og:type" content="website">

Best Practices:

Use high-quality images with 1200×630 pixels dimension
Write compelling titles and descriptions specifically for social sharing
Set the correct og:type value

Viewport Tag

The viewport meta tag controls how your page is displayed on mobile devices. It's essential for responsive design and mobile-friendly websites, which are crucial for SEO as Google uses mobile-first indexing.

<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">

Best Practices:

Always include this tag on responsive websites
Use "width=device-width" to match the screen's width
Set "initial-scale=1" for a 1:1 ratio between CSS pixels and device pixels

Language Tags

Language meta tags help search engines understand the language of your content and present it to the appropriate audience. This is especially important for multilingual websites.

<meta http-equiv="content-language" content="en">
<html lang="en">

Best Practices:

Specify the language in both the HTML tag and meta tag
Use proper language codes (e.g., "en" for English, "es" for Spanish)
For pages with multiple languages, specify the primary language

Impact of Optimized Meta Tags

30%

Higher click-through rates with optimized title tags and meta descriptions

65%

More engagement on social media with proper Open Graph tags

47%

Better search visibility for non-branded search queries

Increased social shares with optimized Open Graph images

How Optimized Meta Tags Help Your Website

Improved Search Visibility

Properly optimized meta tags help search engines understand your content, potentially improving rankings.

Higher Click-Through Rates

Compelling titles and descriptions entice users to click on your search listings.

Better Social Sharing

Open Graph tags ensure your content looks great when shared on social platforms.

Enhanced Mobile Experience

Proper viewport tags ensure your site displays correctly on mobile devices.

Meta Tag Best Practices

Title Tag Best Practices

Keep titles under 60 characters
Place primary keywords near the beginning
Include your brand name
Make each title unique across your site
Write for humans, not just search engines
Make it compelling and click-worthy

Meta Description Best Practices

Keep descriptions between 120-158 characters
Include relevant keywords naturally
Make each description unique
Include a call to action when appropriate
Accurately summarize the page content
Use active voice and compelling language

Open Graph Tag Best Practices

Include og:title, og:description, og:image, and og:url as minimum
Use 1200×630 pixel images for optimal display
Write specific social titles and descriptions
Set the correct og:type value
Test your tags with social media validators
Update Open Graph tags when page content changes