Writing Proper Title and Description Meta-Tags for Google

First, I'll cover the HTML title element within the source code of your webpage.

This is the on-page source code element that is the most important factor google/search engines use to find out what your website is about and gives a ranking to that page based on what it finds. I will also cover the descriptive element within the SERPs [Search Engine Results Pages] that searchers use when deciding which link to click.

So, let’s take a closer look at 4 factors which are used in a well written google title tag...
1. They include the exact phrase the page should rank for.
2. They place that exact phrase at the very beginning of the title.
3. They repeat the words in some variation within the tag.
4. They stay within the 65 character limit of google, any more will cut off your last word. NOT GOOD!

Ok, as an example I want to rank high for Dog Crate Training, because I sell dog crates; Below are a couple of very good title tags...

The one below uses exactly 63 chars. and uses it first and then again in a variation; It's not necessary to rack your brain to use all 65 chars. 55, or 60 is good too.

Dog Crate Training, Use Dog Crates In Home Training, Crate Sale good title tag Dog Crate Training, Top Crate Dog Training Techniques

The title tags use the keyword phrase in exact order at start the title. Then you want to basically use the primary keyword again but in a variation [DO NOT REPEAT THE EXACT ORDER AGAIN]. Doing this helps kick up ranking chances for closely related keywords also i.e. In Home Dog Training.

Targeting singular or plural versions, or to use variations, consider two elements:
1. Your keyword research - How much traffic are those related keywords getting? I've already worked this out for you in my keyword research service.
2. Your competitive analysis - How hard will it be to outrank the competition for those keywords? Again this has been done for you and shown in the spreadsheet analysis I sent you.

The title tags above are at or under the 65 char. limit Google uses when displaying titles in their search results. While the Googlebot will spider (but not show) titles over 65 chars. it will cut long title tags at that limit so if I used 66 chars. I would lose my last word. This title tag will show ... at the end.

Writing Good Description Meta Tags

You may not be an SEO expert, you should be an expert in your own website niche, and I'm going to give you expert knowledge following the exact simple guidelines I use to write good solid keyword meta-tags.

Writing description tag content is good because it helps you clearly explain the what your business is about and also a great opportunity to sell a click. In other words give the searcher a better reason to click your link instead of a competitors link.

The Four Step Guide to Writing Great Google Description Meta-tags:

The character limit [including spaces] is 150.

1. Use your keyword phrase very close to the beginning: This is similar to the title tag, but you could use Get, Sells, Find, Top, Best etc...

Top dog crate training techniques for in home training, best crates for safety and the absolute best new crates are on sale today for a limited time.

2. Include any unique words to produce even more interest: I used absolute best, sale and limited time. In short tell them why your service or product is better. In my example the words "sale today" and for a "limited time" creates a sense of urgency and note I used it near the end.

Always keep in mind competing sites will also appear offering similar products or services. If your description tag provides some distinct or unusual info, giving added benefits provides a searcher to click-thru to your site increasing traffic!

3. Put this description in the meta tag section between the head tags and adding content or supporting text on the page itself will add even more relevance to search engines when spidering your site.

Taken some serious time and experiment with different ones, when you write a good one you will know it instantly. They know what your business is about now, and have even more reasons why they should buy your product or service and I can guarantee you will get more traffic and be ahead of 99% of the sites competing for the same clickers.

HOT TIP: Beyond the Meta-Tags:

Use a variation of your keywords in the first paragraph or when possible put it on your web page heading line, similar to the title tag but NEVER use the words in the exact order, mix them up but be sure it makes sense. If you place it in the opening paragraph or within your content, then the SEO value of the description is weighed even more heavily.

4. Write a unique description tag for each of your pages:
Once you've mastered one page do it for all pages, particurly the product, service, faq and about pages make great real estate. A mistake I see all to often on most websites is to use the same meta-tags on every page. Every page is unique!

Examine pages carefully and think of how that page is important to your marketing efforts, and make a unique title and description tag. And use a combo of description and title for that page in heading and within the content.

I know everyone is not a great SEO meta-tag writer and may feel more comfortable having a long time expert do this for them. If that's the case please click SEO my Homepage and I will do this for you.

Another thing to consider if you're not able to log in and add these on your own please contact your me, you need either an FTP username/password or a back office log in for shopping cart and blog sites.

FEEDBACK: I greatly appreciate your business and it would greatly benefit us both to leave good feedback on ebay's website. You can leave your website URL in the comment area for a link back from a BIG authority website.

Thanks again, Dave