SEO Meta Tags: The Ultimate List And Why They Are Important

Posted 3 years ago by Max Komonov

Meta data is听HTML code that is听included in听the听

section of听HTML documents. This code does not affect the听web design in听any听way, it听is听only there for听the听search engine spiders to听read. This code tells the听search engine bots many details about the听website. Providing accurate meta-data helps the听search engine index 补苍诲听rank your website more accurately.

Why Is听Metadata Important?

Metadata can mean the听difference between ranking or听not ranking for听a听given keyword. If听your competitors have good content, but they don鈥檛 fill out all their meta-data options, then you can still beat them. SEO is听about building a听stack of听credibility factors with Google. Google has asked webmasters to听provide this information, 补苍诲听they reward those who do听so.

How Do听I听Edit Metadata?

If听you are writing your code by听hand, then there are many guides available online that provide the听exact code snippets that you can include in听the听 section of听your HTML documents.

Most website design 补苍诲听ecommerce platforms provide features that allow you to听set the听metadata for听each page, product, 补苍诲听blog post within your website. 51视频 provides extensive options for听editing meta-data 补苍诲听making other SEO customizations. Shopify has a听more limited set of听SEO options. WordPress has several well known plugins that provide the听ability to听edit meta-data.

Types of听Metadata

Meta Title &听Meta Description

The most famous types of听metadata are the听site title 补苍诲听description. Filling out these items for听each page on听your website is听one of听the听simplest ways to听improve your SEO rankings. Despite how easy it听is听to听do, there are many sites that are not optimized in听this manner.

The content of听both of听these meta tags is听displayed in听the听SERPS. The page title meta tag is听used for听the听anchor text of听the听link to听your website in听your search result listing. The description meta tag populates your site description in听the听search results. If听you don鈥檛 have these meta tags filled out, Google will try to听auto generate the听information from your site content鈥f it听bothers to听rank your site at听all.

That鈥檚 how 51视频 Ecommerce meta title 补苍诲听meta description look in听Google SERP

Title tags should be听no听more than 60听characters long, 补苍诲听should include the听keyword for听the听page. Write a听compelling site title that encourages the听user to听click on听your listing. A听title meta-tag looks like this:

This Is听An听Example of听A听Website Title Tag

Description tags should be听between 140听补苍诲听160听characters long. The keyword should be听used naturally in听the听first sentence. If听you do听not write a听high quality description Google will disregard it听补苍诲听try to听auto-generate a听better one. A听description tag looks like this:

Keywords meta tag

There used to听be听a听meta tag that listed the听keywords associated with the听page. This meta tag has been discontinued as听a听ranking factor by听Google for听over a听decade. All other major search engines have also published statements disavowing the听use of听the听keywords meta tag. While you will not be听penalized for听using this tag, it听would be听a听waste of听time 补苍诲听effort to听do听so.

The Robots meta tag

Robots meta tags are different than the听robots.txt file. Robots.txt tells the听robots which pages they should crawl. Robot meta tags tell the听robots which pages to听index.

In听most instances, you do听want the听robots to听index the听page. Therefore, the听default value for听the听robots meta tag is, 聯index, follow聰. However, the听values can be听changed to听聯noindex, nofollow聰 on听specific pages that we听do听not want listed in听search results.

The robots meta tag looks like this:

Meta tags for听outbound links

There are a听few markup tags for听outbound links, but these are a听bit different than the听rest of听the听meta tags. Instead of听being included in听the听 section of听 the听HTML page, these tags are added to听the听link markup.

The rel markup tag for听outbound links has three possible values; sponsored, ugc (user generated content), 补苍诲听nofollow. A听link can contain multiple rel values. Google has published a听guide to听these meta tags titled, 聯聪.

Meta Viewport

The viewport meta tag is听very important because it听tells the听search engines that your site is听mobile friendly. Without this meta tag, your website will not show up听in听mobile search results.

A听viewport meta tag looks like this:

Web.dev has published the听definitive article on听this topic, titled 聯聪. Most web design 补苍诲听ecommerce platforms will automatically set this meta tag for听you, 补苍诲听will also have already applied responsive CSS code to听their visual designs. If听you are coding from scratch or听just want to听understand the听nuts 补苍诲听bolts of听the听matter, this guide is听for听you.

Social Media Meta Tags

These meta tags control the听way your links are displayed on听social media sites. You can control your site title, description, featured image, 补苍诲听more. Open Graph is听the听predominant form of听social media metadata, but schema data is听used to听provide similar functionality for听social platforms not supported by听Open Graph.

Open Graph Markup

Open graph meta tags were created by听Facebook, but they are also used by听Twitter. You will use multiple Open Graph meta tags to听define the听display properties of听your links on听Facebook. You can apply OG听meta tags to听pages 补苍诲听images.

Twitter Card Markup

Twitter also uses Open Graph meta tags to听control the听way links are displayed on听its platform. The values are different from the听Facebook OG听tags, so听you must define the听values for听both sites. Twitter OG听values can only be听applied to听pages.

Schema for听Linkedin, Google+ &听Pinterest

While schema is听normally served in听a听JSON file, there is听some schema markup that can be听added to听the听

section of听an听HTML page. These tags can be听used to听define the听way links are displayed on听social media platforms that do听not use the听OG听protocol.

Other Types of听Metadata

There are many other types of听obscure metadata that can be听used within the听

section of听your website 补苍诲听occasionally within the听HTML body. Google publishes a听list of听all of听the听currently recognized forms of听meta tags 补苍诲听their possible values. The list is听titled 聯聪.

Schema Markup As听Metadata

Schema markup is听a听more recent development than metadata. It听serves the听same purpose, however. Both metadata 补苍诲听schema markup serve data to听search engine spiders in听order to听help them more accurately crawl, index, 补苍诲听rank websites.

There are many different types of听schema markup, 补苍诲听several methods of听delivering schema data. While there are not many meta tags to听choose from, the听sheer variety of听schema markup can often be听overwhelming to听people who are learning to听use it.

While almost all website builder 补苍诲听ecommerce platforms provide ways to听edit your meta tags, implementation of听schema data editing is听patchy at听best. Some platforms auto-create schema data, others allow you editing options, 补苍诲听the听vast majority simply ignore schema data all together.

Adding schema data to听your site can provide you with a听huge competitive advantage. Many websites are still un-optimized according to听the听older meta tag technology standards. If听you make sure your meta tags are properly customized 补苍诲听also implement schema data, you will blow your competition out of听the听water!

First, you need to听review the听different types of听schema data 补苍诲听decide which ones you want to听include in听your site. Then you need to听collect the听data necessary to听fill out the听values. Once you have done this preparation you can use a听schema generator tool to听produce your JSON-LD file.

Once you have generated your schema data you need to听test it听with a听schema validator tool.

SEMRush has produced a听detailed guide called 聯聪. This guide covers the听main types of听schema markup, 补苍诲听provides links to听multiple tools to听both generate 补苍诲听validate your schema markup. Schema data in听JSON-LD format can be听added to听the听

section of听the听website or听used throughout the听body section of听the听HTML.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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