Do Title Tags and Meta Descriptions Still Matter?

The big blue clickable link that shows up in Google? That’s your title tag. And the meta description? That’s the little grey bit underneath that tells people what the page that they are about to click on is about.

The title tags and meta descriptions that you use still matter, but not in the way that you think.

Now, these don’t really move the needle when it comes to rankings anymore… but they do matter for clicks. Because, if your title and description are vague, boring, or totally off, people just aren’t going to click onto your page.

Your title and description are what gives off your first impression online. You’ve got two seconds to make someone stop scrolling and want to know more about you. 

Writing Effective Title Tags

Your title needs to be super clear and tell people exactly what they’re going to get. Avoid the clickbait, and leave no mystery.

Include your main keyword naturally and don’t just wedge it for the sake of it. It should also be kept under 60 characters so it doesn’t get cut off  the screen halfway through.

Instead of writing something like “SEO Tips,” go for “SEO Tips That Actually Work for Small Businesses.” It’s specific. It’s useful and it tells your audience that it’s relevant to them.

And again, leave the clickbait out of it. If your content doesn’t match the hype in your title, people will bounce straight back off the page, and Google will notice, and that’s not a good look in terms of performance. 

Meta Descriptions That Get Clicks

You’ve got about 155 characters to play around with and make your pitch count.

Don’t just summarise what’s on the page. Instead, you want to treat it like a mini ad. Tell people what they’ll get out of reading your page. What’s in it for them?