Meta Title and Description Length Checker
Meta Title & Description Length Checker & Character Limit
Meta Titles & Descriptions are crucial for individual page ranking and usability, they appear in the search engine result pages (SERPs) and allow users to book marke with meaningful titles.
It is vital for SEO ranking, they are one of the most critical factors for SEO ranking. They are the first things users see in the SERPs, so it's important to make a strong impression to improve your click-through rate.
A well-written meta title and description have more chance of increasing your site's click-through rate. A good meta title & description means users will feel more confident in clicking your page, thereby giving you a high click-through rate. According to a study by Backlinko, an optimised title tag of about 40-60 characters has the highest organic CTR of about 33.3%.
The length of your page title and description is crucial. You will learn about meta title length and meta description character limit.
Meta Title Character Limit
The ideal length of meta title is about 60 characters. There is no harm if you exceed your title length but Google will truncate some characters and it will display dots at the end.
Meta Description Character Limit
The recommended meta description character limit is 160 characters. Please note that Google may show an extended version of the meta description based on the user's search query. But you should always keep your description within the limit.
Meta Title & Description Length Checker Tool
You can use this meta title & description length checker tool down below to get a glimpse of how your title and description might look on the results page. The tool also gives you suggestions on how far you have to write to get the perfect length for your meta tags!
Why should you use the Meta Tag checker?
It’s not an unusual thing to proofread and edit our work to make sure it fits the standards and is void of any errors. When it comes to a website, you must make sure every piece of information is up to standards to make the overall site attractive and good with SEO standards.
According to Ahrefs, Google dynamically takes descriptions from your website according to the search query and displays them in the SERPs to make them relatable. However, you must still choose your preferred meta titles & descriptions in an engaging way to let users know what to expect when they click on your page.
That’s where a Meta tag checker can help you. It’s like a spell-checker for your SEO efforts. It makes sure your meta titles and descriptions are the correct length, ensuring they don't get cut off in search results.
This not only makes your site look professional but also attracts more clicks, enhancing your site's performance in search engine rankings.
Understanding Meta Title in Detail
Here’s everything you need to know about meta titles:
Meta title HTML code
It is a line of HTML code that is added to the HTML of every page.
<title>Your page title will appear here. Keep them max 60 characters.<title>
How to write the most compelling meta title?
Here are some tips for you to write the most compelling meta title and display as intended for your page:
- Include Primary Keywords: Include your main keywords in the meta title descriptively and keep within the length. Example: An eCommerce page about “Organic Skincare” may have the page title like: Buy Best Organic Skincare Products Online - Cruelty-Free
- Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Do not just stuff keywords while creating the page title. A poor example could be like: Organic Skin Care | Best Skin Care | Skin Care Deal
- Match Page Title and Body Content: Ensure the title matches what your page is about to set clear expectations. If your page does not talk closely about the page title then not only it will provide a poor user experience but also you will struggle to rank that page.
- Attract Clicks: Make it catchy and relevant to encourage users to click on your link over others. Include social proofs or compelling offers or words to boost CTR. Example: 1) Best Organic Skincare Online | 100+ Reviews - Cruelty-Free 2) Chat GPT Free Training Video Tutorial - Promotes PDF Download
- Uniqueness: Make sure your meta title is unique for each page. You don’t want two pages having the same or similar meta titles as it can affect the crawlability of your pages.
How long does it take to update the meta title?
You can expect your meta title to be updated within 7-15 days. It all comes down to how often Google crawls and updates your website for indexing.
You can also speed up the updation of your meta titles more regularly if you maintain a healthy website and upload quality content regularly. This way Google knows your site is relevant and active and indexes it accordingly.
How frequently should I update my page title?
You can try a different combination for your core pages to display the best suite meta title. Once the proper meta title is set to a page then it’s important to keep the page updated and you may keep the same meta title.
In simple words, you do not need to update your meta title regularly but it’s much more important to have your page updated at a regular interval to boost the ranking.
Will I get penalised if I exceed the recommended meta title length?
There is no penalty for exceeding the limit. If you exceed then Google may truncate some characters.
The real penalty comes in your click-through rates. The main idea behind maintaining the perfect length of the meta title is to show the users what your page is all about and boost your ranking in SEO.
If you exceed the recommended length, then the meta title gets truncated with “...”. This leaves the users confused and they might not click your website for their query. It’s good to keep the meta title within the recommended character length, which is about 50-60 characters in length with a primary keywords.
The negative side to keeping the title short
There is no direct negative side to keeping your page title short but you will miss out on the given opportunity.
It’s like your company gave you the full apartment to live but you just decided to utilise the bedroom only.
By utilising the full length you can make your page title more compelling for users to click on your page. A short meta title also has the potential to lose out on keyword placement opportunities which can affect rankings and SEO.
Does the Meta Title affect SEO?
Yes, it does. The meta title is the clickable title in the SERPs and is one of the first impressions users have about your site.
A compelling title can attract users and enhance CTR. This tells Google that your site is relevant and trustworthy, thereby boosting your ranking and visibility.
It’s always good to add primary keywords naturally in your meta title to help search engines understand what your page talks about so it is visible to all.
Things to avoid when writing the Meta Title
Here are some things to avoid when writing the meta title:
- Clickbait: Avoid misleading titles that don't accurately represent the page content, as this can lead to high bounce rates. This can affect your ranking for the search query.
- Short Title: Don’t keep your titles short. Keep it between 40-60 characters to make the most out of what Google has to offer.
- Exceeding the Limit: Always keep your meta titles within the limits i.e. 40-60 characters. Exceeding this limit can cause the title to truncate, affecting your CTR.
- Duplicate Titles: Create unique titles for each page of your website. Don’t duplicate your titles to save time as this can cause issues with crawling and CTR.
Not connecting your title to the main content: Your title is a summary of what your users can expect when clicking your page. Always write a title that is related to the main content. A poor example would be a page talking about the food for dogs but the title would be something like, “Dogs For Sale”.
Are the Meta Title and H1 Tag the Same?
No, the meta title and H1 tag are not the same.
The meta title appears in search engine results and browser tabs, serving as the first point of interaction for users. The H1 tag, on the other hand, is an on-page element that serves as the main heading of the content, providing structure and context.
While the meta title is essential for attracting clicks from search results, the H1 tag helps users and search engines understand the content and hierarchy of the page once they arrive.
Understanding Meta Description in Detail
Meta Description HTML code
The HTML line code to add the meta description is:
<meta name="description" content="Enter your meta description here, up to 160 characters. Include relevant keywords naturally to attract clicks and improve SEO." />
How to write the best & SEO-friendly Meta Description?
Here are some tips for you to write the best meta description:
- Add Target Keywords: Include keywords naturally without overstuffing. Aim for a smooth flow. Example: Our organic skincare routine ensures glowing, healthy skin.
- Use Compelling Language: Write in a way that grabs attention and speaks to your audience. Use persuasive words and phrases like "discover," "unveil," or "find out,". For example: “Discover the secret to maintain a youthful and glowing skin with our organic skincare routine”.
- Include a Call to Action: Encourage users to take action, like "Learn more" or "Discover now." A clear call to action can make a big difference.
- Be Informative: Clearly describe what users will find on the page. Give them a reason to click, like "Our guide provides expert tips on organic skincare."
- Stay Within Limits: Keep it between 150-160 characters to avoid truncation. This ensures your full description is visible.
What happens if I keep my Meta Description too long?
If your meta description is too long, let’s say it exceeds the 160-character limit, then the extra words or phrases will be truncated with a “...”. This leaves users hanging on what the content might be and leaves them confused.
This can affect your click-through rate, which is important for SEO. When you don't include the necessary keywords and just write out some gibberish, this can affect your rankings as users will be less interested in what you offer.
It’s always better to keep your description between the recommended length of 160 characters to ensure that your users get the idea of what the page offers without being too boring.
Is there any penalty for keeping the meta description too short?
There is no penalty for keeping the meta description too short. But it’s a waste of opportunity and space to add the much-needed hooks and keywords to boost your rankings and CTR.
If they’re too brief, they might not give enough info to hook users. It’s like giving someone a book with just the title "Mystery." Intriguing, but not informative enough to decide if it’s worth their time.
It’s important to strike a balance - you want to be concise yet informative. If your meta descriptions don’t tell enough about your content, users might skip your site, leading to lower engagement and less traffic.
Need help with meta tag optimisation?
We can build a strategy to create customised meta tags and automate some sections if you have a large website.
We are an SEO Melbourne-based agency, we provide holistic and safe SEO services across Australia. Visit our SEO packages to learn more about pricing and rates.
Meta Title & Description SEO Guide - Infographic
FAQs
Are meta titles a ranking factor for SEO?
Yes, meta titles are a ranking factor for SEO. They help search engines understand the content and relevance of your website which impacts your site’s visibility and ranking.
How many keywords should I use in the Meta description?
A good meta description will have the primary keyword appear once or twice. The secondary keywords should appear once and must only be included if they fit smoothly. Avoid overstuffing keywords as it can affect your ranking and CTR.
Is a meta title necessary?
Yes, a meta title is necessary for both SEO and CTR. A well-written meta title tells the search engines about your website and attracts the users to click on your website, thereby improving its relevance, visibility, and ranking.
How often should I change Meta Titles?
There is no rule but when you work on your page then try a few combinations over time and see what best works for your page and also go back and check the history.
Do proper meta tags help in ranking on top?
This is one of the main signals to help rank a page out of several hundred signals used by Google. Keeping this in order means you will tick one out of many SEO tasks to rank a page.
Should the meta title and H1 be the same?
You can keep them the same or you can focus a bit differently on Meta Title. The meta title focuses on attracting clicks and improving the visibility of the page in the SERPs while the H1 tag provides a structure and context to the actual page.
Author: Pankaj Yadav
Blog: https://www.webapex.com.au/blog/author/pankaj-yadav/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aboutpankaj/