Meta tags are HTML elements that provide information about a web page to search engines and website visitors. They assist search engines in determining the nature of your website and its relevance to specific search queries. This guide covers the five main parts of meta tags and the three methods for adding meta tags to your WordPress website, including the manual method, plugin, and functions.php process.
What are WordPress Meta Tags?
Meta tags are HTML elements that give search engines and website visitors important information about a web page. They provide search engines with a summary of the web page’s content and target keywords. Including meta tags on your WordPress website can assist search engines in understanding your website’s content, optimizing on-page SEO, and determining its relevance to specific search queries.
5 Main Parts of Meta Tags
Meta tags such as the Title Tag, Description Tag, Keywords Tag, Canonical Tag, and Robots Meta Tag are all crucial for SEO. Each of these tags serves a unique purpose in assisting search engines in comprehending your website’s content and determining its relevance to specific search queries.
- The Title Tag is the most critical meta tag displayed in search engine results as a clickable link to your web page. It should be concise and descriptive and include your desired keywords.
- The Description Tag (meta description), which appears below the Title Tag in search engine results, provides a web page summary. This tag should also contain your targeted keywords and be written in such a way that users are enticed to click on your link.
- Most search engines no longer use the Keywords Tag, but including it on your website is still helpful. This tag lists the keywords you want to target and can assist search engines in understanding the content of your web page.
See more: How to do keyword research in only 5 minutes
- The Canonical Tag is used to specify which version of a web page is preferred. This is especially useful if you have multiple versions of the same web page because it helps search engines determine which version should be indexed.
- The Robots Meta Tag is used to instruct search engine robots on how to crawl your website. For example, you can use this tag to specify whether or not you want search engines to index your web page.
How To Add Meta Tags in WordPress? 3 Methods That Definitely Work For Your Business
How to Add Meta Tags in WordPress Manually?
The manual method of adding meta tags to your WordPress website entails editing your theme’s header.php file. Log into your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Editor to access this file. Simply add the relevant meta tag code to your theme’s header section and save your changes. This method is best suited for users familiar with HTML and PHP.
How to Add Meta Tags to WordPress With a Plugin?
If you want to avoid manually editing your theme’s code, several plugins make adding meta tags to your WordPress website simple. Some popular options are Yoast SEO, All in One SEO Pack, and The SEO Framework. Install the plugin, activate it, and add meta tags using the provided settings. This method is ideal for users who prefer a more user-friendly option and need a more substantial technical background.
How to Add Meta Tags to WordPress Using functions.php?
The functions.php method entails inserting a code snippet into your WordPress theme’s functions.php file. This requires a thorough understanding of PHP and is not recommended for users who are proficient in coding. To use this method, log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance > Editor, and then find the functions.php file. Save your changes, and your meta tags will be added to your WordPress website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are meta tags crucial in WordPress?
Meta tags are essential for WordPress websites because they provide important information about a web page to search engines and visitors. This data assists search engines in determining the relevance of a web page to specific search queries, thereby increasing the website’s search engine ranking.
Is it possible to add meta tags to WordPress without using a plugin?
Yes, you can add meta tags to WordPress without a plugin by manually editing your theme’s header.php file or adding a code snippet to your theme’s functions.php file.
Are all meta tags required for WordPress?
No, not all meta tags are required by WordPress. The Title Tag, Description Tag, Canonical Tag, and Robots Meta Tag are some of the most important meta tags for WordPress websites.
How do I add Facebook meta tags to WordPress?
Adding Facebook meta tags to your WordPress website is simple with a plugin like Yoast SEO or the Facebook Debugger tool. Simply install the plugin and access the settings to configure the desired meta tags to add Facebook meta tags.
The “of: title” and “of: description” Facebook meta tags are the most important because they provide the title and description that will appear when your website’s content is shared on Facebook. Additional Facebook meta tags, such as “of: image,” can be added to specify a featured image displayed when your content is shared.
Where do I add meta titles in WordPress?
Your WordPress website’s meta title can be added via the header.php file of your theme or by using a plugin. To add a meta title to your WordPress website, you can either manually edit your theme’s header.php file or use a plugin like Yoast SEO to add the meta title through the WordPress dashboard.
How do I edit meta tags in WordPress?
In WordPress, you can edit meta tags by either manually editing the header.php file of your theme or by using a plugin. If you know how to code and are comfortable with HTML, you can manually edit your theme’s header.php file to add, edit, or remove meta tags.
If you prefer a more user-friendly interface, you can use a plugin such as Yoast SEO to easily add, edit, and remove meta tags from the WordPress dashboard. It is critical to review and update your website’s meta tags regularly to ensure that they accurately reflect the content of your web pages and improve search engine optimization.
Conclusion
Finally, adding meta tags to your WordPress website is critical for improving search engine optimization. Meta tags help search engines understand your website and determine its relevance to specific search queries by providing information about your web pages to search engines and website visitors.
The manual method, using a plugin, and the functions.php process are the three ways to add meta tags to WordPress. Whatever method you use, make sure to include the most important meta tags to ensure that your WordPress website is search engine optimized.
Co-Founder & General Manager @ ROI Digitally
