Metadata

Also known as: Meta Tags, Meta Information, Structured Data
Seo intermediate
Reading time: 4 minutes

Metadata provides information about other data, helping search engines and users understand content better.

Why It Matters

Metadata improves search visibility and user experience by summarizing content. For Tenwrite users, it enhances SEO and click-through rates.

Key Elements

  • Meta Title: Appears in search results and browser tabs.
  • Meta Description: Summarizes content for search engines.
  • Structured Data: Adds context for rich search results.

How It’s Done

  1. Write concise, keyword-rich meta titles and descriptions.
  2. Use schema markup for enhanced search features.
  3. Test and refine metadata for better performance.

Best Practices

  • Keep titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160.
  • Avoid duplicate metadata across pages.
  • Include primary keywords naturally.

Metadata is a critical component of SEO, driving traffic and improving content discoverability.

Examples

  • Meta title: 'Best Content Marketing Tools 2024 | Complete Guide'
  • Meta description: 'Discover the top content marketing tools to boost your strategy. Compare features, pricing, and user reviews.'
  • Open Graph metadata for social media sharing optimization
  • Schema markup for rich snippets in search results

Use Cases

  • Improve search engine rankings and click-through rates
  • Control how content appears when shared on social media
  • Help search engines understand and categorize content
  • Enable rich snippets and enhanced search result displays

Pro Tips

Keep meta titles under 60 characters and descriptions under 160 characters

Include primary keywords naturally in title and description

Write compelling meta descriptions that encourage clicks

Use unique metadata for each page to avoid duplication

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using duplicate metadata across multiple pages

Writing meta descriptions that are too long and get truncated

Stuffing keywords unnaturally into meta tags

Ignoring Open Graph and Twitter Card metadata for social sharing

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between meta title and H1 tag?
Meta title appears in search results and browser tabs, while H1 is the main heading visible on the page. They can be different but should be related and include relevant keywords.
Do meta keywords still matter for SEO?
No, major search engines like Google no longer use meta keywords for ranking. Focus on meta title and description instead.