Meta tags (or simply tags) are pieces of text that describe your page but aren’t actually on the page itself—they’re in the page’s code. Tags are behind-the-scenes—largely hidden descriptions that help search engines figure out what your page is about. They also form the basis of what searchers will see when your website shows up in their search results.
Done well, these tags can significantly improve how many users find your website. And while adding tags is usually best left to the experts, our clever system makes it as easy as typing an email—no special skills required! You can find out more about tags and other techniques for search engine optimisation here.
We now recommend using Flint to add the title and description tags to your site: What is Flint? (Rocketspark's new SEO tool). You can still use this method if you prefer.
- Click on Get Found (SEO/AIO), found on the menu located on the left side of the Dashboard window. It will take you to a new page, which is where you add tags for all your pages.
- To select which page you want to add tags to, click the applicable page on the Your pages menu located on the right side of the Dashboard window. (Tags should be unique to each page. If you simply copy-and-paste the same tags for different pages, search engines like Google will possibly penalise you and your search rankings may take a hit.)
- Type your tags into the following fields:
- Title tag: This is (some of) the text that will appear in the title of your listing in the search results. It will also be the heading that appears at the top of the browser window for that page. Make sure this is rich in keywords.
- Description tag: This is the text that will appear in the preview snippet of your listing in the search results (beneath the title). Make sure this is a good, enticing description—this is your chance to really “sell” your website to searchers. Make sure this is also rich in keywords.
- Keywords: (Less important) These are the words or phrases your potential visitors are most likely to type into a search engine. Google no longer uses these as a ranking factor in search results. You can type in up to 10, separated by commas. Use Google’s Keyword Planner to research your keywords (learn how here).
Shop and blog meta tags
Our system takes care of the meta tags for your shop and blog automatically. While you cannot control tags on shop and blog pages yourself, we have created the software to do the hard work for you in these two areas of your website. Read more about the shop and blog meta information here.
Check out our SEO guide for more.
Frequently asked questions
How long should my title and description be?
Aim for around 50 to 60 characters for your title tag and 150 to 160 characters for your description tag. Google shortens anything longer and adds "..." at the end, so put the most important words first.
Why is Google showing a different description from the one I wrote?
Google sometimes writes its own snippet (the short preview under your page title) using text from your page. It usually does this when it thinks other text better matches what someone searched for. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is broken. A clear, specific description that matches what's on the page gives Google the best reason to use yours.
I've updated my tags. Why hasn't Google changed my listing yet?
Google needs to revisit (recrawl) your page before it shows your new title and description. This can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. To find out more, see How long does it take to appear in Google?
Should I use Flint or add my tags manually?
Both work, and you can switch between them at any time. Flint suggests titles and descriptions based on your page content, which saves time if you have lots of pages or aren't sure what to write. Adding tags manually in Get Found gives you full control over every word. For more, see Flint for SEO - Your AI SEO assistant.
What should I put in my homepage title?
Your homepage title works best with your business name, what you do, and where you're based (if you serve a local area). For example: "Harbour Bakery | Sourdough and Pastries in Nelson". This helps Google and searchers understand straight away who you are and what you offer.
Can I use the same title and description on every page?
It's best to give each page its own title and description. When every page has the same tags, Google finds it harder to tell your pages apart. It might show the wrong page in search results, or none at all. Describe what's specific to each page, such as "Wedding cakes" or "Contact us".
How do I change the SEO for my shop products or blog posts?
Rocketspark creates the meta tags for your shop and blog pages automatically, so you don't need to add them in Get Found. To find out more, see Where does my shop SEO data come from?
Do I need to fill in the Keywords field?
No. Google no longer uses the keywords meta tag when it ranks pages, so your title and description matter much more. The keywords you choose are still useful as a guide for writing your title, description and page content.
Will changing my title tag change the heading on my page?
No. Your title tag only appears in search results and in the browser tab. The heading people see on the page itself is edited separately in the page editor.