The term ‘Meta Data’ is one that causes constant confusion – and rightly so, I mean, what does it mean? I actually don’t know where the name comes from even though I use the SEO aspects of it almost daily.
However, I know one very important aspect of it – I understand how using it effectively enables your website to make good strides up the Google rankings.
So, when you see web developers and people writing articles referencing good techniques for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) refer to ‘Meta Data,’ what are they actually talking about?
Firstly, they are referencing the ‘browser titles or page titles’ that appear on each page of your website. A lot of people are actually unaware these exist, or that you can often control the content that appears within them, YET they are one of the most important aspects of SEO as they provide the initial information that helps Google understand what your webpage and website is about.
The other areas of metadata are actually hidden from the naked eye, but are completely visible to Google. These consist of your page description and your meta keywords.
Your page description information does not normally play an essential role in improving your ranking, but does help visitors understand what your webpage is about as this is usually the 3 line description shown in the Google search results (just do a quick Google search and it is the text that appears under the main title).
Historically meta keywords played a very important part in helping to identify your website, yet in recent years this has not been the case as Google has become far more sophisticated in its ability to understand your website using the other information available (and people tried to place spam keywords in these areas).
The image below (taken from WordPress) shows you where you can add or influence your metadata in a content management system.
Can I control the metadata?
The amount of control you have over your metadata is completely dependent on software your website has been designed within and the access you are given to your website on the Content Management System.
WordPress, our suggested platform for building your blogs and websites, does give you complete control over your metadata – BUT, you will need to know how to configure a specific plug-in and subsequently understand what data needs to be inserted into each field to make it appealing to Google.
What is the key to successful SEO friendly metadata?
As with everything we always write about regarding successful SEO, the key to your metadata is to keep it specific to your content and relevant to searches undertaken by your target audience.
It is an art and it does taken time to get into the hang of it, but it is as important as the content that you write on every page.
More information on using effectively constructing metadata to rise up the search engines?
With our Internet Business Success E-Course you will find a step by step training guide to show you how to; install the SEO plug in for WordPress, configure it to automatically populate your metadata, customise your metadata for specific pages and fully understand how to construct effective metadata.