SEO meta tags complete guide — title, description and Open Graph
Meta tags control how your pages appear in Google search results and social media previews. Learn what each tag does and how to write them.
What are meta tags
Meta tags are HTML tags in the <head> section of a webpage that provide information about the page to search engines, browsers, and social media platforms. While users do not see them directly, they control your page title in search results, the description snippet, and how your content looks when shared on Facebook, Twitter, or WhatsApp.
The title tag
The title tag is displayed as the blue clickable headline in Google search results and in the browser tab. It is the most important on-page SEO element after the content itself.
- Keep it under 60 characters to avoid truncation in search results
- Include your primary keyword naturally, preferably near the beginning
- Make it relevant and compelling — it affects click-through rate directly
- Use a consistent format like: Primary Keyword | Brand Name
The meta description
The meta description appears below the title in search results. Google sometimes ignores it and rewrites the snippet from page content, but it still influences click-through rate and social sharing previews.
- Keep it between 120–160 characters
- Include the primary keyword and a clear benefit or action
- Write it as a sentence that sells the click, not just a summary
Open Graph tags
Open Graph (og:) tags control how your page appears when shared on Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, and other platforms. The og:image is especially important — a compelling image improves click-through on shared links.
- og:title — the title shown in the social card
- og:description — the description in the social card
- og:image — the image preview (recommended: 1200×630px)
- og:url — the canonical URL of the page
Generate all your meta tags at once with the free Meta Tag Generator on Smartweb.tools.