How Do We Optimize Our Meta Tags for Better User Experience?
Most of us think that meta tags mainly focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This is true but let us tell you meta tags can also indirectly help in providing a better user experience to your website visitors. They allow search engines to efficiently understand and rank your content for the ideal audience, increasing the overall chances of a good experience.
However, to get the most out of them, it is necessary to perfectly optimize them. Don’t know the procedure? Then continue reading this article until the end.
In this blog, we will not only discuss the optimization process of meta tags but also some other key information.
What are Meta Tags?
They are basically HTML tags that allow search engine crawlers to have an efficient idea of what kind of information a particular webpage is discussing. Apart from this, they also help the search engine how to display that webpage in front of the users in SERP.
When it comes to users’ perspective, meta tags help them determine whether the webpage contains the information they are looking for or not.
Where Are Meta Tags Placed and Where Can You Find Them?
Usually, they can be placed inside the <head> element in the HTML document. This element is generally used to specify the following things:
- Character set.
- Keywords
- Page Descriptions.
- Author/Writer of the document.
However, if you place them in the <body> instead of <head>, this will still be considered valid.
Now, the question is how you can find them. Fortunately, there is no rocket science behind this. All you need to do is:
- Right-click on the webpage.
- Now, click on “View page source.”
- An HTML document will open in which you just need to search for “Head” or “Meta” tags.
- Done.
To provide you with a better idea, we have attached an image of the online blog below, check it out.
This is how you can find meta tags on any webpage on the internet.
Importance of Meta Tags for User Experience
For user experience, there are multiple reasons why meta tags are important.
The first one is that the meta description (a type of meta tag) allows the users to decide whether the content is according to their searched query or not without opening it.
Due to this, it is recommended to come up with accurate descriptions that provide users with information that is discussed in the content. This will contribute to building trust and authority, and ultimately result in a better experience.
Another reason is that the meta title (a type of meta tag) will encourage users to click on your content to gain the required info, instead of clicking on competitors’ content.
That’s why it is essential to create compelling meta titles so that they can get maximum clicks. The increase in clicks means maximum user engagement on the content – an indication of excellent user experience.
What Are the Different Types of Meta Tags on A Website?
Multiple types of meta tags are discussed below in detail.
1. Meta Titles
A meta title also commonly referred to as “Title tag” is a text that specifies the topic of a webpage to both search engines and users. From the user’s perspective, it will act as a deciding factor for whether a user will find it relevant enough to open and read the content or not.
The meta title is usually placed in the <title> element within the <head> HTML tag. Look at the attachment below.
On the other hand, normal users will see the meta title in search engine results pages like the one shown below.
2. Meta Descriptions
A meta description is a short piece of text that tells the search crawlers and users about the content discussed on a site or a webpage. They act as a pitch to convince the users that the page has the information they are looking for.
You can usually (not always) find it beneath the title tag in the search engine results.
Just like the meta title, it is also placed inside the <head> tag with the HTML element <meta=name “”>.
3. Meta Keywords
Meta Keywords are a type of meta tags that provide crucial information about the content to the search engine for better rankings. The better ranking will then display the content to the ideal audience, resulting in a better experience.
Meta keywords are also placed in the <head> tag in HTML.
Remember, right now, meta keywords are no longer a part of the HTML format and search engine’s ranking factor. However, these are still considered a type of meta tag.
4. Viewport
A viewport tag is responsible for adjusting the content on your site or webpage according to the user’s screen. It makes it easier for the users to scroll through the given information for an immersive experience.
It is placed in the <head> tag using the <meta name= “”> element.
5. Robots Tag
A robot tag on a website is basically code that tells Google how to crawl, index, and serve content in front of the audience.
So, the more effective the robot tag will be, the better content will be served to the audience, resulting in a better user experience. It is also placed within the <head> tag.
How You Can Perfectly Optimize Meta Tags for Good User-Experience
Below is the procedure that you should follow to perfectly optimize meta tags.
Note: The meta title & description are the only tags that directly contribute to the user experience. Therefore, the procedure below is in the context of these tags.
1. Stick to the Proper Character Length
Search engines like Google have set a recommended limit for both meta titles and descriptions. The title should have a maximum limit of 50-60 characters, whereas the description has a recommended length of 150-160 characters.
Not following these limits may not affect your SEO, but it definitely affects the user experience. Let us explain how. When your content title or description exceeds the limit, it will look incomplete, unclear, and unprofessional in the search results, and can become a cause of poor user experience.
To explain better, we have found a description that is too lengthy, appearing incomplete in the SERP.
This is why it is considered necessary to keep sticking to the recommended limit to perfectly optimize the meta tags. Therefore, users can get an idea of what they will get after clicking.
Most of you can easily make their title tag concise, but when it comes to description, they will struggle to provide entire info about a webpage within 160 characters. In this case, they can get help from a summarizing tool. It will shortly condense your given description without compromising on its quality and meaning.
2. Make Your Meta Tags Simple to Understand
Apart from making the tags concise, you should also keep them simple and easy to understand. So that users can quickly understand both the title and description and decide whether the web page or site is relevant to them or not.
Moreover, the ease of understanding will also search crawlers to quickly understand its intent and will then rank it for the ideal audience. This further can result in improved user experience.
To make your title and description simple, you make use of commonly known words and phrases, instead of technical or unique jargon. Not only this, but you should highlight the value in the meta title and description so that users can have an efficient idea of what they will get after clicking.
3. Avoid Keyword Stuffing
You should load up the meta tags with relevant keywords for search visibility. However, in the greed for higher rankings with keywords, avoid overloading with too many keywords, known as “keyword stuffing”.
Doing so will not only impact its rankings but also indicate to users that your main aim is just to get SERP visibility, not to provide valuable information.
That’s why you should always avoid keyword stuffing. For this, you should only use the primary or focus one time in the title tag. On the other hand, when it comes to description, you can consider using latent semantic or long-tail keywords along with the primary keyword.
4. Change the Robot Tag According to Your Needs and Requirement
We have already discussed what exactly the robot tag is above. It has multiple types,and each one has a different purpose.
Do follow Link:
It is a tag that allows both search engine crawlers and users to point back to your site from your own webpage or an external source. These can greatly contribute to user experience because it gives them the authority to get familiar with more information by clicking on that link.
No follow:
The no-follow link tells search engines to just ignore it. From the user’s perspective, it can help prevent them from being unintentionally directed towards misleading or harmful content.
No index:
The no index is used to prevent search engines from indexing or crawling around a certain webpage of a website. You can use these tags to hide low-quality content of your
Conclusion
There is no doubt that meta tags are mainly used for SEO, but they can also indirectly support the user experience as well. This is so because they help Google to rank the content for the ideal audience. When the content is served to the required audience, it will definitely result in a better experience.
However, just like websites, you also need to optimize them for better results. In this article, we have explained the optimization procedure as well as some important info about meta tags.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main way meta tags help users?
They give a quick preview of your content in search results, so people know if it's what they need.
How long should my title tag and meta descriptions be?
Keep titles under 60 characters, and descriptions under 160 characters for the best look.
Should my meta tags be super fancy and clever?
Nope! Clear and simple is best, so users immediately get what your page is about.
Is it okay to use lots of keywords in my meta tags?
Don't overdo it! Keyword stuffing annoys users and search engines won't like it either.
What are these robot tags I've heard about?
They tell search engines which pages to crawl and which links to follow, helping users find the good stuff!
Related posts:
- SEO Meta in 1-Click (SEO Chrome Extension): An Excellent Tool to Analyze Your Meta for SEO
- SEO Redirects 101: Comprehensive Guide For SEO And User Experience
- Optimizing Navigation Links for SEO: Strategies for Enhanced User Experience and Link Building
- Anchor Links: Improving SEO and User Experience on the Same Page
- Hreflang Tags And SEO: A Simple Guide For Beginners
- A Guide to Canonical Redirects: Mastering Canonical Tags and 301 Redirects for SEO
- Header Tags: Why They Matter and How to Use Them Right!
- 5 Ways to Optimize Your Product Pages for SEO in 2025