Meta tags for SEO and heading tags are small pieces of code that tell search engines and visitors what a page is about. Getting them right is one of the simplest ways to improve how your pages show up in search. This guide explains meta tags for SEO, how to separate keywords in a meta tag, how heading tags work and how to find the H1 on any page.
What are meta tags for SEO?
Meta tags sit in the hidden header of a page. Visitors do not see them on the page, but search engines read them. The ones that matter most are the title tag and the meta description.
The title tag
Among meta tags for SEO, the title tag is the clickable headline in search results. Keep it to about 50 to 60 characters, put your main phrase near the front and make it read like something a person would click. Every page needs its own title. See Google’s guidance on titles.
The meta description
The meta description is the short summary under the title. It does not directly change rankings, but a clear one makes more people click. Aim for 150 to 160 characters and describe what the visitor will get. Google sometimes rewrites it, so make sure the page content also answers the question. Read Google’s snippet guidance for details.
How to separate keywords in a meta tag
If your site or plugin has a keywords field, separate each keyword or phrase with a comma, like this: web hosting, wordpress hosting, small business. Keep it to a handful. Google has said it does not use the keywords meta tag for ranking, so spend your time on titles, descriptions and good content instead.
What are heading tags?
Heading tags are the titles inside your page content. They run from H1, the most important, down to H6. Think of them as an outline:
- H1: the page title. Use one per page.
- H2: main sections.
- H3: subsections inside an H2.
How to do heading tags in SEO
Write your H1 so it clearly states the topic and includes your main phrase naturally. Use H2s for the questions people ask, in the order they ask them. Do not skip levels, and do not use headings just to make text bigger. Headings also help people using screen readers move through the page.
How to find the H1 tag on a page
- Open the page in your browser.
- Right-click and choose View page source.
- Press Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on a Mac) and search for <h1.
You should find exactly one. If you find none or several, fix it in your page editor. In Elementor, choose the Heading widget and set its HTML tag. In WordPress, the post title is normally the H1.
Quick checklist for meta tags for SEO
- Unique title and description on every page
- One H1 per page, with your main phrase
- H2s and H3s in a logical order
- Keywords separated by commas if your tool asks for them
Want help tracking what works? Try our SEO tool and Liberation Analytics, and see how to add your website to Google search.
Good and bad title tags: examples
A weak title is vague or stuffed with keywords. A strong one says what the page offers in plain words. Compare these:
- Weak: Home | Welcome to our website
- Weak: Hosting hosting cheap hosting best hosting
- Strong: WordPress Hosting for Small Business | Daily Backups Included
The strong version puts the main phrase first, adds a clear benefit and fits in about 60 characters. This is the heart of good meta tags for SEO: be specific, be honest and write for people first.
Good and bad meta descriptions: examples
A good meta description reads like a short promise: what is on the page and why someone should click. For example: “Compare shared, WordPress and private cloud hosting for your small business, with plans, prices and free migration help.” A weak one repeats the title or lists keywords.
Other meta tags worth knowing
- Canonical tag: tells search engines which address is the main version of a page when similar versions exist.
- Robots meta tag: can tell search engines not to index a page. Be careful, because one stray noindex can remove a page from results. See our guide to the robots.txt file.
- Open Graph tags: control the title and image shown when someone shares your page on social media.
- Image alt text: describes an image for visitors who cannot see it and gives search engines context.
How to edit meta tags in WordPress
Most WordPress sites use an SEO plugin for meta tags for SEO. Open the page or post, scroll to the SEO section, edit the title and description, and set your main keyword. The plugin writes the tags into the page for you. On WordPress hosting you can keep these settings safely under daily backups.
Check your work
After you publish, search for your page and see how the title and description appear. If you want a deeper check, our SEO tool reviews your pages, and you can follow how they are indexed in our guide to adding your website to Google.
Make meta tags for SEO a habit
Strong meta tags for SEO take only a few minutes per page. Write a clear title, a helpful description and one honest H1, and revisit your meta tags for SEO whenever a page changes. Over time, good meta tags for SEO help the right visitors find the right page and click.
Frequently asked questions
How do I separate keywords in a meta tag?
Use commas between keywords, for example: web hosting, wordpress hosting, small business. Keep the list short. Google does not use the keywords meta tag for ranking, so it is optional.
How do I do heading tags in SEO?
Use one H1 for the main title of each page, then H2s for main sections and H3s for subsections. Keep them in order and make each one describe the section below it.
How do I find the H1 tag on a page?
Right-click the page, choose View page source and search for <h1. Or open your browser’s inspect tool and search the elements for h1. SEO browser extensions will also list your headings.
How long should a title tag and meta description be?
Aim for about 50 to 60 characters for the title and 150 to 160 for the description so they are less likely to be cut off in results.