Before you start, it’s good to know that title tags are essential for lucrative SEO (search engine optimization). A properly optimized title tag can work wonders on your site’s performance. Now, let’s get onto how to add a title tag in WordPress.
What Is a Title Tag?
A title tag in WordPress is a HTML component that specifies the title of a web page. This is the title that appears on the search engine results page (SERP), which helps users learn what your page is about. Hence, ensuring it’s well written and accurate is utterly crucial.
Why Is It Important?
The title tag is the first impression your page delivers in the SERPs. A clear and engaging title will encourage more users to click on your page. Aside from user interaction, search engines like Google use these tags to understand what your content entails.
Adding a Title Tag in WordPress
There are two ways to add a title tag in WordPress. You can manually add it through code, or you can use a plugin to automate the process.
Adding Title Tag Through Code
By editing your website’s header.php file, you can manually add the title tag.
Step 1: Open your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to Appearance > Theme Editor.
Step 2: On the right side of the screen, you’ll see a list of theme files. Look for header.php.
Step 3: Locate <head> section, ensure this code exists there:
<title><?php wp\_title('|', true, 'right'); ?></title>
If not, add it.
Step 4: Click on Update File to save your changes.
Using a WordPress Plugin
Using a plugin is the simplest way to add a title tag. The Yoast SEO plugin is an excellent choice for this.
Here are the steps:
Step 1: Install and activate the Yoast SEO plugin on your WordPress site.
Step 2: Navigate to SEO > Search Appearance on your WordPress dashboard.
Step 3: Under the Content Types tab, you can set the title template for your posts and/or pages.
Step 4: Use the snippet variables provided by Yoast to customize your title tag.
Some Tips on Writing Title Tags
Consistent use of strong title tags can greatly help improve your SEO ranking. While adding and editing tags, keep the following pointers in mind.
Choose your words wisely. Make your tag descriptive, informative and target your main keyword.
Consider using pipe “|” characters. These are used to break up your title into sections, making it easier to read.
Avoid exceeding 60 characters. Google typically displays the first 50-60 characters of a title tag.
Use unique titles on every page. This avoids confusion and improves each page’s chance of ranking individually.
In a nutshell, mastering your WordPress title tags is an obtainable accomplishment. Remember, it’s an ongoing process. Continually monitor your tags’ performance, test different strategies, and make adaptions when needed. This continuous course of action is key to creating effective SEO results. Good luck!