Editing SEO titles & descriptions
Learn how to write and edit the SEO title and meta description for your WordPress pages and posts using an SEO plugin.
When your page appears in Google search results, two things are shown: the title (the blue clickable link) and the description (the short summary below it). You control both of these. This guide shows you how.
Quick summary
Install an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. When editing any page or post, scroll to the SEO plugin's panel at the bottom of the editor. Set a clear, compelling title (under about 60 characters) and a description (under about 160 characters). Save the page.
What you'll need
Beginner 5 minutes per page- Administrator or Editor access to WordPress
- An SEO plugin installed and active (Yoast SEO and Rank Math are both excellent)
Don't have an SEO plugin yet?
If your site doesn't have Yoast SEO or Rank Math installed, let us know. We'll set it up for you and configure the site-wide defaults. These are the two most widely used SEO plugins for WordPress.
What are SEO titles and descriptions?
SEO title (meta title)
This is the headline shown in search results — and also what appears in the browser tab. It's separate from your page's visible heading (the H1 at the top of the page).
A good SEO title:
- Tells people exactly what the page is about
- Includes your most important keyword naturally
- Is under about 60 characters (longer titles get cut off in results)
- Puts the most important words first
Meta description
The description is the two-line summary shown below the title in search results. Google sometimes rewrites descriptions, but writing a good one gives you the best chance of having your words shown.
A good meta description:
- Summarizes what the page offers
- Includes a subtle call to action ("Learn how," "Find out," "Get a free quote")
- Is under about 160 characters
- Reads naturally — it's for humans, not bots
How to edit the SEO title and description
Open the page or post you want to edit in the WordPress editor.
Scroll to the bottom of the editor. Look for the "Yoast SEO" panel. If you don't see it, click the three vertical dots (or "Settings") in the top-right corner of the editor and make sure "Yoast SEO" is enabled in the panel list.
Click the "SEO" tab (not the "Readability" tab) inside the Yoast panel.
Click the preview at the top of the Yoast panel — the snippet that shows how your page looks in search results. Editable fields appear below it.
Edit the SEO title. Type in the title field. Watch the character counter — aim for green (under the limit), not orange or red.
Edit the meta description. Type in the description field. Again, watch the counter.
Click Update (or Publish) to save the page.
Open the page or post in the WordPress editor.
Look for the Rank Math icon in the top-right toolbar (it looks like a small chart icon). Click it to open the Rank Math panel.
Click "Edit Snippet" at the top of the Rank Math panel. The title and description fields appear.
Edit the SEO title in the "Title" field.
Edit the meta description in the "Description" field.
Click Update (or Publish) to save.
Writing effective titles and descriptions
Title tips
| Do this | Avoid this |
|---|---|
| "Bookkeeping Services for Small Businesses — Smith & Co." | "Home" or "Page 1" |
| Put important keywords near the start | Stuffing with keywords: "Bookkeeping bookkeeper accounting tax" |
| Include your business name (usually at the end) | Cutting off mid-word by going too long |
Description tips
Good example:
We handle bookkeeping and tax preparation for small businesses across Chicago. Get organized, save time, and stop worrying about your books. Request a free consultation.
This tells what the business does, who it's for, and what to do next — all under 160 characters.
Pages that especially need attention
Prioritize these pages first:
- Homepage — Most important of all
- Services or product pages — What you want people to find
- About page — Often appears in branded searches
- Contact page — Last step before someone reaches out
- Blog posts — Each post is a chance to rank for a specific topic
Common questions
Related guides
- WordPress general settings explained
- Using categories & tags
- Page titles & meta descriptions
- On-page SEO explained
- Permalinks & URL structure
Need a hand?