Meta Tag Checker

Why Meta Tags Matter for SEO

Meta title and description are your first impression in search results. They're the digital equivalent of a book cover—compelling enough to make people click, or forgettable enough to scroll past. Getting these right can significantly impact your click-through rate (CTR), which in turn affects your rankings.

What Happens When Your Meta Tags Are Too Long?

Google truncates titles around 50-60 characters (or about 600 pixels) and descriptions around 155-160 characters. When truncated, your message gets cut off with an ellipsis (...), which can confuse users or leave out important information. That's why previewing your meta tags before publishing is essential.

Do Meta Descriptions Affect Rankings?

Google has stated that meta descriptions aren't a direct ranking factor. However, they heavily influence click-through rates, and CTR can indirectly affect rankings. A compelling description that gets more clicks sends positive signals to Google about your content's relevance. Think of meta descriptions as advertising copy—their job is to sell the click.

When Google Rewrites Your Meta Description

Google sometimes generates its own description snippets from page content, especially if your meta description doesn't match the user's search query. To minimize this, make sure your description accurately reflects the page content and includes relevant keywords naturally. However, don't stuff keywords—write for users first.