How to Add a Title Tag and Meta Description to Your WordPress Website: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ever Google your business and cringe at what shows up—if anything?
If your site isn’t getting clicks (or showing up at all), it could be because your title tag and meta description in WordPress aren’t set up correctly—or worse, they’re missing altogether.

These little lines of text might seem small, but they’re huge when it comes to SEO and making that first impression in search results.

In this step-by-step guide, I’m breaking down exactly how to add a title tag and meta description to your WordPress site—without code, confusion, or wasting your time. Let’s make your site actually click-worthy.

What Are Title Tags and Meta Descriptions?

You may already be familiar with the concept of a title, but what exactly is a title tag? Simply put, a title tag is the formal term for the title of a webpage. Every blog post, article, or webpage on your site needs a title tag and a meta description.

These elements serve two primary purposes:

They tell Google and other search engines what your page is about.
They inform readers about the content of the page, enticing them to click through to your site.

Optimizing both the title tag and meta description with relevant keywords is essential. By doing so, you not only ensure your website provides value to your audience, but you also signal to search engines (aka Google) that you are an authority in your niche. This can significantly help you rank higher in search results.

Why Are Keywords Important?

Ok, so let’s break it down—keywords are like the secret sauce of SEO. They’re what people type into Google when they’re searching for exactly what you offer. And when you sprinkle those keywords into your title tag and meta description, it’s like waving a big “Hey, over here!” sign to search engines and potential visitors.

Think of it this way:

Title tag = Book title – It’s the first thing people see, so make it catchy and clear.

Meta description = Book blurb – This is your chance to give a quick, compelling summary that makes people want to dive in (or in this case, click).

Your title tag tells searchers (and Google) what the page is all about, while the meta description adds a little more flavor. Even though the meta description doesn’t show up on your actual webpage, it’s the first thing people read in search results. So yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.

Bottom line: Keywords help your site get found and clicked. Without them, you’re just hoping for the best—and hope isn’t a strategy, right?

How to Add Title Tags and Meta Descriptions in WordPress

Each website platform has it’s own unique way of adding the meta description.

If you’re using WordPress, there are two primary methods for adding title tags and meta descriptions:

Hands down, the easiest and most effective way is by using an SEO plugin like (Recommended): I highly recommend using a plugin such as Rank Math (which I use) or Yoast SEO. These plugins basically hold your hand through the whole process – without any coding. Here’s how:
- Install the SEO plugin of your choice.
- Navigate to the page or post you want to optimize.
- Scroll down to the SEO settings box provided by the plugin.
- You will see fields to enter your title tag and meta description. Fill them in using relevant keywords and ensuring they are engaging for readers.

Pro Tip: With Rank Math, you can preview exactly how your page will appear in search results for both desktop and mobile. This can be helpful to ensure your content is formatted correctly for different devices.

Manually Adding Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: If you prefer not to use a plugin, you can manually add your title tag and meta description, but this will require some knowledge of HTML or coding. Unless you’re confident with coding, I recommend sticking with a plugin for simplicity.

Where Do I Add or Edit the Title Tag and Meta Description?

Let’s go through the steps to add a title tag and meta description in WordPress:

Go to your WordPress dashboard.
Open the page or post you want to edit.
Look for the SEO section (this will depend on the plugin you are using).

For Rank Math, you’ll find it by scrolling down the page editor. This is where you can add both your title tag and meta description.

In the SEO settings box, you can also preview how your title tag and meta description will appear in the SERPs. Adjust these to be both keyword-rich and enticing to potential readers.

How To Write the Meta Description

Writing a meta description doesn’t have to be complicated. Just keep these key things in mind:

Keep it under 160 characters – Short and sweet wins the game.
Add a power word – Make it pop! Words like “ultimate,” “free,” or “proven” grab attention.
Must include the exact main keyword – This part is non-negotiable. It helps with SEO and relevance.
Make it click-worthy or enticing – Give people a reason to click your link, not someone else’s.

How To Write the Title Tag

Writing the title tag is just as easy:

Try to keep it under 60 characters – Shorter titles display better in search results. Just be careful with this because remember we are writing for readers that are human so sometimes it makes sense for the title to be longer than 60 characters.
Add a power word – I love finding power words, throwing them into ChatGPT and seeing what I can come up with.
Must include the exact main keyword – Again, this part is non-negotiable.
Make it click-worthy or enticing – A boring title won’t get clicks. Make it catchy and compelling.

Need a Shortcut?

Here’s the exact ChatGPT prompts I use for myself and my clients:

You are a [insert your title/business]. You are writing a blog to [insert the user intent]. [insert the main keyword] is the main keyword. The title tag is “[insert the title tag”]. Your task is to create a creative and enticing meta description in 160 characters or less. Use a [insert the tone that you want . . ie. professional, casual/personal or conversational] tone.

You are a [insert your title/business]. You are writing a blog to [insert the user intent]. [insert the main keyword] is the main keyword. Your task is to create a creative and enticing and click-worthy blog post title. It must include the exact keyword/phrase and under 60 characters.

Copy, paste, tweak—and boom! . . . You’re one step closer to getting on the 1st page of Google.

Why Isn’t My Meta Description Showing in Search Results?

So, you put in the work, wrote a killer meta description, added a blog post or page and then hit publish—only to find out that Google completely ignored it and pulled some random text from your page instead. Frustrating? Absolutely. But hey, it’s not just you!

Here’s What’s Happening

Google has a mind of its own. Sometimes, it decides that the meta description you lovingly crafted isn’t the best fit for a particular search. Instead, it grabs a snippet from your page that it thinks better matches the user’s query.

This doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. It’s just Google doing what Google does—trying to deliver the most relevant answer.

A Real-Life Example

I recently updated my website and carefully crafted meta descriptions for every page. But when I checked the search results? Google went rogue and pulled random text from deep in the page. Over time, as I kept tweaking and optimizing, Google eventually started using my actual meta description.

Things to keep in mind . . . .

It’s normal . . . Google often overrides meta descriptions.

Keep Optimizing: Make sure your content reflects the keywords and intent behind the meta description.

Fallback Plan: If you don’t add a meta description, Google will automatically pull whatever it wants anyway—so it’s always better to provide one!

Even if Google plays hard to get, writing strong meta descriptions still matters. They signal what your content is about and influence clicks when they do show up. So, keep at it—Google will come around eventually.

Optimize for Success: What Google Wants, Google Gets

The main thing to keep in mind here is to give Google what it wants. If you notice that your content isn’t being shown the way you intended, take the time to update your title tags and meta descriptions with more relevant keywords and enticing language. Google’s primary goal is to provide users with the best and most relevant information, so aligning your content with that goal is essential.

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Checking Your Title and Meta Description

To check what is currently being displayed in the search results, you can:

Search for your website or page on Google and see what appears.
Hover over the tab at the top of your browser to see the title tag in action.

If you’re not seeing what you want, go back and update the title and meta description in both the SEO plugin and your WordPress theme’s settings. Consistency is key here—make sure the information you input is accurate and updated across all sections of your site.

Next Steps: Adding a Title Tag and Meta Description to Your WordPress Website

Optimizing your title tag and meta description is a simple yet crucial step in improving your website’s SEO. Not only does it help you rank higher on Google, but it also entices potential customers to click on your site. Remember, the more relevant and engaging your content is, the better your chances of landing on the first page of Google.

If you’re unsure of where you stand in terms of SEO, be sure to grab your free website audit.