Meta titles and descriptions are small pieces of text that show up in Google search results. They tell search engines what your page is about — and more importantly, they help users decide whether to click your link or not.
If you're using WordPress, two popular SEO plugins — Yoast SEO and All in One SEO (AIOSEO) — make adding this info quick and easy. Here's how to do it.
What Are Meta Titles and Descriptions?
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Meta Title: This is the clickable blue headline that appears in Google search results.
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Meta Description: This is the short summary text beneath the title. Think of it as your website’s elevator pitch.
Done right, they improve your SEO and boost your click-through rate.
Using Yoast SEO
1. Install and activate Yoast SEO
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Go to Plugins > Add New
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Search for Yoast SEO
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Click Install Now, then Activate
2. Edit a page or post
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Open any post or page in the WordPress editor
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Scroll down to the Yoast SEO section
3. Enter your meta title and description
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Click on the “SEO title” field and enter your custom page title
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Add a compelling “Meta description” (keep it under 160 characters)
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Use the snippet preview to see how it’ll look in Google
4. Update the page
Click Update (or Publish) to save your SEO settings.
Yoast also gives you a readability score and keyword suggestions — bonus!
Using All in One SEO (AIOSEO)
1. Install and activate AIOSEO
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Go to Plugins > Add New
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Search for All in One SEO
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Click Install Now, then Activate
2. Edit a page or post
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Open your post or page in the editor
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Scroll down to the AIOSEO Settings panel
3. Add your title and meta description
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Under the General tab, fill in the Title and Meta Description
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Use dynamic tags like
%post_title%or%site_title%— or type your own -
Watch the live preview to make sure it looks good
4. Save your changes
Click Update to apply the meta tags to that post/page.
Pro Tips
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Keep meta titles under 60 characters
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Keep descriptions under 160 characters
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Include your main keyword near the beginning
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Write descriptions like an ad — make people want to click
Where Do These Show Up?
Once your site is indexed by Google, your meta title and description will appear in:
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Google Search Results
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Social Shares (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
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Browser tabs and bookmarks
Final Thoughts
Adding meta tags isn’t just good for SEO — it’s your first impression in search results. Tools like Yoast and AIOSEO make it easy, even if you’re brand new to SEO.
Need help optimizing your content for better rankings? Reach out to XMLA Support — we’ll help you dial in your on-page SEO like a pro.