How to write effective Meta Titles and Descriptions in 2023

23 May 2023 | | Search Engine Optimisation

In the ever-changing world of search engine optimisation (SEO), writing effective meta titles and descriptions remains a crucial aspect of optimising your website to rank higher in the search engines and to improve your click-through rates. In this blog, I will run through what meta titles and descriptions are and provide some tips on how you can optimise them for better website performance.

Understanding Meta Titles:

The meta title, also known as the title tag, is a concise and accurate summary of your web page’s content. It appears as the clickable headline in search engine results and browser tabs (see example below) meta titles are one of the key factors search engines consider when determining the relevance and ranking of a web page. Here at Dental Design, we consider optimising the meta titles a priority when we begin working on a website.

So how can we write an effective meta title?

    • Keep it concise and within character limits: Ideally, a meta title should be around 50-60 characters to ensure it doesn’t get truncated in search results.
    • Include relevant keywords: Incorporate relevant, high volume keywords that reflect the content of the page. Keyword stuffing should be avoided the focus should be on creating a natural and compelling title.
    • Convey value and relevance: A meta title should also try and entice users to click. Unique selling points or benefits should be included if possible, this will increase the website’s click through rate (CTR) and improve traffic.

Understanding Meta Descriptions:

Meta descriptions provide a brief summary of your webpage and appear below the meta title in search engine results. While they don’t directly impact rankings, they play a crucial role in improving clicks (CTR) and setting user expectations.

 

So what can we do to optimise a meta description?

  • Keep it within character limits: Aim for meta descriptions of around 120-160 characters to ensure they are fully displayed in search results.
  • Include relevant keywords: Incorporate targeted keywords naturally to show search engines and users that your page aligns with their search intent. Keywords in the search results will also appear in ‘bold‘ to make the website listing stand out.
  • Highlight unique selling points: Showcase what sets your webpage apart from others. In dentistry this could be an offer for a ‘Free Consultation’. Or you could mention that you offer 0% 0% finance to spread the cost of treatment.
  • Include ‘call to action’: Encourage users to take action in your meta description. This can include phrases like “Contact us,” or “Find our more”

Optimising for the user experience:

While optimising meta titles and descriptions for search engines is important, prioritising the user experience is equally crucial. Remember these key points:

  • Relevance and coherence: Ensure your meta title and description accurately reflect the content of your page. Misleading users can lead to higher bounce rates and lower conversions.
  • Readability and language: Write in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. Use appropriate language for your target audience and maintain consistency in tone throughout your meta content. Don’t forget to spell check!

Writing effective meta titles and descriptions remains an essential SEO practice in 2023. By crafting relevant, keyword rich and compelling meta content, you can improve your website’s visibility, attract more organic traffic, and improve your new patient numbers. 

More posts from our team


Previous Post:
Next Post:

Back to all news

Reviews2025
Five Star
Reviewed Marketing
5 gold stars
google review logofacebook review with 5 stars
"Excellent service from James at Dental Design, thank you very much for your prompt attention whenever I get in touch! Would definitely recommend to a friend" Alison Tarmey View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Would definitely recommend to a friend"
5 gold stars
"As a dental practice manager I cannot recommend Dental Design highly enough. They are just brilliant at what they do. Lucy and her colleagues are just an email or a phone call away...." Emma Smith View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "I cannot recommend Dental Design highly enough"
5 gold stars
"Really great company to deal with. They always respond quickly and are truly reliable. I would 100% recommend, the staff are so friendly and helpful." Michelle Molloy View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Really great company to deal with"
5 gold stars
"I got increased traffic and new patients applying to my surgery, once Dental Design upgraded my website. They are very professional, efficient & adaptive to new situations..." Joanna Gallop View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Very professional, efficient & adaptive to new situations"
5 gold stars
"Lucy has been a star, responding to and acting upon our requests in a prompt, efficient and professional manner, as well as the rest of the Dental Design team..." Abhay Shah View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "I cannot recommend them highly enough"
5 gold stars
"...Since the website has been up and running Lucy Mander has been our point of contact. She has been invaluable and gone out of her way to help us, especially during COVID-19 lockdown... " Lucy Jones View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Has been invaluable and gone out of her way to help us"
5 gold stars
"Thank you for all your help and support, and the provision of valuable learning aids for our patients and staff alike in these difficult times. We love the look of our practice website. Very professional!" Sandra Luck View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "We love the look of our practice website. Very professional!"
5 gold stars
"Dental Design stood out both in their knowledge of the industry and their professionalism and can-do attitude. All of their staff are exceptionally competent and knowledgeable..." Harvey Rook View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Dental Design stood out both in their knowledge of the industry and their professionalism"
5 gold stars
"Having done extensive research into all the dental website companies, the team and package offered at dental design was unrivalled..." Neil Shah View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "The team and package offered at dental design was unrivalled"
5 gold stars
"The team at dental design (especially Rosie) are absolutely fantastic and are always on hand to help. They are professional, friendly and extremely efficient. Rosie always gets back..." KiKi Wilmot View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "absolutely fantastic and are always on hand to help"
5 gold stars
"Dental Design are fantastic to work with, our website is amazing and the support they provide is second to none. Our account manager Rosie L is a fabulous point..." Luke Lucas View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "Dental Design are fantastic to work with"
5 gold stars
"Having worked with the Dental Design team for the last six months, I've found them not only helpful, but friendly and approachable too. I bombard Marcus with regular..." Sophie Harper View Full Testimonial
Google reviews logo "always met with a swift and professional response"
5 gold stars
desk with branded documents