Title Tags and Meta Descriptions for Squarespace

Learning Objectives

1. Understand why title tags and meta descriptions matter for your site's search visibility
2. Write effective title tags that include your target keywords naturally
3. Create compelling meta descriptions that encourage clicks
4. Use Squarespace's built-in tools to preview and optimise your meta content

Introduction

Title tags and meta descriptions are your first chance to grab attention in search results. They tell both search engines and potential visitors what your page is about. Get them right, and you'll see more people clicking through to your site. This chapter shows you exactly how to write and optimise these crucial elements using Squarespace's SEO tools.

Lessons

Lesson 1: Writing Effective Title Tags

Your title tag appears as the blue clickable link in search results. It needs to be clear, include your main keyword, and make people want to click.

Step 1: Choose your primary keyword for the page
Start with the main term people would search for to find your content.

Step 2: Place your keyword near the beginning
Put your most important keyword within the first few words of your title.

Step 3: Keep it under 60 characters
Longer titles get cut off in search results with "…" at the end.

Step 4: Make it compelling
Your title should accurately describe what visitors will find, not just stuff keywords in.

Example: Instead of "SEO Tips Keywords Optimisation Guide", try "SEO Tips That Actually Improve Your Rankings"

Lesson 2: Creating Click-Worthy Meta Descriptions

Meta descriptions appear as the grey text under your title in search results. They don't directly affect rankings, but they heavily influence whether people click on your link.

Step 1: Summarise your page's main benefit
What will the reader learn or gain from visiting your page?

Step 2: Include a clear action
Tell people what to expect: "Learn how to…", "Discover…", or "Find out why…"

Step 3: Stay under 160 characters
Longer descriptions get truncated, potentially cutting off important information.

Step 4: Include your target keyword naturally
This helps reinforce what your page is about and may appear in bold in search results.

Example: "Learn 5 proven SEO techniques that help small businesses rank higher in Google. Practical tips you can implement today, no technical experience required."

Lesson 3: Using Squarespace's SEO Tools

Squarespace makes it straightforward to add and preview your title tags and meta descriptions.

Step 1: Access your page SEO settings
Go to Pages → click the settings gear next to your page → SEO tab

Step 2: Add your title tag
Enter your optimised title in the "SEO Title" field

Step 3: Write your meta description
Add your description in the "SEO Description" field

Step 4: Preview your results
Use the preview feature to see how your page will appear in search results

Step 5: Check on mobile
Click the mobile preview to ensure your text displays well on smaller screens

This is the bit most people miss: always preview your meta content before publishing. What looks good in the editing field might get cut off or appear awkward in actual search results.

Practice

Create a title tag and meta description for a page about "Beginner Photography Tips". Your target keyword is "photography tips for beginners".

Write:

• A title tag under 60 characters that includes your keyword
• A meta description under 160 characters that would make someone want to click

Check your character count and consider: would you click on this result if you saw it in Google?

FAQs

How important are title tags for SEO?
Very important. Title tags are one of the main ways search engines understand what your page is about. They're also the first thing people see in search results.

Do meta descriptions affect my search rankings?
No, meta descriptions don't directly impact where you rank. However, they do influence click-through rates, which can indirectly help your SEO performance.

What happens if I don't write a meta description?
Search engines will create one automatically by pulling text from your page. This rarely works as well as a custom description you write yourself.

Can I use the same title tag on multiple pages?
No, each page should have a unique title tag that reflects its specific content. Duplicate titles confuse search engines and visitors.

Should I include my brand name in every title tag?
Only if you have space and it adds value. For most small businesses, the keyword and compelling description matter more than the brand name.

Jargon Buster

Title Tag: The clickable headline that appears in search results and browser tabs

Meta Description: The summary text that appears under your title in search results

SERP: Search Engine Results Page – what you see when you search for something

Click-through Rate (CTR): The percentage of people who click your link after seeing it in search results

Keyword: The main term or phrase you want your page to rank for in search results

Wrap-up

You now know how to write title tags and meta descriptions that both search engines and people will respond to. The key is being clear, concise, and compelling while naturally including your target keywords. Use Squarespace's preview tools to check how your meta content looks before going live, and remember that unique, well-written titles and descriptions for each page will always outperform generic ones.

Ready to take your on-page SEO further? The next chapter covers header tags and how to structure your content for maximum search visibility.

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