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How to Change a Page's SEO Title and Meta Description in WordPress

Using Joomla instead? See How to Change a Page's SEO Title and Meta Description in Joomla.

The page title and meta description are what people often see in search results. WordPress core doesn't include fields for either one. By default, the title comes from your page or post title and site name, and there's no meta description at all. Most sites use an SEO plugin to set them.

Note: search engines don't always use your title and description exactly as written, but setting good ones gives you the best chance.

Write a good title and description

  • Title: describe the page clearly, put the most important words first, and keep it to about 60 characters so it isn't cut off.
  • Meta description: a sentence or two (about 155 characters or fewer) that tells people what they'll find and why to click.
  • Make each page's title and description unique.
  • Write for people. Repeating keywords won't help.

Check whether you have an SEO plugin

Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and look for an active SEO plugin. If you're not sure, ask your web team. Don't install a second one if you already have one, since two SEO plugins can conflict.

Set the title and description

Every SEO plugin looks a little different, but the steps are similar:

  1. Open the page or post in the editor.
  2. Find your SEO plugin's panel. It's usually in the settings sidebar or in a box below the content.
  3. Fill in the SEO title and meta description fields.
  4. Click Save.

Many SEO plugins show a preview of how the page may look in search results.

Site-wide title settings

  • Settings > General > Site Title and Tagline: WordPress uses these in titles by default, and many themes show them in the header.
  • Your SEO plugin usually has site-wide title templates too, like "Page title | Business name." Changes there affect every page, so ask before you change them.

Home page

Depending on your settings and plugin, the home page title and description may be set on the page used as your home page (Settings > Reading) or in your SEO plugin's settings.

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