Meta Tags Optimizer

This skill creates compelling, optimized meta tags that improve click-through rates from search results and enhance social media sharing. It covers title tags, meta descriptions, and social meta tags.

When to Use This Skill

• Creating meta tags for new pages
• Optimizing existing meta tags for better CTR
• Preparing pages for social media sharing
• Fixing duplicate or missing meta tags
• A/B testing title and description variations
• Optimizing for specific SERP features
• Creating meta tags for different page types

What This Skill Does

1. Title Tag Creation: Writes compelling, keyword-optimized titles
2. Meta Description Writing: Creates click-worthy descriptions
3. Open Graph Optimization: Prepares pages for social sharing
4. Twitter Card Setup: Optimizes Twitter-specific meta tags
5. CTR Analysis: Suggests improvements for better click rates
6. Character Counting: Ensures proper length for SERP display
7. A/B Test Suggestions: Provides variations for testing

How to Use

Create Meta Tags

Create meta tags for a page about [topic] targeting [keyword]

Write title and meta description for this content: [content/URL]

Optimize Existing Tags

Improve these meta tags for better CTR: [current tags]

Social Media Tags

Create Open Graph and Twitter card tags for [page/URL]

Data Sources

See CONNECTORS.md for tool category placeholders.

With ~~search console + ~~SEO tool connected: Automatically pull current meta tags, CTR data by query, competitor title/description patterns, SERP preview data, and impression/click metrics to identify optimization opportunities.

With manual data only: Ask the user to provide:

1. Current title and meta description (if optimizing existing)
2. Target primary keyword and 2-3 secondary keywords
3. Page URL and main content/value proposition
4. Competitor URLs or examples of well-performing titles in the SERP

Proceed with the full workflow using provided data. Note in the output which metrics are from automated collection vs. user-provided data.

Instructions

When a user requests meta tag optimization:

1. Gather Page Information

   ### Page Analysis
   
   **Page URL**: [URL]
   **Page Type**: [blog/product/landing/service/homepage]
   **Primary Keyword**: [keyword]
   **Secondary Keywords**: [keywords]
   **Target Audience**: [audience]
   **Primary CTA**: [action you want users to take]
   **Unique Value Prop**: [what makes this page special]
   

2. Create Optimized Title Tag

   ### Title Tag Optimization
   
   **Requirements**:
   - Length: 50-60 characters (displays fully in SERP)
   - Include primary keyword (preferably near front)
   - Make it compelling and click-worthy
   - Match search intent
   - Include brand name if appropriate
   
   **Title Tag Formula Options**:
   
   1. **Keyword | Benefit | Brand**
      "[Primary Keyword]: [Benefit] | [Brand Name]"
      
   2. **Number + Keyword + Promise**
      "[Number] [Keyword] That [Promise/Result]"
      
   3. **How-to Format**
      "How to [Keyword]: [Benefit/Result]"
      
   4. **Question Format**
      "What is [Keyword]? [Brief Answer/Hook]"
      
   5. **Year + Keyword**
      "[Keyword] in [Year]: [Hook/Update]"
   
   **Generated Title Options**:
   
   | Option | Title | Length | Power Words | Keyword Position |
   |--------|-------|--------|-------------|------------------|
   | 1 | [Title] | [X] chars | [words] | [Front/Middle] |
   | 2 | [Title] | [X] chars | [words] | [Front/Middle] |
   | 3 | [Title] | [X] chars | [words] | [Front/Middle] |
   
   **Recommended**: Option [X]
   **Reasoning**: [Why this option is best]
   
   **Title Tag Code**:
   ```html
   <title>[Selected Title]</title>
   

3. Write Meta Description

   ### Meta Description Optimization
   
   **Requirements**:
   - Length: 150-160 characters (displays fully in SERP)
   - Include primary keyword naturally
   - Include clear call-to-action
   - Match page content accurately
   - Create urgency or curiosity
   - Avoid duplicate descriptions
   
   **Meta Description Formula**:
   
   [What the page offers] + [Benefit to user] + [Call-to-action]
   
   **Power Elements to Include**:
   - Numbers and statistics
   - Current year
   - Emotional triggers
   - Action verbs
   - Unique value proposition
   
   **Generated Description Options**:
   
   | Option | Description | Length | CTA | Emotional Trigger |
   |--------|-------------|--------|-----|-------------------|
   | 1 | [Description] | [X] chars | [CTA] | [Trigger] |
   | 2 | [Description] | [X] chars | [CTA] | [Trigger] |
   | 3 | [Description] | [X] chars | [CTA] | [Trigger] |
   
   **Recommended**: Option [X]
   **Reasoning**: [Why this option is best]
   
   **Meta Description Code**:
   ```html
   <meta name="description" content="[Selected Description]">
   

4. Create Open Graph Tags

   ### Open Graph Tags (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
   
   **Required OG Tags**:
   
   ```html
   <!-- Primary Open Graph Tags -->
   <meta property="og:type" content="[article/website/product]">
   <meta property="og:url" content="[Full canonical URL]">
   <meta property="og:title" content="[OG-optimized title - up to 60 chars]">
   <meta property="og:description" content="[OG description - up to 200 chars]">
   <meta property="og:image" content="[Image URL - 1200x630px recommended]">
   
   <!-- Optional but Recommended -->
   <meta property="og:site_name" content="[Website Name]">
   <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US">
   

   OG Type Selection Guide:

   Page Type	og:type
   Blog post	article
   Homepage	website
   Product	product
   Video	video.other
   Profile	profile

   OG Title Considerations:

   • Can be different from title tag
   • Optimize for social sharing context
   • More conversational tone acceptable
   • Up to 60 characters ideal

   OG Description Considerations:

   • Can be longer than meta description (up to 200 chars)
   • Focus on shareability
   • What would make someone click when shared?

   OG Image Requirements:

   • Recommended size: 1200x630 pixels
   • Minimum size: 600x315 pixels
   • Format: JPG or PNG
   • Keep text to less than 20% of image
   • Include branding subtly

5. Create Twitter Card Tags

   ### Twitter Card Tags
   
   **Card Type Selection**:
   
   | Card Type | Best For | Image Size |
   |-----------|----------|------------|
   | summary | Articles, blogs | 144x144 min |
   | summary_large_image | Visual content | 300x157 min |
   | player | Video/audio | 640x360 min |
   | app | Mobile apps | 800x418 |
   
   **Twitter Card Code**:
   
   ```html
   <!-- Twitter Card Tags -->
   <meta name="twitter:card" content="[summary_large_image/summary]">
   <meta name="twitter:site" content="@[YourTwitterHandle]">
   <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@[AuthorTwitterHandle]">
   <meta name="twitter:title" content="[Title - 70 chars max]">
   <meta name="twitter:description" content="[Description - 200 chars max]">
   <meta name="twitter:image" content="[Image URL]">
   <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="[Image description for accessibility]">
   

   Twitter-Specific Considerations:

   • Shorter titles work better (under 70 chars)
   • Include @mentions if relevant
   • Hashtag-relevant terms can help discovery
   • Test with Twitter Card Validator

6. Additional Meta Tags

   ### Additional Recommended Meta Tags
   
   **Canonical URL** (Prevent duplicates):
   ```html
   <link rel="canonical" href="[Preferred URL]">
   

   Robots Tag (Indexing control):

   <meta name="robots" content="index, follow">
   

   Viewport (Mobile optimization):

   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
   

   Author (For articles):

   <meta name="author" content="[Author Name]">
   

   Language:

   <html lang="en">
   

   Article-Specific (For blog posts):

   <meta property="article:published_time" content="[ISO 8601 date]">
   <meta property="article:modified_time" content="[ISO 8601 date]">
   <meta property="article:author" content="[Author URL]">
   <meta property="article:section" content="[Category]">
   <meta property="article:tag" content="[Tag 1]">
   

7. Generate Complete Meta Tag Block

   ## Complete Meta Tags
   
   Copy and paste this complete meta tag block:
   
   ```html
   <!-- Primary Meta Tags -->
   <title>[Optimized Title]</title>
   <meta name="title" content="[Optimized Title]">
   <meta name="description" content="[Optimized Description]">
   <link rel="canonical" href="[Canonical URL]">
   
   <!-- Open Graph / Facebook -->
   <meta property="og:type" content="[type]">
   <meta property="og:url" content="[URL]">
   <meta property="og:title" content="[OG Title]">
   <meta property="og:description" content="[OG Description]">
   <meta property="og:image" content="[Image URL]">
   <meta property="og:site_name" content="[Site Name]">
   
   <!-- Twitter -->
   <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
   <meta name="twitter:url" content="[URL]">
   <meta name="twitter:title" content="[Twitter Title]">
   <meta name="twitter:description" content="[Twitter Description]">
   <meta name="twitter:image" content="[Image URL]">
   
   <!-- Additional -->
   <meta name="robots" content="index, follow">
   <meta name="author" content="[Author]">
   

8. CORE-EEAT Alignment Check

   Verify meta tags align with content quality standards. Reference: CORE-EEAT Benchmark

   ### CORE-EEAT Meta Tag Alignment
   
   | Check | Status | Notes |
   |-------|--------|-------|
   | **C01 Intent Alignment**: Title promise matches actual content delivery | ✅/⚠️/❌ | [Does the title accurately represent what the page delivers?] |
   | **C02 Direct Answer**: Meta description reflects the core answer available in first 150 words | ✅/⚠️/❌ | [Does the description preview the direct answer?] |
   
   **If C01 fails**: Title is misleading — rewrite to match actual content.
   **If C02 fails**: Content may need restructuring to front-load the answer, or description should better reflect available content.
   

9. Provide CTR Optimization Tips

   ## CTR Optimization Analysis
   
   ### Power Words Used
   - [Word 1] - Creates [emotion/action]
   - [Word 2] - Creates [emotion/action]
   
   ### CTR Boosting Elements
   
   | Element | Present | Impact |
   |---------|---------|--------|
   | Numbers | Yes/No | +20-30% CTR |
   | Current Year | Yes/No | +15-20% CTR |
   | Power Words | Yes/No | +10-15% CTR |
   | Question | Yes/No | +10-15% CTR |
   | Brackets | Yes/No | +10% CTR |
   
   ### A/B Test Suggestions
   
   Test these variations:
   
   **Version A** (Current):
   - Title: [Title]
   - Description: [Description]
   
   **Version B** (Test):
   - Title: [Alternative title]
   - Description: [Alternative description]
   - Hypothesis: [Why this might perform better]
   

Validation Checkpoints

Input Validation

• Primary keyword confirmed and matches page content
• Page type identified (blog/product/landing/service/homepage)
• Target audience and search intent clearly defined
• Unique value proposition articulated

Output Validation

• Title length 50-60 characters (displays fully in SERP)
• Meta description length 150-160 characters
• Primary keyword appears in both title and description
• Open Graph image specified (1200x630px recommended)
• All HTML syntax valid (no unclosed quotes or tags)
• Source of each data point clearly stated (~~search console CTR data, ~~SEO tool competitor data, user-provided, or estimated)

Example

User: "Create meta tags for a blog post about 'how to start a podcast in [current year]'"

Output:

## Meta Tags: How to Start a Podcast ([current year])

### Title Tag
```html
<title>How to Start a Podcast in [current year]: Complete Beginner's Guide</title>

Length: ~55 characters ✅ Keyword: "how to start a podcast" at front ✅ Power Words: "Complete", "Beginner's" ✅

Meta Description

<meta name="description" content="Learn how to start a podcast in [current year] with our step-by-step guide. Covers equipment, hosting, recording, and launching your first episode. Start podcasting today!">

Length: ~163 characters ✅ Keyword: Included naturally ✅ CTA: "Start podcasting today!" ✅

Complete Meta Tag Block

<!-- Primary Meta Tags -->
<title>How to Start a Podcast in [current year]: Complete Beginner's Guide</title>
<meta name="description" content="Learn how to start a podcast in [current year] with our step-by-step guide. Covers equipment, hosting, recording, and launching your first episode. Start podcasting today!">
<link rel="canonical" href="https://yoursite.com/how-to-start-a-podcast/">

<!-- Open Graph / Facebook -->
<meta property="og:type" content="article">
<meta property="og:url" content="https://yoursite.com/how-to-start-a-podcast/">
<meta property="og:title" content="How to Start a Podcast in [current year] (Complete Guide)">
<meta property="og:description" content="Everything you need to launch your podcast: equipment recommendations, hosting platforms, recording tips, and step-by-step launch checklist. No experience required.">
<meta property="og:image" content="https://yoursite.com/images/podcast-guide.jpg">
<meta property="og:site_name" content="Your Site Name">

<!-- Twitter -->
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image">
<meta name="twitter:title" content="How to Start a Podcast in [current year]">
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Complete beginner's guide to launching your podcast. Equipment, hosting, recording, and more.">
<meta name="twitter:image" content="https://yoursite.com/images/podcast-guide.jpg">
<meta name="twitter:site" content="@YourHandle">

<!-- Article Tags -->
<meta property="article:published_time" content="[YYYY-MM-DD]T08:00:00+00:00">
<meta property="article:author" content="https://yoursite.com/author/name">
<meta property="article:section" content="Podcasting">
<meta property="article:tag" content="podcasting">
<meta property="article:tag" content="content creation">

A/B Test Variations

Title Variation B: "Start a Podcast in [current year]: Step-by-Step Guide (+ Free Checklist)"

Title Variation C: "How to Start a Podcast: [current year] Guide [Equipment + Software + Tips]"

Description Variation B: "Want to start a podcast in [current year]? This guide covers everything: equipment ($100 budget option), best hosting platforms, recording tips, and how to get your first 1,000 listeners."

## Page-Type Templates

### Homepage

```html
<title>[Brand Name] - [Primary Value Proposition]</title>
<meta name="description" content="[Brand] helps [audience] [achieve goal]. [Key feature/benefit]. [CTA]">

Product Page

<title>[Product Name] - [Key Benefit] | [Brand]</title>
<meta name="description" content="[Product] [key features]. [Price/offer if applicable]. [Social proof]. [CTA]">

Blog Post

<title>[How to/What is/Number] [Keyword] [Benefit/Year]</title>
<meta name="description" content="[What they'll learn]. [Key points covered]. [CTA]">

Service Page

<title>[Service] in [Location] - [Brand] | [Differentiator]</title>
<meta name="description" content="[Service description]. [Experience/credentials]. [Key benefit]. [CTA]">

Tips for Success

1. Front-load keywords - Put important terms at the beginning
2. Match intent - Description should preview what page delivers
3. Be specific - Vague descriptions get ignored
4. Test variations - Small changes can significantly impact CTR
5. Update regularly - Add current year, refresh messaging
6. Check competitors - See what's working in your SERP

Title Tag Formula Patterns

Proven Title Formulas

Formula	Template	Example	Best For
How-To	How to [Achieve Result] ([Year])	How to Improve SEO Rankings (2026)	Informational guides
Number List	[Number] [Adjective] [Topic] for [Audience]	15 Proven SEO Strategies for E-commerce	Listicles
Question	[Question]? Here's [Answer Preview]	What Is Technical SEO? Complete Guide	Definition content
Comparison	[Option A] vs [Option B]: [Differentiator]	Ahrefs vs SEMrush: Which SEO Tool Wins?	Comparison pages
Year-Based	Best [Topic] in [Year] ([Tested/Ranked])	Best SEO Tools in 2026 (Expert Tested)	Evergreen + fresh
Benefit-Driven	[Benefit]: [How to Achieve It]	Rank #1 on Google: 10-Step SEO Checklist	High-CTR pages
Parenthetical	[Topic] ([Modifier])	Link Building Guide (With Templates)	Adding value signal
Negative	[Number] [Topic] Mistakes [Consequence]	7 SEO Mistakes That Kill Your Rankings	Problem-awareness content

Title Tag Power Words

Category	Power Words	Use Sparingly
Urgency	Now, Today, Quick, Fast, Instant, 2026	Don't overuse; pair with substance
Value	Free, Proven, Complete, Essential, Ultimate	Avoid hyperbole without backing
Specificity	[Exact number], Step-by-Step, Checklist, Template	More specific = more clicks
Curiosity	Secret, Little-Known, Surprising, Actually	Must deliver on the promise
Authority	Expert, Research-Backed, Data-Driven, Tested	Only use when genuinely expert content
Emotional	Best, Worst, Mistakes, Warning, Powerful	Balance emotion with credibility

Title Tag Length Optimization

Length Range	SERP Behavior	Recommendation
<30 characters	May appear thin	Expand with modifier or brand
30-50 characters	Fully displayed on all devices	Ideal for mobile-first
50-60 characters	Full display on desktop, may truncate mobile	Sweet spot for desktop
60-65 characters	Truncated on some devices	Front-load keywords
>65 characters	Truncated everywhere	Avoid — key info gets cut

Meta Description Copywriting Frameworks

AIDA Framework

Element	What It Does	Example
Attention	Hook with a bold claim or question	"Want to double your organic traffic?"
Interest	Build relevance	"This guide covers 15 proven strategies..."
Desire	Show benefit	"...used by top-ranking sites to increase traffic by 200%."
Action	CTA	"Read the full guide now."

Full Example: "Want to double your organic traffic? This guide covers 15 proven SEO strategies used by top-ranking sites to increase traffic by 200%. Read the full guide now." (158 chars)

PAS Framework

Element	What It Does	Example
Problem	Identify pain point	"Struggling to rank on Google?"
Agitate	Amplify the problem	"Most SEO guides are outdated and miss key ranking factors."
Solution	Offer the solution	"Our 2026 guide covers what actually works. Read now."

Benefit-Proof-CTA Framework

Element	Example
Benefit	"Learn the exact SEO process that grew our traffic 5x"
Proof	"— with real data from 200+ audits."
CTA	"Get the free checklist."

CTR Optimization Data

Factors That Increase Organic CTR

Factor	CTR Impact	Implementation
Number in title	+20-30%	"7 Ways", "15 Tips", "2026"
Question in title	+14%	Start with How, What, Why
Emotional words	+7%	"Proven", "Essential", "Mistake"
Brackets/parentheses	+38%	"[Guide]", "(With Examples)"
Current year	+10-15%	"Best SEO Tools 2026"
Power words	+12%	See Power Words table above
Match search intent	+15-25%	Align title with SERP expectations
Rich results (schema)	+30%	FAQ, HowTo, Review stars

Open Graph Best Practices by Platform

Platform-Specific OG Optimization

Platform	Image Size	Title Length	Description Length	Special Tags
Facebook	1200x630px	40-60 chars	125-155 chars	og:type, og:locale
Twitter/X	1200x600px	70 chars max	200 chars	twitter:card, twitter:site
LinkedIn	1200x627px	70 chars	150 chars	Standard OG tags
Pinterest	1000x1500px (2:3)	100 chars	500 chars	og:type=article preferred
Slack	500x500px min	Full title	First ~300 chars	Standard OG tags

OG Tag Checklist

Tag	Required?	Notes
og:title	Yes	Can differ from HTML title; optimize for social sharing
og:description	Yes	Social-optimized; can differ from meta description
og:image	Yes	Must be absolute URL; minimum 200x200px, ideal 1200x630px
og:url	Yes	Canonical URL
og:type	Yes	"website" for homepage, "article" for blog posts
og:site_name	Recommended	Your brand name
og:locale	Recommended	e.g., "en_US"
twitter:card	Recommended	"summary_large_image" for articles
twitter:site	Recommended	@yourbrand

Reference Materials

• Meta Tag Formulas — Proven title and description formulas with templates, power words, and CTR data

Related Skills

• seo-content-writer — Create content for meta tags
• schema-markup-generator — Add structured data
• on-page-seo-auditor — Audit all meta tags
• serp-analysis — Analyze competitor meta tags
• geo-content-optimizer — GEO optimization complements meta tag improvements
• content-quality-auditor — Full CORE-EEAT audit includes C01/C02 items that meta tags address