How to use Yoast to add meta titles and descriptions in WordPress

What are meta titles and meta descriptions?

The meta title (also called the SEO title) is the blue, clickable headline you see in Google search results. It's what appears at the top of your browser tab too. This tells both Google and potential visitors what your page is about.

The meta description is the short snippet of text underneath the title. It's your chance to convince someone to click on your website rather than your competitor's. Think of it as a mini-advert for your page.

Here's the thing that trips up many business owners: these aren't automatically created from your page content. You need to add them manually, and that's where the Yoast SEO plugin becomes invaluable.

Why meta titles and descriptions matter for your business

If you're running a small business, every website visitor counts. Here's why getting your meta titles and descriptions right can make a real difference to your bottom line:

They're your first impression

Before someone even visits your website, they'll see your meta title and description in Google. If these don't grab their attention or clearly explain what you offer, they'll click on someone else's result instead.

They help Google understand your content

Google uses your meta title to understand what your page is about. Including your main keywords here helps Google show your page to the right people.

They improve your click-through rate

Even if you rank well in Google, people won't visit your site if your meta title and description don't sound appealing. A well-optimised meta description can increase click-through rates by over 30%.

For a small business, this could mean the difference between 10 new enquiries a month and 30 new enquiries a month from the same search ranking.

Installing the Yoast SEO plugin

The Yoast SEO plugin is free to use and includes everything you need for basic meta title and description management. Here's how to install it:

Step-by-step installation

Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
Go to Plugins > Add New
Type "Yoast SEO" in the search bar
Look for the plugin by "Team Yoast" (it should be the first result)
Click Install Now
Once installed, click Activate

Once activated, you'll see "Yoast SEO" appear in your WordPress dashboard menu. Don't worry about all the options just yet – we'll walk through everything step by step.

Setting up Yoast SEO for the first time

When you first activate Yoast SEO, it will offer to run you through a first-time configuration. This is worth doing as it sets up the basics correctly for your site.

The configuration wizard

Click "Start first-time configuration" when prompted, or go to Yoast SEO > General > First-time configuration.

The wizard will ask you several questions:

Site representation: Choose whether your site represents a business or person
Organisation details: Add your business name and logo
Social profiles: Add your Facebook, Twitter, and other social media links
Personal preferences: Choose what features you want enabled

Don't worry if you're not sure about some options – you can always change these later. The important thing is to complete the setup so Yoast can start helping you optimise your content.

How to add meta titles and descriptions to your pages

Now for the practical bit – actually adding meta titles and descriptions to your website pages. With Yoast installed, this becomes straightforward.

For individual pages and posts

When you're editing any page or post in WordPress, scroll down and you'll see the Yoast SEO box (or look for it in the sidebar if you're using the block editor).

Adding your SEO title

In the Yoast box, look for the "SEO title" field
Type your desired title (aim for 50-60 characters)
Include your main keyword near the beginning
Watch the preview to see how it will look in Google

Adding your meta description

Click on the "Meta description" field
Write a compelling description (aim for 140-160 characters)
Include your main keyword naturally
End with a clear call-to-action when appropriate

Yoast shows you a handy preview of how your listing will appear in Google search results. The green, orange, or red indicator tells you if your title and description are the right length.

For your homepage

Your homepage is often the most important page to optimise. To edit its meta title and description:

Go to Yoast SEO > Settings > Content types
Click on "Homepage"
Add your SEO title and meta description
Click "Save changes"

Using Yoast's AI features to save time (2025 update)

One of the biggest updates to Yoast in 2025 is the introduction of AI-powered features that can help you create meta titles and descriptions much faster. This is particularly useful if you're managing lots of pages or struggling with writer's block.

AI-generated titles and descriptions

Available in Yoast SEO Premium, the AI Generate feature can create multiple title and meta description options for you to choose from.

To use this feature:

Open any page or post in the WordPress editor
Scroll to the Yoast SEO box
Look for the "Generate with AI" button next to the title or description fields
Click it to generate several options
Choose the one you prefer or generate more options
Edit the generated content to match your brand voice

Why the AI feature is helpful for small businesses

If you're running a business and don't have time to craft perfect meta descriptions for every page, the AI feature can give you a strong starting point. You can then tweak the results to match your brand tone and include specific offers or benefits.

Note: The AI features require Yoast SEO Premium (£89 per year for one site as of 2025). The free version still allows you to add meta titles and descriptions manually.

Bulk editing meta descriptions

If you've got lots of pages that need meta descriptions, editing them one by one can be time-consuming. Yoast includes a bulk editor tool to speed this up.

Using the bulk editor

Go to Yoast SEO > Tools
Click on "Bulk editor"
Select the "Description" tab
You'll see a list of all your pages with their current meta descriptions
Click in any description field to add or edit the text
Press Enter to save each change

Important note: The bulk editor doesn't show you the character count warnings, so make sure to keep your descriptions between 140-160 characters.

Setting up templates and variables

If you have many similar pages (like product pages or blog posts), you can set up templates that automatically generate meta titles and descriptions. This saves massive amounts of time.

Understanding variables

Variables are placeholders that Yoast automatically replaces with content from your pages. For example:

%%title%% - Uses your page title
%%sitename%% - Uses your website name
%%excerpt%% - Uses your page excerpt
%%currentyear%% - Automatically updates to the current year

Setting up templates

Go to Yoast SEO > Settings > Content types
Choose the content type you want to set a template for (Pages, Posts, etc.)
In the SEO title field, create a template like: %%title%% | %%sitename%% %%currentyear%%
In the Meta description field, create a template using variables and your own text
Click "Save changes"

Templates work brilliantly for blog posts, service pages, or any content that follows a similar pattern. You can always override the template for specific pages that need unique titles or descriptions.

Meta title and description best practices

Meta title best practices

Keep it under 60 characters: Titles should be 50-60 characters to display fully in search results
Include your main keyword early: Put your most important keyword within the first few words
Make it compelling: Use action words like "discover," "learn," or "get"
Include your brand name: Either at the beginning or end, separated by a pipe (|) or dash (-)
Include the current year when relevant: For guides, tips, or time-sensitive content

Meta description best practices

Aim for 140-160 characters: Keep descriptions between 140-160 characters to avoid truncation
Focus on user intent: Write for intent-based, conversational phrases rather than rigid keyword optimisation
Include a call-to-action: Use phrases like "Learn more," "Get started," or "Book now"
Highlight your unique value: What makes your business or content different?
Include your target keyword naturally: Google may bold matching terms in search results

With advancements in AI, search engines are becoming more sophisticated in understanding context and user intent. This means:

Write naturally: Focus on clear, conversational language rather than keyword stuffing
Answer questions: Think about what questions your potential customers are asking
Consider mobile users: Most searches happen on mobile, so shorter, punchier descriptions work better
Use structured data: Yoast automatically adds structured data, helping search engines understand your content better

Common mistakes to avoid

Based on working with hundreds of small business websites, here are the most common meta title and description mistakes I see:

Duplicate meta descriptions

If your meta description is the same as other pages, the user experience in Google will be hampered. Every page should have a unique description.

Keyword stuffing

Don't try to cram every possible keyword into your meta title or description. Google has been tweaking meta titles since 2012 to combat over-optimisation by SEOs trying to stuff keywords.

Writing for search engines instead of people

Remember, real people will read your meta descriptions before deciding whether to click. Make them sound natural and appealing.

Ignoring character limits

Titles that are too long get cut off with "..." in search results, which looks unprofessional and may miss important information.

Generic descriptions

Avoid vague descriptions like "Welcome to our website" or "We offer great service." Be specific about what visitors will find on your page.

Missing calls-to-action

Your meta description is often your first chance to encourage someone to take action. Don't waste it with bland, descriptive text.

Monitoring your meta title and description performance

Once you've optimised your meta titles and descriptions, you need to monitor how they're performing and make adjustments when needed.

Using Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free tool that shows you exactly how your pages are performing in search results:

Set up Google Search Console for your website
Go to the "Performance" report
Look at your click-through rate (CTR) for different pages
Identify pages with low CTR but good rankings – these need better meta descriptions

What to look for

High impressions, low clicks: Your page shows in search results but people aren't clicking – improve your meta description
Declining CTR: Your meta description might be outdated or less compelling than competitors
Seasonal trends: Update meta titles and descriptions for seasonal businesses or time-sensitive content

When to update your meta titles and descriptions

You should review your meta titles and descriptions at least once per quarter, especially for high-traffic or cornerstone pages.

Consider updating when:

You've added new services or products
Your business focus has changed
Competitors are using similar messaging
Your click-through rates are dropping
It's a new year (for time-sensitive content)

Conclusion

Adding effective meta titles and descriptions to your WordPress site using Yoast SEO doesn't have to be complicated. Start with your most important pages – your homepage, main services, and popular blog posts – and work your way through the rest of your site.

Remember, these aren't just technical SEO elements – they're your first chance to make a good impression on potential customers. Take the time to make them compelling, clear, and action-oriented.

With Yoast's new AI features in 2025, the process has become even more streamlined for busy business owners. Whether you're using the free version or investing in Premium, the key is to get started and keep optimising based on your results.

How to use the Yoast plugin to add meta titles and meta descriptions to your pages and posts in WordPress