How to add meta tags in ExpressionEngine?

by kyleigh.wolff , in category: SEO , 7 days ago

How to add meta tags in ExpressionEngine?

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1 answer

by creola.ebert , 6 days ago

@kyleigh.wolff 

Adding meta tags in ExpressionEngine can be done by editing your template files. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you add meta tags:

Step 1: Access Your Template

  1. Log in to the ExpressionEngine Control Panel.
  2. Navigate to the Templates Section: Go to the "Design" tab in the top navigation bar. Click on "Templates" in the dropdown menu.
  3. Choose the Appropriate Template Group: Select the template group that contains the template you want to edit. Click on the template you wish to modify.

Step 2: Edit the Template

Add the meta tags to your HTML <head> section within the chosen template. Here's a basic structure for adding meta tags:

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <title>{embed="{segment_1}"}Default Title{/embed}</title>
    
    <!-- Meta tags -->
    <meta name="description" content="{embed="{segment_1}"}Default Description{/embed}">
    <meta name="keywords" content="ExpressionEngine, CMS, Meta Tags">
    <meta name="author" content="Your Name or Company">
    
    <!-- Custom Field Data (if applicable) -->
    <meta property="og:title" content="{custom_field_title}">
    <meta property="og:description" content="{custom_field_description}">

    <!-- Additional Meta Tags -->
    <!-- Add any additional meta tags as needed -->

</head>
<body>
    <!-- Page content -->
</body>
</html>


Step 3: Utilize ExpressionEngine Tags

If you’re using dynamic content, you can pull data from custom fields, channels, or other content sources. For example, if you have a channel field for a page’s description, you can do this:

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<meta name="description" content="{your_description_field}">


You can also use conditionals to determine what meta tags to display based on particular criteria. For example:

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{if segment_2 == ""}
    <meta name="description" content="Default description for the homepage">
{if:else}
    <meta name="description" content="{your_description_field}">
{/if}


Step 4: Save Changes

After you have added the necessary meta tags and ExpressionEngine variables to your template, save the changes:

  1. Click the "Update" button to save your changes.

Tips:

  • SEO Modules/Add-ons: Consider using SEO-specific add-ons or plugins that can help manage metadata more efficiently, especially for larger sites.
  • Consistency: Ensure that your meta tags are consistently formatted throughout your templates for better SEO management.


By following these steps, you should be able to integrate meta tags into your ExpressionEngine templates effectively.