How to set up meta titles and descriptions in Ghost?

@emelie 

Setting up meta titles and descriptions in Ghost is a straightforward process. These settings are crucial for SEO as they help search engines understand the content of your pages, and they also impact how your pages appear in search engine results. Here's how you can set them up:

1. Individual Posts and Pages

When you create or edit a post or page in Ghost, you can define the meta title and description.

• Access the Post/Page Editor: Log in to your Ghost admin dashboard and navigate to the editor for the specific post or page.
• Open the Settings: Click on the gear icon (⚙️) located on the top right corner of the editor to open the settings menu.
• Meta Data Tab: Inside the menu, you'll see the Meta Data tab. Click on it to expand the options.
• Set Meta Title and Description: Here, you can enter the meta title and description for your post or page. These fields allow you to customize what appears in search engine results. Meta Title: This is usually set to the post title by default, but you can customize it if desired. It's important to keep it succinct and relevant. Meta Description: Provide a brief and compelling description of the content, ideally between 150-160 characters.

2. Site-wide Meta Settings

To set up default meta settings for your entire site:

• Navigate to General Settings: From the Ghost admin dashboard, go to the “Settings” and then select “General”.
• Site Meta Data: Here, you can set the default meta title and description for your site. Scroll down to find the fields labeled “Meta Title” and “Meta Description”.
• Customize for the Entire Site: Enter your preferred site-wide meta title and description. This will apply to pages where you haven’t set a specific meta description or title.

3. Previewing the Meta Data

Ghost provides a preview feature that allows you to see how your meta titles and descriptions will appear in search results:

• Preview: After entering your meta information in the editor of a specific post or page, there is usually a preview that appears within the settings menu. This helps you see how your meta title and description will display on search engines.

Tips for Effective Meta Titles and Descriptions

• Be Descriptive and Accurate: Ensure that the meta title and description accurately reflect the content on the page.
• Use Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into both the meta title and description.
• Stay Within Character Limits: Aim for around 60 characters for meta titles and 150-160 characters for meta descriptions to ensure they are displayed fully in search results.
• Call to Action: Where possible, include a call to action in your meta description to encourage users to click on your link.

By carefully setting up and optimizing your meta titles and descriptions in Ghost, you enhance your site's visibility and performance in search engine results.