Master the art of writing meta tags that rank higher in Google and get more clicks. Includes best practices, step-by-step editing instructions, and ready-to-use templates for every Shopify page type.
Title Tag Length
50-60 Characters
Optimal for full display in Google
Meta Description
150-160 Characters
Include keyword and CTA
Golden Rule
Unique Per Page
Never duplicate meta tags
Meta tags are HTML elements that provide information about your web page to search engines and visitors. They do not appear on the page itself but control how your page appears in search results and on social media.
The title tag is the clickable headline that appears in Google search results. It is the single most important on-page SEO element. Google uses it to understand what your page is about, and searchers use it to decide whether to click.
Directly affects rankings and click-through rates
The meta description is the snippet of text that appears below the title tag in search results. While Google says it does not directly affect rankings, a compelling meta description dramatically improves click-through rates, which indirectly helps SEO.
Indirectly affects rankings through CTR
The robots meta tag tells search engines whether to index a page and follow its links. Shopify handles this automatically for most pages, but you may need to noindex certain pages like thank-you pages or internal search results.
Controls which pages appear in search results
The canonical tag tells Google which version of a page is the "official" one when duplicate or similar content exists. Shopify adds canonical tags automatically, which is especially important for product variants and paginated collections.
Prevents duplicate content penalties
Open Graph tags control how your pages appear when shared on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and other social platforms. They specify the title, description, and image displayed in social previews.
Controls social media sharing appearance
Twitter Card tags work similarly to Open Graph tags but are specifically for X (Twitter). They control the card type, title, description, and image shown when your page is shared on X.
Controls X/Twitter sharing appearance
Understanding how your meta tags look in Google helps you write more effective ones.
https://www.yourstore.com/products/organic-cotton-tee
Organic Cotton T-Shirt - Soft & Breathable | Your Store
Shop our organic cotton t-shirts. Made from 100% GOTS-certified cotton. Available in 12 colors. Free shipping on orders over $50. Shop the collection today.
Blue link = Your title tag. This is what people click on.
Green URL = Your page URL. Clean, descriptive URLs look more trustworthy.
Gray text = Your meta description. Keywords matching the search query appear in bold.
Your title tag is the most impactful SEO element on any page. Here is how to get it right.
Google typically displays the first 50-60 characters of a title tag. Titles longer than 60 characters get truncated with an ellipsis, which looks unprofessional and can cut off important information.
Organic Cotton T-Shirt - Navy | Your Store
The Best Premium Quality Organic Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt in Navy Blue Color for Men and Women - Your Store Name
Keywords placed closer to the beginning of the title tag carry more weight with search engines. Lead with what the page is about rather than your brand name.
Running Shoes for Flat Feet | Brand Name
Brand Name | Our Amazing Running Shoes for Flat Feet
Add your brand name at the end of the title, separated by a pipe (|) or dash (-). This builds brand recognition in search results and adds trust when users see a consistent brand across multiple listings.
Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds - Noise Cancelling | TechStore
Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds - Noise Cancelling
Every page on your Shopify store needs a unique title tag. Duplicate titles confuse search engines and make it harder for them to determine which page to rank for a given query.
Women's Yoga Pants - High Waisted | FitWear
Products | My Store (used on multiple pages)
Include words that trigger clicks: "Best," "Guide," "Review," "Free Shipping," "Sale," or year numbers like "2026." These make your listing stand out among similar results.
Best Organic Face Serums [2026 Guide] | GlowLab
Organic Face Serums Collection Page
A great meta description is a mini advertisement for your page. It sells the click.
Google displays up to approximately 155-160 characters in the description snippet. Too short and you miss the opportunity to sell the click. Too long and your message gets truncated.
Shop our collection of organic cotton t-shirts. Soft, breathable, and eco-friendly. Free shipping on orders over $50. Available in 12 colors.
T-shirts for sale.
End your meta description with an action-oriented phrase that tells the searcher what to do next. "Shop now," "Learn more," "Get free shipping," or "Browse our collection" all work well.
Discover our top-rated wireless earbuds with 24-hour battery life and active noise cancelling. Free 30-day returns. Shop the collection today.
We sell wireless earbuds that have good battery life and noise cancelling features on our website.
When your keyword appears in the meta description, Google bolds it in search results. This visual emphasis draws the eye and signals relevance to the searcher.
Looking for the best running shoes for flat feet? Our podiatrist-recommended collection offers superior arch support and cushioning. Free fitting guide included.
Our store has many great shoes available for purchase. We have something for everyone.
Use the meta description to communicate what makes your store or product special: free shipping, money-back guarantee, number of reviews, years in business, or exclusive features.
Handcrafted leather wallets made in Portland, OR. RFID-blocking, lifetime warranty. Rated 4.9/5 by 2,000+ customers. Shop our bestsellers.
We sell wallets made of leather. They are good quality and available to buy on our website now.
Never duplicate meta descriptions across pages. If you leave them blank, Google will auto-generate a snippet from the page content, which is usually worse than a custom-written one.
Each product, collection, and blog post has its own custom-written meta description tailored to the page content.
Using the same generic description like "Welcome to our store" across all pages.
Open Graph tags control how your pages look when shared on social media. Getting these right increases engagement and traffic from social channels.
og:title - Page title for social
og:description - Page summary
og:image - Share image (1200x630px)
og:url - Canonical page URL
og:type - Content type (product, article)
Shopify makes it easy to edit meta tags for any page type. Here are step-by-step instructions for each.
Many Shopify stores use the same title format for all pages, like "My Store - Products." Each page needs a unique, descriptive title tag.
Fix: Audit all pages with Google Search Console or Screaming Frog. Create a spreadsheet and write unique titles for each page.
Titles over 60 characters get truncated. Titles under 30 characters waste valuable ranking opportunity.
Fix: Use a SERP preview tool to check how your title appears. Aim for 50-60 characters to maximize visibility.
Repeating keywords multiple times in the title or description looks spammy and can hurt rankings. "Running Shoes, Best Running Shoes, Buy Running Shoes" is keyword stuffing.
Fix: Use your primary keyword once in the title and once in the description. Use natural variations and synonyms.
When you leave the meta description empty, Google auto-generates one by pulling text from the page. These auto-generated snippets are rarely compelling.
Fix: Write a custom meta description for every page, starting with your highest-traffic pages first.
Shopify defaults to "[Product Name] - [Store Name]" which is often not optimized. The default may not include important keywords or selling points.
Fix: Manually edit every title tag. Use the formula: [Primary Keyword] + [Secondary Detail] | [Brand Name].
Meta descriptions without a CTA miss the opportunity to tell searchers what to do. A passive description gets fewer clicks.
Fix: End every meta description with an action phrase: "Shop now," "Learn more," "Free shipping," or "Get yours today."
Without Open Graph tags, social platforms pull random text and images when your pages are shared, leading to unprofessional and unappealing previews.
Fix: Ensure your Shopify theme includes OG tags. Set a custom OG image (1200x630px) for key pages and test with Facebook Sharing Debugger.
Updating a product name or running a new promotion but forgetting to update the corresponding meta tags leads to mismatches and missed opportunities.
Fix: Include meta tag review in every content update workflow. Keep a spreadsheet tracking which pages need meta tag refreshes.
Use these ready-made templates as starting points for each page type on your Shopify store.
Title Tag Formula:
[Brand Name] - [Primary Offering] | [Key Benefit]
Example: GlowLab Skincare - Natural Face Serums | Free Shipping Over $50
Meta Description Formula:
[What you sell] + [Unique selling point] + [Trust signal] + [CTA]
Example: Shop GlowLab's award-winning natural skincare line. Cruelty-free, dermatologist-tested serums and moisturizers loved by 50,000+ customers. Get 15% off your first order.
Title Tag Formula:
[Product Name] - [Key Feature] | [Brand Name]
Example: Vitamin C Brightening Serum - 20% Concentration | GlowLab
Meta Description Formula:
[Product name] + [Key benefit] + [Specs/details] + [Social proof] + [CTA]
Example: Our bestselling Vitamin C Brightening Serum with 20% concentration visibly reduces dark spots in 4 weeks. Rated 4.8/5 stars. Free samples with every order.
Title Tag Formula:
[Collection Name] - [Browse/Shop] [Category] | [Brand Name]
Example: Anti-Aging Serums - Shop Wrinkle-Fighting Skincare | GlowLab
Meta Description Formula:
[Browse/Shop] + [Number of products] + [Category description] + [Differentiator] + [CTA]
Example: Browse our collection of 25+ anti-aging serums targeting fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. Clinically proven formulas with natural ingredients. Shop now with free returns.
Title Tag Formula:
[Compelling Headline with Keyword] | [Brand Name]
Example: How to Build a Skincare Routine for Oily Skin [2026] | GlowLab
Meta Description Formula:
[What the reader will learn] + [Why it matters] + [CTA to read]
Example: Learn the exact 5-step skincare routine for oily skin, recommended by dermatologists. Includes product picks for every budget. Read our complete guide.
Manually writing meta tags for hundreds of products and blog posts is tedious. Obsess AI handles it automatically for every piece of content it generates.
Every blog post created by Obsess AI includes a keyword-optimized title tag that follows the best practices outlined in this guide, keeping it within the ideal 50-60 character range.
Obsess AI writes unique, CTA-driven meta descriptions for every blog post, incorporating target keywords and unique selling points to maximize click-through rates.
Meta tags are automatically aligned with your target keywords and optimized for the search terms that drive the most traffic to your store.
Using data-driven insights, Obsess AI crafts meta tags designed to stand out in search results and earn more clicks than your competitors.
Obsess AI creates SEO-optimized blog content with perfectly crafted meta tags, saving you hours of manual optimization.
Start Free TrialNo credit card required