12 SEO HTML Tags You Need to Know

1 week ago

HTML tags are pieces of codification you adhd to webpages to supply discourse to hunt engines. They thief hunt engines find what your tract is about.

HTML stands for hypertext markup language. It’s nan connection utilized by websites.

Tags are besides utilized to building content. And specify really it should beryllium displayed successful a web browser. They’re adjuvant for hunt engines. And humans.

HTML tags are enclosed successful perspective brackets ( < > ) and typically travel successful pairs—an opening tag and a closing tag. The opening tag indicates nan opening of an element. While nan closing tag indicates nan extremity of nan element.

For example, here’s what a meta explanation tag looks for illustration successful nan root code:

And here’s what a meta explanation looks for illustration connected Google:

A title tag tells hunt engines that a circumstantial building is nan title of nan page.

Here’s what it looks for illustration successful nan root code:

And here’s what it looks for illustration to web visitors:

Why Are HTML Tags Important for SEO?

HTML tags are beneficial to your website. And visitors. Here's how:

Structure

HTML tags thief you shape and format your content.

This includes:

Headings
Paragraphs
Lists
Tables

Search engines tin amended construe and scale your contented pinch HTML tags.

Understanding

HTML SEO tags supply discourse to hunt engines astir nan intent of different elements connected your page.

By utilizing applicable tags for illustration <title>, <meta>, and <alt>, you thief hunt engines understand nan taxable and intent of your content.

Readability

HTML tags building contented visually for web visitors and hunt engines. Clear headings, slug points, and well-formatted matter make your pages easier to read. And thief support users engaged.

Keyword Optimization

HTML tags let you to specify important keywords and phrases related to your content. Search engines tin usage these keywords to find nan relevance of your page to circumstantial hunt queries.

Let’s talk nan astir important HTML tags for SEO. And personification experience.

1. Title Tags <title>

A title tag is an HTML constituent utilized to specify a webpage's title. It’s displayed connected hunt motor results pages (SERPs) arsenic a clickable link.

Title tags are important for personification acquisition and SEO. They supply a concise explanation of nan page. So searchers cognize what to expect erstwhile they click through. And thief hunt engines understand nan content.

Here’s what a title tag looks for illustration successful nan SERP arsenic a clickable link:

The tag is besides displayed successful nan user’s browser tab.

To adhd a title tag, usage nan property <title> successful your HTML builder.

Add an opening <title> tag earlier nan matter you want to show arsenic your title. And a closing </title> tag astatine nan extremity of it.

Your contented guidance strategy (CMS)—like WordPress aliases HubSpot—might automatically create your <title> tag erstwhile you adhd a title to your webpage.

Title Tag Best Practices

Keep it concise: Aim for 50–60 characters. If your title exceeds this range, it could beryllium trim disconnected successful hunt results. As Google tin only show up to 600 pixels (or astir 60 characters).
Don’t copy title tags: Make each title unsocial to thief hunt engines find nan page’s purpose
Use nan main keyword: Include your primary keyword (the main word you’re targeting for nan page) to bespeak nan content’s topic
Analyze nan SERP: Do a Google hunt for nan taxable of your content. Look astatine nan titles that look for high-ranking pages and nan keywords those titles use. This will springiness you an thought of nan keywords you should besides usage to thief your contented rank.
Be consistent: A title tag should beryllium nan aforesaid aliases akin to nan page’s H1. Both elements thief hunt engines understand nan main topic.
Front-load cardinal terms: Use nan astir important words astatine nan opening of nan title. So it’s easy for searchers to find what they’re looking for.

A meta description is different HTML meta tag for SEO. It’s a short explanation of your webpage that tin beryllium displayed connected hunt engines. And immoderate societal media previews.

Meta descriptions are tags that supply a little mentation of nan contented of a page. They often look beneath nan title tag connected SERPs.

While meta descriptions aren’t a ranking factor, they tin effect your click-through complaint (CTR). And bring group to your site. An enticing meta explanation tin summation nan likelihood of users clicking connected your link.

Tools for illustration Yoast and Rank Math make it easy to adhd meta descriptions without having to update nan HTML.

A meta explanation codification snippet looks for illustration this successful nan HTML:

The name=”description” constituent signifies nan type of metadata you’re providing (a description).

The content=” constituent is wherever you adhd a explanation of what your webpage is astir (inside nan 2nd brace of quotation marks).

This is what a meta explanation looks for illustration connected hunt engines:

Meta Description Best Practices

By penning a meta explanation that intrigues nan searcher, you whitethorn get much postulation to nan page. Improving nan CTR.

Here are immoderate champion practices:

Describe what your contented is about. So searchers cognize what to expect erstwhile they click done to your site.
Aim for a concise explanation of nether 155 characters. Longer meta descriptions whitethorn get trim disconnected successful nan SERP. If you optimize for mobile, instrumentality to astir 105.
Include your superior keyword
Use a plugin for illustration Yoast aliases Rank Math to thief you travel champion practices for characteristic length. And keyword usage.

Yoast’s plugin looks for illustration this:

Header tags, for illustration <h1>, <h2>, and <h3>, thief you specify each heading and subheading connected a page. And thief you building contented connected each types of pages. Including your homepage, work pages, merchandise pages, blog posts, and more. To make it easier for visitors to publication and understand.

They besides thief hunt engines understand nan level and discourse of nan content.

The larger nan heading size (H1 > H2), nan much important it is to see a keyword aliases descriptive phrase.

Since headings person nan imaginable to beryllium much important than plain matter (they thief bespeak page structure), you should optimize them pinch keywords erstwhile possible.

In HTML markup, nan pursuing header tags are common:

Heading 1 <h1>: Main heading/title of nan page
Heading 2 <h2>: Secondary heading
Heading 3 <h3>: Subheading of an <h2>
Heading 4 <h4>: Subheading of an <h3>
Heading 5 <h5>: Subheading of an <h4>
Heading 6 <h6>: Subheading of an <h5>

For example, H1 tags show hunt engines what a page's main taxable is. And shape nan contented clearly. They besides show visitors that nan page has nan accusation they're looking for.

Here’s what an H1 looks for illustration successful HTML:

And here’s what it looks for illustration to a visitor:

To adhd a heading 1 tag successful nan HTML, you’d usage nan opening <h1> astatine nan beforehand of nan heading. And a closing </h1> astatine nan end.

Many CMS automatically create an H1 from your webpage title. And let you to easy prime headers (like H2s, H3s, and H4s) from nan editor without having to update nan HTML.

H2s present each superior conception connected a webpage aliases blog post.

H3s travel aft H2s. Use them to shape contented underneath an H2. And amended readability.

H3s look smaller successful matter size. Indicating subsections wrong your H2.

In a CMS for illustration WordPress, usage nan editor to take header tags.

4. Image Alt Text <img>

Alt text, aliases replacement text, is simply a explanation that corresponds to an image. If nan image won't load, nan matter displays successful spot of it. The matter is besides adjuvant for those who usage surface readers.

Here’s an illustration of an image HTML tag:

“Img src” indicates nan image source. And (alt) indicates nan image's alt text.

Here’s what alt matter looks for illustration erstwhile an image fails to load:

Image alt matter is important for SEO because it provides hunt engines pinch accusation astir nan image's content. Which tin thief amended nan page's relevance.

Optimizing your images tin besides thrust postulation and amended your chances of ranking.

Every image you adhd to your website is an opportunity to strategically adhd keywords and phrases. Further optimizing your contented for hunt engines.

In galore CMS, you tin use alt matter without utilizing an HTML editor.

A canonical tag allows you to specify nan preferred type of a page erstwhile aggregate versions of nan aforesaid page exist.

For example, let’s opportunity you run an ecommerce site. Each colour version of nan aforesaid merchandise has a unsocial URL. But nan contented is nan aforesaid connected each page. Use canonical tags to bespeak which URL you for illustration Google to index.

Canonical tags are important for SEO because they thief forestall copy contented issues. Which whitethorn negatively effect rankings. Search engines tin understand which type of a page to scale and show successful hunt results.

These tags show hunt engines which page type (known arsenic nan “canonical URL”) it should index. As a result, repetitive contented won’t show successful hunt results. And immoderate page authority will spell to nan canonical URL you designated.

To adhd a canonical tag, usage nan codification snippet:

A canonical tag has respective attributes:

“link”: Defines nan narration betwixt 1 URL and another
rel="canonical": Indicates nan type of relationship
href="URL": Confirms nan circumstantial URL of nan original content

In immoderate CMS, for illustration Versoly shown below, you tin adhd a canonical URL without accessing nan HTML editor.

Search engines mightiness scale nan incorrect page if you don’t usage a canonical tag. This intends you mightiness not rank arsenic highly arsenic you could for your preferred page.

6. Robots Meta Tag <meta robots>

You mightiness not want hunt engines to scale each page of your site. Combining robots meta tags pinch directives for illustration “noindex” aliases “nofollow” helps hunt engines crawl and scale your tract optimally.

A robots meta tag is simply a page-level tag that tells hunt engines and website crawlers really to crawl your site.

Use nan robots meta tag to specify whether a page should beryllium indexed by hunt engines. And whether links connected nan page should beryllium followed.

Common pages wherever you mightiness see this tag include:

Admin aliases login pages
Confirmation pages. Such arsenic convey you pages.
Internal hunt consequence pages
Pages from your staging site
Pages pinch copy content
Pay-per-click (PPC) landing pages

As an example, you mightiness see nan pursuing codification snippet successful your HTML header if you don’t want hunt engines to scale a page:

The 2 attributes are “name” and “content.”

Name: Indicates nan type of metadata being defined (robots)
Content: The instruction fixed (no index)

You tin besides usage aggregate instructions wrong nan contented attribute. Such arsenic noindex, nofollow, and noimageindex, among others. Use a comma to abstracted each one.

Here’s an illustration of utilizing aggregate instructions:

The noindex directive tells hunt engines not to see nan page successful hunt results. The nofollow directive tells crawlers not to travel nan links connected nan page.

7. Schema Markup

Schema markup is simply a type of system information you tin adhd to nan root of a page to thief hunt engines understand nan content.

Site owners often usage this information to supply further accusation astir nan page. Such arsenic merchandise details, reviews, ratings, and overmuch more.

Here’s an illustration of markup connected nan Semrush homepage:

While schema markup isn’t technically an HTML tag, it’s still valuable. It tin thief amended nan visibility and relevance of your page successful hunt results. So it stands retired pinch rich snippets.

Common rich | snippet formats see but aren’t constricted to:

Product markup
FAQs
Reviews
Recipes
Movies
Events

No matter your business type, utilizing markup tin heighten your content's quality successful nan SERP and amended your click-through rate. People are much apt to announcement and click connected nan listing.

Let’s opportunity you run a bakery, and your website has a conception for recipes. By adding schema markup for a look page, nan hunt results for your look pages tin show otherwise than modular integrated listings. In nan markup, you tin see specifications for illustration ingredients, prep time, and navigator time.

Here’s what rich | snippets for recipes look like:

Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to adhd schema markup.

Open nan tool. Select nan snippet type you want to create, and participate your page URL. Then, click “Start Tagging.”

For this example, we’ll create product-structured information markup.

The instrumentality will populate nan webpage’s URL into nan “Tag Data” view:

This illustration is simply a merchandise snippet for MacBook Pro. So, we’ll see elements for illustration nan product’s name, price, image, brand, logo, etc.

Choose aliases item page elements, and nan instrumentality will inquire you to tag them.

For example, to adhd nan product’s name, item it and tag it pinch “Name.”

If you wanted to adhd nan price, you would item and prime nan “Price” tag:

As you work, nan instrumentality adds each nan accusation to nan right-side panel.

Tag arsenic galore elements arsenic you can.

Then, click nan reddish "Create HTML" fastener astatine nan top-right of nan screen.

The instrumentality will create a system information markup codification successful nan broadside panel.

Finally, transcript aliases download nan codification and adhd it to your page's <head> section.

That’s it. You successfully added schema markup.

8. Table <table>

A array tag is an HTML constituent utilized to create tables connected webpages.

While adding tables to your contented whitethorn not sound for illustration a emblematic SEO tactic, you tin usage them to shape and show information successful a system format. This tin heighten nan look and consciousness of your content. Making it easier to read.

Use array tags to create rows and columns (tables) wrong your contented to coming information successful a system and visually appealing manner.

For example, this Sizely table displays overgarment sizes by country. Which is adjuvant for shoppers.

Tables person nan imaginable to look arsenic featured snippets successful Google arsenic well. Which tin tie attention. And make much website clicks.

If your CMS supports copying and pasting tables from different package for illustration Google Docs aliases Microsoft Word, you whitethorn not request to interest astir creating circumstantial tags astir your copy.

The cardinal array tags to statement are:

<table>: Denotes nan commencement of a table
<tr>: Defines a array row
<td>: Defines a compartment successful a table
<th>: Defines a array header cell
<td>: Defines information cells for nan first row

An illustration of this mightiness look like:

<table>
<tr>
<th>Header 1</th>
<th>Header 2</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Data 1</td>
<td>Data 2</td>
</tr>
</table>

In nan illustration above, we did nan following:

Started a array utilizing <table>
Defined a statement utilizing <tr>
Added a array header utilizing <th> astir header 1
Added a array header utilizing <th> astir header 2
Added information cells astir information successful our CMS
Define a statement utilizing <tr>
Ended nan array utilizing <table>

The output will look different per CMS. Depending connected whether you use themes aliases civilization formatting.

9. Iframe <iframe>

An iframe (or inline frame) is an HTML constituent that lets you embed an HTML archive wrong a page. It's for illustration a mini model connected your page displaying contented from different place.

Scenarios wherever you mightiness usage an iframe tin include:

Embedding multimedia elements. Such arsenic videos, audio files, and animations from platforms for illustration YouTube aliases SoundCloud.
Embedding documents. Like a PDF.
Integrating a third-party application. Such arsenic a Google Maps widget.
Loading contented from outer sources. Including societal media posts from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Your basal codification snippet looks for illustration this:

For example, utilizing an iframe to embed a YouTube video will show nan media for illustration this:

In a CMS for illustration WordPress, you will person an embed/import fastener that allows you to adhd an outer constituent utilizing a URL. Rather than fetching and creating code.

For example, you tin adhd nan YouTube video URL alternatively of creating iframe code.

While iframes tin amended nan personification experience, location are besides cons for SEO:

Loading an iframe intends loading 2 sites simultaneously. Which tin slow down your page. Page velocity is simply a Google ranking factor.
Iframes tin beryllium a information consequence if nan embedded contented is from an untrusted source. A malicious iframe could inject harmful codification connected your site.
Search engines dainty iframe contented arsenic belonging to different website. Which intends it doesn’t straight use your rankings.

We urge nan pursuing champion practices for integrating outer content:

Use iframes only for circumstantial purposes that support nan content. Such arsenic embedding a representation connected your location page.
Ensure nan embedded contented is relevant. And enhances personification experience.
Optimize page load times by avoiding unnecessary iframes. When you do usage an iframe, optimize nan page for velocity to offset immoderate load-time resistance nan iframe causes.
Only merge contented from trusted sources to minimize information risks

Did you spot nan number of lists utilized successful this blog post?

A database tag turns matter into a list. Use these tags to shape information.

When readers scan your content, they are improbable to publication each word. Lists make cardinal points skimmable. And easier to read.

Well-formatted lists whitethorn besides thief pinch SEO.

Google shows featured snippets when it decides it provides nan champion personification experience. One type of featured snippet is simply a list. Google whitethorn propulsion these from your contented if it thinks you person nan champion database to support a searcher’s query.

Here’s what a database looks for illustration successful HTML:

And here’s what it looks for illustration to a visitor:

If your CMS supports transcript and pasting from archive creation devices (Word, Google Docs, Notion, etc.), tags get applied automatically.

Before creating a database utilizing HTML, take if you want nan database to beryllium ordered aliases unordered.

Ordered: Items displayed pinch corresponding numbers
Unordered: Items displayed successful immoderate order

When penning instructions aliases a recipe, take ordered since nan personification needs to execute nan database items successful a circumstantial order.

The database tin beryllium unordered if nan database items don't request to beryllium executed successful succession. An illustration would beryllium a database of look ingredients.

For an ordered list, usage nan tag <ol> earlier and nan tag </ol> aft your database tags.

Inside nan <ol> tags, see your database items and situation them pinch <li> tags successful your HTML editor.

Your database will look for illustration this successful HTML:

<ol>
<li>First item</li>
<li>Second item</li>
<li>Third item</li>
</ol>

When published connected your site, your database will look for illustration this:

First item
Second item
Third item

For unordered, usage nan tag <ul> to precede and win your database tags and situation them pinch <li> tags successful your HTML editor.

Your database will look for illustration this successful HTML:

<ul>
<li>Oranges</li>
<li>Sugar</li>
<li>Water</li>
</ul>

When published, your database will look for illustration this:

Oranges
Sugar
Water

11. Hyperlinks <a>

Hyperlinks, often referred to simply arsenic “links,” are HTML elements that nexus 1 page to another. You tin usage hyperlinks to thief users navigate betwixt pages connected nan aforesaid website. Or you tin nexus to different websites.

Hyperlinks are important for SEO because they thief hunt engines observe and scale your content. They besides thief hunt engines understand nan relationships betwixt different pages.

Hyperlink HTML codification is made up of:

<a>: Anchor tag to denote nan opening of a redirect
href= "Https://www.exampleurl.com">: wherever you’re redirecting nan matter aliases image
Anchor text: Add nan matter displayed to your visitant (usually existing copy)
</a>: adjacent nan tag

When combined, your hyperlink HTML codification will look thing for illustration this:

On your published page, a hyperlink looks for illustration this:

If you copied linked matter from Google Docs aliases Word, for example, nan nexus whitethorn travel nan matter erstwhile you paste it location else.

You tin besides usage hyperlinks for internal linking. An soul nexus is simply a hyperlink that directs a tract visitant to different page connected your website.

Add soul links to immoderate of your pages. Like your “money pages.” Including interaction forms, free trials, and demo requests.

Add a telephone to action (CTA) to promote nan personification to prosecute further. Like "Sign up for your free proceedings here."

Personalizing for different audiences is important for generating engagement from platforms different than hunt engines.

Open chart tags power really you coming webpages connected societal media.

Every blog station you constitute will apt get shared connected societal media. Why not boost its capacity truthful it’s much apt to get a click?

Add a caller image, title, aliases explanation to promote different societal level audiences to click connected your content.

You whitethorn want a webpage to show otherwise connected hunt engines than it does connected Twitter, Facebook, aliases LinkedIn to get much clicks from circumstantial audiences.

So, while your webpage whitethorn look for illustration this connected hunt engines and your website:

It tin besides look for illustration this connected societal media. (Note nan different title.)

Your CMS whitethorn person nan action to adhd an Open Graph title without nan request to edit HTML code.

If not, adhd nan pursuing illustration HTML codification to create replacement titles, images, and descriptions erstwhile sharing contented connected societal media.

The main attributes successful play present are:

og:title: Shows a different title than nan original content
og:image: Shows a different image than nan original content
og:description: Shows a different preview explanation than nan original content

Implementing HTML Tags for SEO

You mightiness beryllium utilizing HTML tags without moreover realizing it. Many CMS automatically use these tags to your pages.

Follow these champion practices to usage HTML tags properly:

Use title tags to pass hunt engines and users what nan main taxable of nan contented is
Use an H1 header tag to categorize nan main heading of nan page
Use H2 and H3 header tags to categorize and building subheadings
Ensure each page has a meta explanation tag that includes your target keyphrase
Add descriptive alt matter for important images that support nan content

Here’s an illustration of strategically utilizing a keyword successful alt text.

Tools and Resources for SEO Tag Optimization

Using HTML tags is awesome for SEO, but nan process tin return clip without nan correct tools.

Google Tag Manager (GTM): GTM enables nan guidance and deployment of various tags connected a website without nan request for nonstop codification modifications
W3Schools HTML online editor: W3Schools provides an online codification editor wherever you tin constitute and believe HTML. It's awesome for experimenting pinch codification snippets and testing.
Schema markup generators: Free tools, specified arsenic Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper, will create markup based connected your input
SEO plugins: Popular plugins, for illustration Yoast SEO, connection meta tag generators

Analyze your tags for optimal effect pinch Semrush’s On Page SEO Checker.

When you’ve completed nan setup, you’ll spot a dashboard overview for illustration this:

To find opportunities to optimize tags, click connected nan “Optimization Ideas” tab. The instrumentality will coming ideas for optimizing tract pages.

To position page recommendations, click connected nan bluish “# ideas” fastener successful nan “All Ideas” column.

Scroll to nan contented section. Which evaluates nan beingness of keywords successful your tags. It besides alerts you if it detects keyword stuffing.

And provides suggestions for fixing tag issues. For example, it mightiness urge penning a much applicable title tag.

Common Mistakes to Avoid successful SEO Tag Implementation

While HTML tags are adjuvant for SEO, location are still pitfalls to avoid. Here are immoderate strategies to guarantee your efforts don’t inhibit your hunt rankings.

Overusing Tags aliases Keyword Stuffing

Excessive usage of HTML tags—such arsenic aggregate title aliases meta explanation tags—can harm your SEO efforts. Stuffing keywords successful HTML tags is besides not recommended. Both cases tin make your tract look spammy. And could moreover move visitors away.

Solution: Use tags erstwhile due to heighten your content. Prioritize readability and relevance complete excessive keyword use.

Poorly Optimized Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Forgetting HTML meta tags for SEO is common. Some CMS will create them automatically—such arsenic title tags—but you still request to optimize them for your brand. And target keywords.

Solution: Write descriptive, keyword-rich title tags that convey nan page’s content. Similarly, constitute keyword-rich meta descriptions that entice group to click.

Header tags shape contented hierarchically. Ignoring aliases forgetting them tin forestall hunt engines from knowing nan page's structure.

Solution: Use header tags to shape nan page's structure.

Using HTML tags tin thief your website rank higher, make much clicks, and amended your content’s readability.

By pursuing nan champion practices successful this guide, you tin usage HTML tags passim your tract to connection a bully acquisition to some users and hunt engines.

Assess if your tract uses HTML tags decently pinch nan Semrush SEO Audit tool. And get a complete image of your site’s health.