{"id":1913,"date":"2021-03-16T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T09:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sortlist.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1913"},"modified":"2021-06-01T14:40:45","modified_gmt":"2021-06-01T12:40:45","slug":"why-is-metadata-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-uk.sortlist-test.com\/blog\/why-is-metadata-important\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beginner’s Guide to Writing SEO Optimised Metadata"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you have a website, work in marketing or design, or have an IT background, you’ve probably heard about metadata. Meta titles, descriptions, and data make it easier for systems and search engines to understand and interpret files, content, and web pages. It does a critical job, and although most people know that, they still don’t quite understand what metadata is or how it works.<\/p>\n
In this article, we’re going to look at:<\/p>\n
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What metadata is and how it works.<\/li>\n
Types of metadata.<\/li>\n
Why you need metadata and how it impacts SEO.<\/li>\n
The best practices when writing meta titles and descriptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Let’s dive in!<\/p>\n
What Is Metadata and Why is It Important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Metadata has been around for a very long time. In fact, it’s not even limited to online data. There are even specific metadata schemas or structures. More traditional versions are “who, what, when, where, and why.” More recent variants include “title, description, language, keyword, license, file type, author”, and more.<\/p>\n
Every photo you take, document you create, and website you visit has some form of metadata. So, what is metadata exactly?<\/p>\n
There are many definitions, including a rather complex one set by the International Standards Organization. The shortest and most straightforward way to explain metadata is to say that it describes data or information. It tells you the essential things you need to know about a file, a website, a web page, or an item.<\/p>\n
There are so many different varieties of and uses for metadata that it’s difficult to put them into specific groups. However, there are two types you probably encounter every day.<\/p>\n
Document Files Metadata<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Almost all computer files, documents, or images you’ve ever created contains some form of metadata. It’s all stored within the document, from the file name and data types to user and location information.<\/p>\n
For example, if you take a picture with your phone or digital camera, its metadata schema is automatically filled. These data fields contain information like the file size, creation date, the device used, file extension, and more. That basic information might not have much to do with the picture itself, but it tells programs and online platforms how to interpret and use it.<\/p>\n
Similarly, an audio file will have information about its creator and the software used to make it, as will any document. Any picture may have info about colour depth or image resolution. These metadata elements describe the item and how it was made, rather than what it contains.<\/p>\n
Digital and SEO-Orientated Metadata<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Just about anything online contains some form of metadata. For example, many stock images contain meta-information regarding:<\/p>\n
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The creator or author<\/li>\n
Image content<\/li>\n
The license and rights reserved<\/li>\n
Meta tags<\/li>\n
Contact information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Similarly, online articles and content contain metadata. The same goes for your pages. Websites use metadata such as:<\/p>\n
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Titles<\/li>\n
Descriptions<\/li>\n
Author information<\/li>\n
Content meta tags<\/li>\n
Language<\/li>\n
Time created or modified<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It even defines how your content appears when you share it on social media. Most of the metadata fields are generated and filled in automatically. However, there are times you might want to step in and write the metadata yourself.<\/p>\n
![\"SEO\"](\"https:\/\/blog-new.sortlist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/screen-shot-2021-03-12-at-12.31.37-pm.png\")