> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.coachiq.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Meta Titles, Descriptions & Keywords

> Master the art of writing meta titles and descriptions that rank in search and get clicks. Practical keyword strategies for sports coaches.

<Info>
  **Where to find this**: Dashboard → Website Builder → Select any page → Page Settings panel
</Info>

## Why meta information matters

When parents search "basketball training near me," Google shows them a list of results. Each result has a **title** (the blue clickable link) and a **description** (the snippet below it). These two elements determine whether someone clicks on your site or scrolls past.

Getting this right isn't about gaming the system - it's about clearly communicating what you offer so the right parents find you.

<Note>
  **CoachIQ advantage**: We optimize your main pages when building your site. This guide helps you maintain that quality as you add new pages or want to refine your messaging.
</Note>

## Meta titles: Your first impression

The meta title is the single most important on-page SEO element. It appears in:

* Search engine results (the blue clickable link)
* Browser tabs
* Social media shares
* Bookmarks

### Writing effective titles

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Do This" icon="check">
    * Keep under 60 characters
    * Put important keywords first
    * Include your location
    * Make it compelling to click
    * Use your business name
  </Card>

  <Card title="Avoid This" icon="xmark">
    * Going over 60 characters (gets cut off)
    * Keyword stuffing
    * Generic titles like "Home"
    * ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation
    * Duplicate titles across pages
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Title formula that works

**Structure**: \[Primary Service] + \[Location] | \[Business Name]

**Examples:**

| Page     | Good Title                                            | Why It Works                |
| -------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| Home     | Basketball Training Austin \| Elite Skills Academy    | Service + location + brand  |
| Programs | Youth Basketball Programs Dallas \| Ages 8-18         | Service + location + detail |
| Pricing  | Private Training Rates \| Elite Skills Academy Austin | Service + brand + location  |
| Camps    | Summer Basketball Camp 2026 \| Austin TX              | Service + timing + location |

<Tip>
  **Character count tool**: Google "character counter" to quickly check your title length. Anything over 60 characters gets truncated with "..." in search results.
</Tip>

## Meta descriptions: Your elevator pitch

The meta description is your chance to convince searchers to click. While it doesn't directly impact rankings, it heavily influences click-through rates.

### Anatomy of a great description

**Length**: 150-160 characters (the sweet spot)

**Must include:**

1. What you offer (your service)
2. Who it's for (age group, skill level)
3. Why choose you (unique value)
4. Call-to-action (what to do next)

### Description examples

**Home page:**

> Professional basketball training in Austin for ages 8-18. Build skills, confidence, and game IQ with former college players. Book your free assessment today!

**Programs page:**

> Youth basketball development programs in North Dallas. Group training, private lessons, and elite camps. Join 500+ athletes who've improved their game.

**Camp page:**

> Summer basketball camp in Austin, June 10-14. All skill levels welcome, ages 10-16. Early bird pricing ends May 1st. Limited to 24 athletes per session.

### Description checklist

For each page description, verify:

* [ ] Between 150-160 characters
* [ ] Mentions your location
* [ ] States what you offer clearly
* [ ] Includes a call-to-action
* [ ] Unique (not copied from other pages)

## Keyword strategy for coaches

Keywords are the words and phrases parents type into Google. Understanding keyword strategy helps you appear in the right searches.

### Three types of keywords

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Service Keywords (What you do)">
    These describe your offerings:

    * Basketball training
    * Private coaching
    * Youth sports lessons
    * Skills development
    * Group training sessions

    **Use in**: Titles, descriptions, page content
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Location Keywords (Where you are)">
    Geographic terms that help local searches:

    * \[City name]
    * \[Neighborhood]
    * Near me (Google understands this)
    * \[Surrounding cities you serve]

    **Use in**: Titles, descriptions, every page
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Long-tail Keywords (Specific searches)">
    More specific phrases with less competition:

    * "Private basketball shooting coach North Dallas"
    * "Youth soccer training for beginners Austin"
    * "Summer basketball camp ages 10-12 Plano"

    **Use in**: Blog posts, FAQ sections, specific program pages
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Finding your keywords

Think about what parents actually search for:

**Research phase** (just looking):

* "Benefits of sports training for kids"
* "When to start basketball training"
* "Private coaching vs group training"

**Comparison phase** (evaluating options):

* "Best basketball coaches in \[city]"
* "Youth sports training near me"
* "\[Your name] reviews"

**Ready to book** (buying intent):

* "Book basketball training \[city]"
* "Private soccer lessons availability"
* "Sign up youth basketball camp"

<Tip>
  **Quick research**: Type your service + city into Google and see what autocomplete suggests. These are real searches people make.
</Tip>

### Where to place keywords

**High priority locations:**

* Page title (most important)
* First paragraph of content
* Headers (H1, H2)
* Image alt text

**Secondary locations:**

* Meta description
* Throughout body content (naturally)
* URL/page slug
* Internal link text

<Warning>
  **Don't keyword stuff**: Writing "basketball training" 50 times won't help you rank. Google prioritizes natural, helpful content. If it sounds robotic to read, rewrite it.
</Warning>

## Setting meta information in CoachIQ

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select Your Page">
    In the Website Builder, choose the page you want to optimize from the dropdown menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Page Settings">
    Click on any section to reveal the left sidebar. Scroll to find the **Page Settings** panel with Title, Keywords, Featured Image, and Description fields. This panel also includes toggles to **Hide site header on this page** and **Hide site footer on this page** — see [Header & Footer Navigation](/website/sections/header-footer-navigation#hide-the-header-or-footer-on-a-page).

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/coachiq/7uXujlkUdmUAsA1R/images/website-page-seo-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=7uXujlkUdmUAsA1R&q=85&s=afb58ba750b4f12ebddb888f42af426f" alt="Page SEO settings" width="266" height="467" data-path="images/website-page-seo-settings.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Your Title">
    Type your optimized title in the **Title** field. Remember to keep it under 60 characters.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Keywords">
    Enter 3-5 relevant keywords in the **Keywords** field, separated by commas.

    Example: `basketball training austin, youth basketball coach, private basketball lessons`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write Your Description">
    Craft your meta description in the **Description** field. Keep it between 150-160 characters with a clear call-to-action.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish Changes">
    Click **Publish** to make your updates live.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Quick reference: Page-by-page guide

| Page Type    | Title Focus                   | Description Focus             | Keywords                       |
| ------------ | ----------------------------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| Home         | Primary service + location    | Overall value prop + main CTA | Broad service + location terms |
| Programs     | Specific programs + location  | Who it's for + results        | Program-specific + age groups  |
| Pricing      | Pricing/rates + brand         | Value for money + booking CTA | "cost," "price," "rates"       |
| Camps/Events | Event name + dates + location | Details + urgency/scarcity    | Event-specific + dates         |
| About        | Business name + location      | Credibility + story           | Brand + "about," "team"        |
| Contact      | Contact + business + location | How to reach + response time  | "contact," "book," location    |

## Common mistakes to avoid

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Using the same title for every page">
    Each page needs a unique title. Duplicate titles confuse search engines and miss opportunities to rank for different keywords.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Writing for search engines, not humans">
    If your title or description sounds unnatural, rewrite it. Real humans need to want to click. "Basketball Training Basketball Coach Basketball Austin TX" is spam, not optimization.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Forgetting the call-to-action">
    Every description should tell people what to do: "Book today," "Get started," "See pricing," "Join now." Give them the next step.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Ignoring your competition">
    Search for your keywords and see what competitors write. Don't copy them, but understand what you're competing against.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Setting and forgetting">
    Review your meta information quarterly. Services change, locations expand, and messaging evolves. Keep it current.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Common questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Should I change the titles CoachIQ created?">
    Only if your business has changed (new location, rebranding, new services) or you're adding new pages. The initial optimization is professional-grade.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long until changes show in Google?">
    Google typically re-crawls active sites within days to weeks. Major changes may appear faster. You can request indexing through Google Search Console.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do keywords in the meta keywords field affect rankings?">
    Google has stated they don't use the meta keywords tag for ranking. However, it helps organize your own SEO strategy and may help other search engines.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if my business serves multiple cities?">
    Create location-specific pages or mention multiple cities naturally in your content. Your home page might target your primary city while blog posts target surrounding areas.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Should I include my phone number in descriptions?">
    Generally no - it takes up valuable character space. People will find contact info once they click through to your site.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related articles

* [Favicon and Social Share Images](/website/seo-marketing/favicon-share-images)
* [Website SEO Basics](/website/seo-marketing/website-seo-basics)
* [Google My Business](/website/seo-marketing/google-my-business)
* [Google Search Console Setup](/website/seo-marketing/seo-google-search-console)