Using a plugin like Yoast to create a meta description in WordPress is by far the simplest recommended solution. You can add meta descriptions without using a plugin but the process is more cumbersome and time-consuming. To do so you’ll need to change your theme files.
- Before you create a WordPress meta description without a plugin, be sure to back up your page. This way, any errors won’t have a serious impact on your website and can be undone.
- To add a description, head to the “Tagline” option via general settings and create the meta description for your WordPress page.
- Now switch to the theme editor and the menu item “Appearance”, click on “Theme header” and insert the following code between and :
Your meta description will now be applied to every WordPress post. While this option is better than adding no meta description at all, its suboptimal for boosting traffic to your site. You could add a description for each individual post, but you should have strong programming skills, otherwise you could compromise the functionality of your website. The safest, easiest, and ultimately most convenient way to add meta description is using a plugin like Yoast SEO.