# Meta title CTR, table of contents, and internal/external linking (/docs/on-page-and-technical-seo/on-page-seo-meta-and-linking)

---
type: Document
title: Meta title CTR, table of contents, and internal/external linking
description: Writing a click-worthy meta title, installing a table-of-contents plugin, and the rules for internal and external linking on a post.
status: stable
order: 20
generated: { by: human:ahmedraza, at: 2026-09-15T11:37:20Z }
ksor:
  audience: [public]
  owner: human:ahmedraza
  approval: { by: human:ahmedraza, at: 2026-09-15T11:37:20Z }
sources:
  - id: iskills-course-notes
    title: iSkills — course notes
    resource: "iSkills SEO course notes, compiled 2025"
trust_tier: unverified
build_id: sha256:25bcd9248ab7b7333e626a24b636e9eef514e339025ed762d0fe7ddd9b6486b8
source_commit: c890fca6aaa00f103ea9325ee0db7161c40e38ae
ksor_version: 0.0.60
---

## Meta title and description optimization

- **Slug/permalink** — short, keyword-rich, SEO-friendly (e.g.
  `/streamer-vs-inen-review`).
- **Meta title length** — keep to 50–60 characters; avoid titles that are too
  short or too long.[^iskills-course-notes]

### Writing a perfect meta title

1. **Focus on CTR** — use engaging, clickable wording that grabs attention.
2. **2-2-3 keyword pattern** — 2 primary + 2 secondary + up to 3 LSI keywords.
3. **Add a branded word** where possible, e.g. "Streamer vs Inen — Honest
   Review | MyTechBlog".
4. **Use dynamic components** — a year or number can lift CTR by signalling
   freshness.
5. **Avoid underscores** — use hyphens in URLs and slugs, always.
6. **No special characters** — avoid unnecessary symbols or emojis in the
   title.
7. **Optional freshness feature** — some plugins or dynamic title settings
   can auto-update a date in the title to keep it looking current.

**Example — basic vs CTR-focused:**

- Basic: "Streamer vs Inen: Which is Best for Streaming?"
- CTR-focused: "Confused Between Streamer & Inen? Click to See a Detailed
  Comparison"

### Tools for meta optimization

Install a "Detailed SEO" Chrome extension to see meta title/description
length in real time, including pixel-width rendering, and add the brand name
at the end of the title for trust.

## Table of contents plugin

**Plugin: Easy Table of Contents.** It helps both Google and users understand
page structure.

Setup: enable it for Posts and Pages, show a header label above the table,
and display the table before the first H2.

## Internal linking

- Link your own related posts to each other using helpful, relevant anchor
  text — never stuff exact-match keywords as the anchor.
- Add at least 2 internal links per 1,000 words.
- Never use the page's own primary keyword as internal anchor text.
- When an existing article already covers a topic deeply, prefer linking to
  it internally over sending the reader externally.

## External linking

- Add up to 1–2 external links per 1,000 words.
- Only link out to authority sites (e.g. Wikipedia, government sources) for
  credibility.
- **Never** link to a competitor, and never link to spammy or low-quality
  sites.

## Menu optimization

Add core articles/pages to the main navigation menu — pillar content like
"Best Streaming Apps" or "APK Installation Guide" belongs directly in the
menu, since it helps search engines understand the site's overall structure.

## Recap

- Optimize meta title and description for CTR.
- Use SEO plugins for accuracy.
- Install a TOC plugin for structure.
- Follow the internal/external linking rules above.
- Keep the navigation menu optimized around your most important content.

[^iskills-course-notes]: iSkills SEO course notes, compiled 2025.