• You are here: EPA Home
• Web Guide
• Content Guidelines
• Required Metadata for non WebCMS Pages

Required Metadata for non WebCMS Pages

Metadata should provide succinct, descriptive information of an HTML page or PDF document. Having metadata can influence and improve search results, as well as give you greater control over your content.  Metadata describes specific content as it currently exists. It does not describe an entire web area, site, or TSSMS account. Read more at Metadata FAQs.

Required: 

• Title (“DC.title” and HTML Title tag)
• Description (“DC.description”)
• Keywords (“keywords”)
• Publisher (“DC.creator”)
• Channel (“DC.Subject.epachannel”)
• Content Type (“DC.type”)

The metadata tags:

• <meta name="DC.title" content="" />
• <meta name="DC.description" content="" />
  
• <meta name="keywords" content="" />
  
• <meta name="DC.creator" content="" />
  
• <meta name="DC.Subject.epachannel" content="" />
  
• <meta name="DC.type" content="" />

 

Title:

 Metadata tag: “DC.title” and <title> (HTML Title tag)

Title is particularly important, since it is used so extensively by search engines, RSS feeds, etc.

• Include critical search terms in the title.
• The title should be understandable without any other context.
• Match DC.title to the left-most portion of the HTML title (the Page Name). Include the Area Name if it provides needed context, such as "Basic Information | Asbestos." 
• Don't use acronyms unless you spell it out within the description or keyword fields.
• Must contain two or more space-separated words.
• May not contain a backslash (\) or telltale extensions like .html, .wpd, .doc or .txt.

 Examples:

	Title	Why?
Good	Grant Application Forms | Brownfields	Provides context ("Brownfields") and critical search terms (“grant,” “forms”)
Bad	Grants	No context.

 

Description:

Metadata tag: “DC.description”

A short statement describing the page, highlighting key concepts or critical search terms.  Often you can find a good description in an existing sentence in the first paragraph of the page.  

• Should be succinct, yet add substantive information beyond what’s available in the title. Include critical search terms not in the title.
• Do not exactly copy the title in the description field.
• Do not use the same description for every page in a web area or TSSMS.
• Must contain two or more space-separated words. May not contain a backslash (\) or telltale extensions like .html, .wpd, .doc or .txt.

Examples:

	Description	Why?
Good	As part of efforts to improve preparedness and the ability to respond to terrorist attacks, EPA has been called upon to play a strategic role in homeland security	Provides context beyond the page title.
Bad	EPA Homeland Security	Repeats page title.

 

Keywords:

Metadata tag: “keywords”

Keywords are additional terms which your users may employ to search for your content.  Note that absolutely crucial terms should be in the title and/or description. Read more about keywords in the Metadata FAQs.   

• In most cases, ten or less keywords per page are sufficient. Be selective with keywords. You do not need to create keywords for every possible combination of terms, or for capitalization, plurals, etc. 
• Keywords work best when pulled from the actual text of your content. 
• Separate keywords with a comma.
• Do not use the same keywords for every page in a web area or TSSMS.
• Do not use general terms, such as “EPA” and “environment.”
• May not contain a backslash (\), or telltale extensions like .html, .wpd, .doc or .txt.  May not contain the word "keywords." May not be the exact same as the title or description. 

Examples:

	Keywords	Why?
Good	LUST, leaking, gas station	Critical terms from the actual content of the page.
Bad	underground, underground storage, underground storage tanks, Underground Storage Tanks, UST, USTS, usts, gas, gas station, environment, environmental	Redundant to both the page itself and the entire EPA.gov site (“environment”). Does not use semicolons.

 

Publisher:

Metadata tag: “DC.creator”

This is the web-owner that publishes the page or document to the web. It is not the original author or content creator.

• List the publisher in the following manner:
• US EPA, AA/RA, Real Owner (your Lab/Center/Office/Division/Branch).
• With the Real Owner spelled out (no acronyms).
• The regional office name should always be spelled out (no acronyms).
• May not contain a backslash (\) or telltale extensions like .html, .wpd, .doc or .txt. May not contain the word "keywords."

Formatting Examples:

	Format
Program Office	US EPA, Office of Air and Radiation
Lab	US EPA, ORD, National Exposure Research Laboratory
SubOffice	US EPA, OW, Office of Science and Technology
Division	US EPA, ORD, Ecosystem Research Division
Regional Office with Division	US EPA, Region 1, Superfund Division

 

Channel:

Metadata tag:“DC.Subject.epachannel”

The four channels are a short list of content distribution and publication channels for the top level of EPA’s Information Architecture. Read more about Channels in the Metadata FAQs.

• Copy and paste the channel name exactly. Do not change the format or separate the terms (to use just "Laws," or "Technology").
• You can select one or more channels for every page, but if you feel all four channels apply then you may want to re-think the content on your page.
• General content with legal, scientific or agency topical information may be tagged as both "Learn the Issues" and "Science and Technology" (or "Laws and Regulations", etc.). However, content that is specific to the Laws or Science channel should not be categorized using the Learn the Issues channel.

EPA Channels:

Channel Name	Scope Notes
Laws & Regulations	Materials and content related to the legal and regulatory responsibilities and programs of the agency. Including, but not limited to, compliance and enforcement activities, guidance, regulatory development, permitting programs, etc.
Science & Technology	Materials, tools and content and related to the scientific, technical and research activities of the agency. Including, but not limited to, methods, models, research programs and plans, laboratories, software and databases, science products, etc.
Learn the Issues	Educational and consumer information as well as general or basic information related to all topics. Including, but not limited to, health and safety information, environmental emergency information and contacts, household management information (e.g. energy efficiency, recycling and waste reduction, chemical use and storage info, etc.), local information, etc.
About EPA	Information about the agency itself. Including, but not limited to, information about its leadership, its organization, its budget, its strategic plans, etc.

You can also view EPA Channels in the Web Taxonomy.

 

Content Type:

Metadata tag: “DC.type”

Indicates what type of information the page contains and is also tied to EPA's content review schedule. Read more about Content Type in the Metadata FAQs.

• You can only choose one content type for each page.
• Copy taxonomy content type terms exactly from the table below, or the web taxonomy (include plurals, capital letters, etc.). Do not separate terms (just "Lists," or "Data").  

Content Types:

Content Type	Scope Note
Announcements & Schedules	News, news releases, calendars, comment schedules, meeting agendas, Requests for Proposals, job announcements, etc.
Collections & Lists	Lists of links, bibliographies, recommended resource lists, hubs, etc.
Contact Information	A list of the addresses, phone/FAX numbers, and affiliations of a specific individual, groups of people, companies, organizations, publications, etc. May include additional information such as professional titles or credentials.
Data & Tools	Models, methods, maps, data files, databases, glossaries, software, tutorials, etc.
Overviews & Factsheets	Factsheets, Frequent Questions pages, Basic Information pages, etc.
Policies & Guidance	Internal and external policies, guidance and guidelines related to agency operations and/or regulatory compliance & enforcement. Includes proposed rules, MOUs, Judicial Decisions, International Agreements, etc.
Reports & Assessments	In-depth information, toxicity assessments, budgets, strategic plans, conference proceedings, etc.
Speeches, Testimony & Transcripts	A written record of dictated or recorded speech. Includes correspondence.

You can also view the content types in the Web Taxonomy.

 

Local Navigation

• Web Guide Home
• Basic Information
• Design Guidelines
• Content Guidelines
• Deploying An Application
• Search Engine
• WebCMS
• Procedures Standards Guidance
• Web Policies
• Social Media and Web 2.0 Tools
• Mobile Websites and Mobile Apps
• Create A Web Area
• Customize A Web Area
• Maintain A Web Area
• Resources

• EPA Home
• Privacy and Security Notice
• Contact Us