Meta description
Definition
A meta description is a brief summary of a webpage's content that is displayed in the search results of a search engine. It is meant to give users an idea of what the page is about and help them decide whether to click on the link to visit the page.
Meta description is a meta tag, and is specified in the head section of an HTML document[1]:
<head>
<meta name="description" content="Get all-in-one pack of SEO software — download free edition of SEO PowerSuite. SEO tools & free SEO advice for top rankings on Google & other search engines!">
</head>
Meta description in SERPs
Meta descriptions are typically displayed in the search results below the page's title and URL.
They can be any length, but search engines generally truncate them at a certain point, so it's important to make the most of the space available.
Best practices
To create a meta description, you should consider what users might be searching for and what information would be most useful to them. It's also a good idea to include relevant keywords, but avoid stuffing the description with too many of them.
The meta description does not directly affect a webpage's ranking in the search results, but it can impact the number of clicks the page receives, which can indirectly affect its ranking. As such, it's important to take the time to craft a compelling and accurate meta description for each page on your website.
Meta description optimization
Here are a few tips for optimizing your meta descriptions:
- Keep it concise: Aim for a meta description that is around 155 characters long. This will ensure that it is fully displayed in the search results and easy for users to read.
- Make it descriptive: Use the meta description to provide a brief but detailed summary of the page's content. This will help users understand what the page is about and whether it is relevant to their search.
- Use relevant keywords: Include relevant keywords in the meta description, but avoid stuffing it with too many. This will help the page rank for those keywords and make it more attractive to users.
- Use actionable language: Encourage users to click on the page by using actionable language in the meta description. For example, you might use a call to action such as Learn more or Get the best deal.
- Write unique descriptions for each page: Don't use the same meta description for multiple pages on your website. Each page should have its own unique description that accurately reflects its content.
By following these tips, you can create meta descriptions that are effective at driving traffic to your website and improving the user experience.