Meta Descriptions

Please read through the below websites for information on meta descriptions.

• What Are Meta Descriptions And How to Write Them

• https://searchenginewatch.com/2016/05/26/how-to-write-meta-descriptions-for-seo-with-good-and-bad-examples/

Examples of meta descriptions in search results:

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Below is an example of a meta description using the SEO Meta 1 Click plugin:

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What is a Meta Description?

A meta description is a snippet of text displayed below each link in the search results. It is the HTML element that provides more information about a website to search engines and searchers.

Meta descriptions are HTML attributes that provide concise summaries of webpages. They range from one sentence to a short paragraph and appear underneath the blue clickable links in the search engine results page (SERP). However, depending on a user's query, Google might pull meta description text from other areas on your page (in an attempt to better answer the searcher's query).

Why is the Purpose of Meta Descriptions?

Meta descriptions serve two main purposes: to describe the contents of a web page to the searcher and convince and persuade them to click a link.

Meta descriptions play a big role in search results. Any words that match the search query appear bold in the description. Meta descriptions also serve as a sort of advertisement for that specific website, providing the reader with a brief glimpse into what they can expect to see by clicking on the link.

Meta Description Checklist:

• Keywords: Make sure the most important keywords for the webpage show up in the meta description. Often the search engine will highlight where it finds the searcher’s query in your snippet.

• Write Legible, Readable copy: Do not use keyword stuffing in your meta description; readers may assume your results will lead to a spammy website. Make sure your description reads like a normal, human-written sentence.

• Treat the Meta Description Like an Advert for your Website: Make your meta description as compelling and as relevant as possible. The description MUST match the page content.

• Length: A meta description should be no longer than 300 characters (although Google has recently been testing longer snippets). Any longer and search engines will chop the end off, so make sure any important keywords are near the front.

• USE THIS TOOL TO MEASURE YOUR META DESCRIPTION: Google SERP Simulator (Snippet Preview) | TechnicalSEO.com

• Do Not Duplicate Meta Descriptions: As with title tags, the meta descriptions must be unique for every page. Google may penalize you for mass duplicating your meta descriptions.

• Consider using Rich Snippets: By using schema markup you can add elements to the snippets to increase their appeal (e.g., star ratings, customer ratings, product information, calorie counts, etc.)