What Is Meta Description?

The meta description appears on SERPs as brief summaries of your web pages. They are significant and excellent tools for your website’s traffic. Google stated that meta descriptions are not crucial or necessary for SEO. However, a good meta description can improve your rankings in many ways. However, do you know how to write a powerful meta description? If you follow some basic steps while writing one, you can see your website in the best rankings.

Why Meta Description Is Important

Google’s algorithm tries to distinguish websites from each other. It aims to show the most accurate websites and web pages in front of users. One of Google’s ways of comparison is ranking according to meta descriptions.

Since meta descriptions should include brief summaries of your content, you can write the most accurate ones. It will make your website proper for Google’s algorithm. Therefore, when people search for your content, services, or products, Google will show them your web page.

How to Write a Powerful Meta Description

Time needed: 10 minutes.

According to Google’s guidelines, you can write a powerful meta description for your website. These are basic points that you should keep in mind while writing one.

1. Do not exceed 150 characters. 

   Google suggests 160 characters for meta descriptions. Otherwise, your descriptions appear incomplete. Thus, users may not understand your content or your point. To be visible clearly, it would be best for you not to exceed 150 characters.

2. Be clear and accurate.

   Accuracy is one of the most important factors that determine the quality of your meta descriptions. You should describe the whole content in a few sentences. Besides, these few sentences should motivate readers to click the link and check the website. If you can give the necessary information and still create curiosity, readers do not hesitate to click the link.

3. Keep each meta description original and unique.

   Even your pages include similar content, and each meta description should be unique. Do not use the same texts for all pages. Describe unique aspects of your content in each meta description.

4. Use call to action strategies in your meta descriptions.

   Using a call to action phrase is one of the best motivators in meta descriptions. Besides, they clearly imply your content and the aim of your content. For instance, if you are describing the ways of getting followers on Instagram, you can include a phrase like “learn how to increase your followers on Instagram.” It both motivates users to click and contain your content’s goal.
   
   Other than that, you can show your offerings in the call to action phrases. If you are offering a special discount or a free trial, you can include it by saying that “Sign up for 2-weeks free trial”.

5. Stick with your SEO strategies.

   When website owners publish new content or a new page on their websites, they follow particular SEO strategies that can increase the traffic. These strategies should be in meta descriptions, too, because they are the factors that help Google to distinguish websites from each other. For instance, including keywords or keyword phrases, using the call to action methods, or brief and clear descriptions are the basic SEO strategies. If you only use them in your content or blog post, they will not be enough. You should include them in all parts of your website.

6. Be careful about your words and sentences.

   When it comes to the details of your meta descriptions, there are several things that you should be careful about. Firstly, do not use passive voice. Google prefers active sentences according to its algorithm. A passive voice may make sentences unclear.
   
   Secondly, stick with your company’s tone and attitude. If you are trying to keep your corporal identity strict, use formal language in your meta descriptions too. However, if you are aiming to entertain your readers, you can use more friendly language.

FAQs on Meta Descriptions

• Can meta descriptions affect SEO?

Google stated that meta descriptions do not affect SEO directly. However, they are visible in SERPs. It means that readers see them and decide to click your link afterward. Thus, it can directly affect click-through rates. Since they are linked to SEO, your meta descriptions can affect your SEO indirectly.

• Where are meta descriptions?

In search engine results, the link of your page, the title of your page, and the meta description of your page are sorted. It is the part that describes your content and motivates your readers to click the link.

• What should I include in meta descriptions?

While writing your meta descriptions, you should focus on readers instead of search engines. It is because they do not directly affect SEO but motivates users to click your link. Therefore, do not overuse keywords or your brand name. However, include them when they are relevant.

• Are meta descriptions important?

Meta descriptions are not important for search engines’ rankings. It means that they do not affect SEO in a direct way. However, they have huge importance for click-through rates. They give the necessary information about your content. Then, users decide to click your page.

• How long should a meta description be?

The character limit of meta descriptions is 160 characters. However, it would be best for you to keep them between 120-150 characters. Hence, they can be visible on both desktop devices and smartphones without any cut.

Shortly Meta Descriptions

Although most people think that meta descriptions are not significant for SEO anymore, it is a misunderstanding. They still matter when it comes to click-through rates. When users are appealed by your page, they click and check your website. These clicks increase your website’s traffic. Therefore, it affects your SEO. It means that you should include as much as clear information and motivation for readers. In other words, you should focus on people who may see your meta descriptions instead of search engines. If you can follow these basic steps, you can create an excellent and powerful meta description.

The post What Is Meta Description? is republished from Dopinger Blog