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Manual Action

Meta Description

A meta description is an HTML attribute that provides a concise summary of a web page’s content. This summary is displayed as a snippet in search engine results pages (SERPs) below the title tag, providing users with a preview of the page’s content before they click through to the website.

While not a direct ranking factor, a well-written meta description can influence click-through rates (CTRs), which may indirectly impact search rankings.

Importance in SEO

Although meta descriptions don’t directly affect search rankings, they play a crucial role in user experience and attracting organic traffic.

A compelling meta description entices users to click on your link over competing results, increasing your CTR and sending positive signals to search engines about your content’s relevance and quality.

Examples of Meta Descriptions

Here’s an example of an HTML code snippet containing a meta description:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe | Tasty Treats</title>
  <meta name="description" content="Discover the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, with easy-to-follow instructions and mouthwatering results. Bake a batch of homemade cookies today!">
</head>
<body>
  <!-- Page content goes here -->
</body>
</html>

In this example, the meta description provides a clear, enticing summary of the web page’s content, including relevant keywords (“chocolate chip cookie recipe”) and a call-to-action (“Bake a batch of homemade cookies today!”).

Best Practices

To optimize meta descriptions for SEO, consider the following best practices:

  1. Keep it concise: Aim for a length between 50 and 160 characters, as search engines may truncate longer descriptions.
  2. Be unique: Write a custom description for each page to accurately represent its content and avoid duplication.
  3. Include keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords that users are likely to search for, but avoid keyword stuffing.
  4. Make it compelling: Encourage clicks with a clear, engaging description that accurately reflects the page content and entices users to learn more.

More Resources

Meta Keywords