When users see your pages in search engine results pages (SERPs) , they only see a short description of their content. Therefore, readers must decide which results to click based on post titles, website names, and meta descriptions. Meta descriptions in particular are essential for search engine optimization (SEO) . Without compelling meta text, your content may not get the attention it deserves. From users or search engines, so we're here to explain what meta descriptions are and how to write the perfect one for SEO purposes.
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What is a meta description?
Meta descriptions are short snippets of up to 155 characters bolivia phone number data you see under the titles of posts and pages in the SERPs. They tell you what you will find if you click on a particular result.
The Creativemotions meta description
It is important to note that meta descriptions are not Google ranking factors . Adding this custom text does not directly increase your rankings. However , a great meta description can convince users to click on your pages instead of other options in the results pages. Even if your page does not rank #1.
A good meta description provides a searcher with enough information to decide whether or not to visit a page or post. If you don't add this text manually, search engines will generate one directly from the first few lines of the article. This usually means you'll end up with meta descriptions that don't provide enough information, are completely out of context, or simply don't make sense in snippet form.
You may also encounter meta descriptions that provide information without clarifying what the content as a whole will include.
Overall, however, most users choose search results based on location. In fact, the first result on a search page gets nearly 30 percent of all clicks . As you scroll down the list, results get fewer and fewer clicks. It’s sad, but that’s how it is!
Fortunately, a great title paired with a good, informative meta description can help convince on-the-go users to choose your page over others. Plus, WordPress makes it easy to add meta text to your content with SEO plugins .
How to Write the Perfect Meta Description
There are no definitive rules for writing the perfect meta description. However, you might consider following some of these best practices:
Keep your description under 155 characters. Longer text may prevent users from seeing the entire meta description.
Explain what users will find. The goal of a meta description is to provide information about the page. You want to be direct about the true nature of the content, rather than taking a “clickbait” approach.
Mention the benefits of the content. An excellent meta description lets readers know how they can benefit from the article they are about to read.
Include your target keywords. If possible, we recommend including your target keyword in your meta description. However, the keyword phrase should not seem forced (just like it should not be forced in your content).
Accomplishing all of these goals in 155 characters or less may seem difficult. However, writing great meta descriptions for SEO is a skill you'll quickly learn if you publish a lot of content.
Consider this post's meta description as an example:
Learning how to write meta descriptions for SEO can help your pages stand out in the SERPs. Here are some of the best tips!
This meta description is 139 characters long, which means it still has some space to spare. It mentions the essential elements of the post and explains what the searcher can find by reading it. It also includes a strong Call to Action (CTA) .
155 characters can be restrictive. Even Twitter raised its limit to 280 characters from 140 because it was too limiting. If you’re working with in-depth posts that cover a lot of topics, you may have a hard time mentioning them all in a meta description. Ultimately, you’ll need to decide what information is most important to include.
We recommend using this tip to make your descriptions actionable: Encourage readers to check out your pages and posts by using phrases like “let’s talk about” or “learn how.” These simple, action-based terms can entice readers to click on your content.
SEO Meta Description FAQs
Now that you know how to write the perfect meta description, you can start working on SEO for your website. In this section, we try to answer the most common questions about SEO meta descriptions, but if you have any after reading this, leave a comment so we can try to help!
How to Write the Perfect Meta Description for SEO
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