What is a Meta Description?

A meta description is a brief snippet, or HTML description element, that describes the content of a webpage. The meta description shows beneath the page title and URL on a search engine results page (SERP).

When the searched for term is present in the meta description, search engines display it in the search result list. For instance, the word "mobile" is bolded in the sample above. This is due to the fact that the keyword "mobile" was used in the search.

It's an important part of on-page SEO, which is why you should know how to optimize it properly.

What Does the Meta Description Do?

The meta description of a page's major goal is to entice visitors from SERPs and social media to click on the link to your page. In other words, it attracts people and drives traffic to your website!

In this way, you may write it as a "mini-ad" for your page, giving a sneak peek at the content. Because there are so many results from a Google search, the meta description is your little but precious real domain area to simply describe what the page provides. In other words, it helps your listing to stand out if done correctly.

Why is the Meta Description Important?

If your meta description is well-written, it can assist you to increase your site's click-through rate (CTR) from the SERPs.

According to Google, the meta description has no direct effect on page rank, but it does have an indirect effect because a well-written meta description increases click-through rate, and Google may utilise this user-controlled statistic to decide a page's rank position.

Users will click on material that is appealing to them and satisfies their search query, so make sure your meta description is written with them in mind. Good material will be appreciated by searchers; all you have to do now is encourage them to get to it first.

What is the length of a meta description?

Because Google bases meta description lengths on pixels, be mindful of this standard for the display of your meta descriptions in the SERPs. On desktop, the limit is 920 pixels, or about 158 characters, while on mobile, it's 680 pixels, or about 120 characters.

Of course, the pixel width of each character fluctuates, thus the number of characters utilised isn't an absolute quantity, although pixel width is.

The meta description should be written in such a manner that it not only explains what the reader will discover on the page, but also tempts searchers to click. Marketers should spend time testing page names and meta descriptions in addition to the page title to increase visibility and CTR.

Best way to Write Meta Descriptions for SEO-

Let's go through how to construct a meta description now that you know what one is and why it's crucial for your website and content. The user experience is prioritized in a good meta description, which contains the following characteristics:

Do’s

1] Tell users about "What is the page about?" and "How come my page is the best option for the search?"

2] Be descriptive in your writing. The wording in your meta description should explain what the page is about to the user. Draw out the information of the page in broad strokes. If a person is going to the bother of clicking on it, they want to be sure the page is about what they are interested in.

3] Persuasiveness is a key element in great meta descriptions. Pull a little bit to obtain some clicks. A call to action in the description is highly recommended by many SEOs. It is suggested that you write a meta description that elicits some sort of response.

4] Curiosity is one of the most compelling things you can do with your meta. This is especially true in the case of informative questions. By the time a person has finished reading your description, they should be keen to know more about the subject matter on the page. You should include just enough information to describe what the page is about without breaking down the page's curiosity quotient.

5] The major keyword for which the page is aiming to rank must be included in your meta description. This is an on-page SEO chance to use the target term here.

6] Benefits-oriented material must be provided. Tell the reader exactly what they'll get if they click on your website link.

7] If you create an excessively long meta description, Google will trim it. The recognised standard length is 156 characters.

Don’ts

1] Avoid Using Quotation Marks. as they'll be eventually cut off by Google.

2] Don't use a major amount of material from a particular post or a page as the meta description. Take the time to develop distinctive writings that will function as a mini-ad for your users and search engines.

3] Do not use the identical description on several pages or posts. This baffles the bots of search engines and dilutes the effect. The same is true for title tags and overall page content; you may perform a site audit to look for duplicate material.

4] Don't overuse keywords. You will be punished if you repeat your keyword 9 times and more.

Where Do You Add the Meta Description Tag?

A meta description tag in HTML code looks like this:-

However, you do not need to be a professional webmaster or SEO to include a meta description!

If you use a content management software, such as WordPress or HubSpot, you may avoid having to go into the HTML code since these systems allow you to alter the meta description, title tags, and other parameters all through the general settings.

There are other plug-ins available, such as Yoast, that make it easy to add the meta description to your web page.

Some Examples of Good Meta Descriptions-

1] Google

This clearly states that you can find answers to your questions and that in various forms viz. weblinks, images etc.

2] YouTube

This meta description is prepared with the end user in mind. While being quick, it is instructive and promotes a feeling of fun and community.

3] Instagram

If you click this link, you will instantly know what you can do. Register an account or log in. You already know you can't post on the platform from this link without completing above process. It's as basic as telling searchers what they can discover on your page.

4] Uber

It's a wonderful explanation of priority since it's short and to-the-point, and it solves an issue.

Conclusion

The meta description is a minor but powerful component of search engine optimization - it is your opportunity to outperform your competition. Too many organizations overlook this and, as a result, miss out on a crucial chance to increase CTR.

Make an intriguing meta description for your website that persuades visitors to select you over your rivals. SEO is all about giving the searcher the best possible search experience; it is not about chasing the algorithm.

Finally, meta descriptions are still an important aspect of your entire SEO strategy. So you should not disregard them because considering above facts we can say that your meta description is the only thing that stands between a search result and a visitor.

Tanmay Kokate

Tanmay is a passionate content creator and creative writer who is fond of software, applications, and SaaS products. He holds a Physics degree and is enthusiastic about H=history and astronomy He calls himself a 'knowledge seeker'.