- A meta description is an HTML style tag which supplies a short snippet of information regarding a link. Usually 155 characters in length, your description tells a searcher what they are in for if they click your link and visit your website. You can see this tag when you search for just about anything on a search engine. The engine then populates query results, each with its own description.
Your meta description can help boost your search engine optimization by including keywords and phrases which make your link more popular than competitor links. When Google sends bots to investigate various sites and determine their ranking, this is something that the Google algorithm includes. So, how do you become successful at writing your own meta descriptions and in turn help your chances for increased traffic and conversions? Here are 4 tips to get you on your way to a successful meta campaign. Make it Count
You only have somewhere between 150 and 160 characters to express what’s on the other side of your link and why searchers should choose your sire to visit. Sometimes meta descriptions are rushed, poorly written, and misleading. This is problematic, especially if the site you own is meticulous, well-written and relevant. Of course, you put your all into your website, it’s where you share information, invite new customers, and make money, but you also need to take your meta description seriously, or you could miss out!
Make the most of your short description by adding keywords naturally and with the flow of the information you’re already sharing. Spell check and proof read, and proof read again before you send it off into the internet world. It’s crucial that your description tells the story you want the world to hear, otherwise they could catch a glimpse of something they don’t like and choose a competitor instead. Don’t Go Over Your Word Count
Okay, so yes, there is a little wiggle room when it comes to the word count on your meta description, but here’s the thing, Google is only going to show a snippet of it. This means that if you include relevant information which gets cut off, your readers may never actually see that information, unless they decide to click. If you want to provide internet users with a real look at your business and your website, keep it short and sweet.
Any SEO expert will tell you that the best meta description is 150 to 160 characters. This delivers enough to tell your viewer what they need to know without giving it all away. There are some websites which choose to make their descriptions too long to fit in a snippet on purpose. This is a form of click bait, and while there’s a chance it could entice some new attention, it could also attract negative attention from Google bots looking to minimize click bait and spam. Put it All Up Front
Your readers are counting on the meta description to tell them why they should click on your link. So, if there’s something your customers or clients will get from clicking, let them know. This is the space to express a special offer or service, which is bringing attention to your page. Don’t leave your best-selling feature on the sidelines and hope that curious consumers will click to find out what it is, include a taste of it in your tagline and show people why they want to click your link and visit your site now.
Not sure how to do this without making it sound too much like an advertisement? Try writing a first and second draft before publishing a good copy. You don’t want your description to sound like a marketing ploy, but you do want to let people know what they’re getting and why they should choose you. If at First You Don’t Succeed, Delete and rewrite
There is a chance that you’ll follow all of the advice in this article and still find yourself without the traffic to back up your claims about being “the best in the biz.” If this happens and you notice a decline or a stagnant delivery on site visitors following the publication of your metal description, it could be that it isn’t saying quite what you need it to say. Aside from spouting special offers, calls to action, and keywords, your description must also sound well written, authoritative, and genuine.
Try reading your meta description as though you were a potential consumer. What does the description say to you? If you read it would it make you want to visit the site affiliated with it? Test the description on friends and family and determine whether it’s really the best you can do. If not, no problem, delete, rewrite, and try again.
Now that you’ve got your meta description on point, don’t forget to include a similarly executed title, and a site to back up all your claims. When Google sends bots to check websites for ranking purposes, everything from your keywords to your images is calculated against the algorithm the bot is programmed to follow. It will determine how relevant your site is to its cause, whether you’ve got the followers to make you a good resource on the information included, among many other factors. While the exact algorithms used to rank are unpublished, there are some known indicators which can help you get ahead. One of those is your meta title and description, so really think about what you want to tell your readers before you write it.
jun 30 2018 +