SEO GLOSSARY

What is a Meta Description?

A meta description is a short summary of a web page’s content that appears underneath the blue clickable title in search engine results pages (SERPs). Meta descriptions optimize clickthrough rates by accurately describing the page to searchers.

Why Meta Descriptions Matter for SEO

While meta descriptions don’t directly influence search ranking, they play an important role in SEO by:

  • Improving click-through rates from search results pages
  • Accurately summarizing page content for search bots
  • Grabbing attention with compelling snippets of copy

A well-written meta description helps get your site clicked and visited more often from organic search.

Best Practices for Meta Descriptions

Follow these guidelines for optimizing meta description tags:

  • Keep descriptions between 150-160 characters long
  • Incorporate relevant keywords naturally
  • Write clear, compelling copy that piques interest
  • Use unique descriptions for each page
  • Include a call to action when appropriate
  • Check for typos, formatting issues

Tips for Improving Click-Through Rates

To make descriptions more clickable:

  • Highlight unique selling points and benefits
  • Use numbers to quantify claims
  • Ask questions to create curiosity
  • Include compelling calls to action
  • A/B test different descriptive phrases

Optimizing Meta Descriptions

Like any SEO tactic, meta description optimization is an ongoing process. Continuously review and refine descriptions to improve click-through rates over time. Update descriptions as needed when creating new content or pages on your site.

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