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DIGITAL MARKETING

Google SEO: What is A Meta Description?

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Google SEO Elements

One of the meta tags on a web page is the meta description. Webmasters can quickly summarize the content and value of a web page using this Google SEO element. When a page for a certain query is shown as a snippet in the SERPs, the page description for that page is typically shown.

Image outlining a meta description in SERP results

The existence of the term in the meta description of a URL used to be one of the SEO ranking considerations. Today, the relevancy and quality of the description’s content are considerably more crucial to the snippet’s SEO. A well-written high-quality meta description can boost traffic and CTR since a compelling snippet will persuade users to click on the search result, which will increase traffic.

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Why set a Meta description?

The goal of a meta description is straightforward: it should persuade someone using a Google search keyword to click your link. In other words, the purpose of meta descriptions is to encourage search engine click-throughs.

Because they don’t incorporate it into their ranking algorithm, search engines claim that the meta description has no direct SEO benefit. However, there is a side benefit: Google utilizes click-through rate (CTR) to determine whether your result is a good one. Google will consider you to be a good result and, depending on your position, will boost you up the ranks if more people click on your result. This is why optimizing both your titles and your meta description is crucial.

There is, regrettably, no assurance that Google will use the description you’ve supplied. However, since there is a potential that it may, it is always worthwhile to include it in your article or page.

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How Long Should a Meta Description Be?

Recently, Google increased the minimum length for meta descriptions. Previously, it was advised that meta descriptions be no longer than 160 characters.

Google will display up to 275 characters on the SERP as of 2017. As a result, you ought to lengthen your meta description tags to 275 characters.

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Does Google rewrite Meta descriptions?

According to a study by Ahrefs, Google does indeed update meta descriptions for close to 63% of search results. Google rewrites meta descriptions 71% of the time in mobile search results and 68% of the time on desktop, according to a study by the digital marketing firm Portent. How will this change affect retailers? Considering that Google will display whatever it wants, why bother creating meta descriptions?

Infographic about how google writes your meta description

Does Google rewrite Meta descriptions?

The main cause is the association between lower rewriting rates and terms with higher search volumes. Kim Herrington, an SEO and SEM consultant, specializes in creating meta descriptions and search engine optimization strategies for e-commerce companies.

According to Kim’s personal experience, your original meta description is more likely to show exactly as you typed it on your website if stores target high-traffic keywords. For e-commerce companies with a large number of products, SEO can be time-consuming and expensive. Making your meta descriptions with the understanding that they will be revised will free up resources, according to her.

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