What is Meta Description Tag?

Understanding The Importance of Meta Description Tag?

You've probably heard of title tags when it comes to on-page SEO. The title must be accompanied by a well written meta description, and if you fail in including one your web pages will lose valuable search engine ranking points 

In order for Google or Bing (or any other platform) understands what content goes where on our website they need information about each page such as its name/keyword phrases etc., so this is important because whatever we post online should reflect positively against us locally too!

First, it's really important to learn the concept of a meta description and how it works before moving on. As its name suggests, the meta description is a section of HTML used to describe a given web page. Only 160 characters are allowed in the meta description, which appears in search results beneath the meta title (also known as title tag).

What does a " meta title " mean when you talk about a "meta title"? It's in this section of the HTML file that the title of the page you're linking to gets passed along to search engines. Keep the meta title's character count between 50 and 60 characters for the greatest impact. As an example of an effective meta title, look no further:

The meta title and meta description are coupled to offer both searchers and search engines useful information about the webpage. Search engine optimization is all about making these two parts as effective as possible, vital for a page's search rating.

As we know about meta descriptions, let's get down to the specifics.

• Meta description tags can be created and edited.

Creating or editing meta descriptions can be done directly in the HTML code. To edit the meta description HTML, simply look in the head> tags for the text you want to change.

If you wish to modify the meta description through your website's platform, the procedure is different. In addition, this varies by platform. We'll use WordPress as an example because it's the most popular option available right now.

However, you must first install a suitable plugin like Yoast before you can begin altering the meta description. In Yoast, you will find a meta description box at the bottom of each page or post.

What is the ideal length of a meta description?

For newbies, the length of meta descriptions is a common topic of discussion. Generally, they want to know the meta description character limit and what length is appropriate for a page's description.

The meta description, which may come as a surprise to some, can be any length. But that doesn't necessitate that you create a mini-essay as your subject description. Instead, it is recommended that you aim for a meta description length of between 100 and 150 characters. If your description is more than 150 characters, Google will truncate it.

How many characters are in your description? There are tools to measure the length of a meta description. The total can also be obtained by pasting it into Word and pressing the "Word Count" button.

Best practices for writing a meta description.

You are at the right place if you've been stumped on how to build an effective meta description. Although meta descriptions aren't the most important component in search engine rankings, they're an important part of any SEO plan. It's possible that a fascinating description can make a user choose your website over one of your competitors. Not to mention that search engines favour careful keyword placement.

When it comes to writing an SEO description, here are a few things to keep in mind.

• Don't forget to include relevant search terms in your content.
• Choosing the correct keywords to base your meta description on is an important first step. Make sure you include one or two secondary keywords beside your primary keyword in order to receive the best results.
• Meta descriptions can also benefit from using common keywords. People searching for these keywords will see them highlighted in bold within your description. You make the most of any opportunity to make your description stand out, no matter how tiny.
• Attract your audience's attention.
• Meta descriptions are all about making your readers laugh or smile, so keep that in mind while you're writing them. Sure, search engines must find your site. In the end, though, you want to get more people to your website by using enticing language in your meta description.

Take a look at this example of baking pancakes if you're not sure how to capture it with your words:

Example of a pancake meta

There are a lot of details packed into a single description, as you can see. Using the "easiest ever" label is a certain way to entice new customers. The fact that pancakes can be eaten sweet or savoury in various contexts broadens the search scope. The final, lighthearted sentence adds a touch of fun and human warmth to the content producer.

What if you're still unsure if your description is accurate? Meta description checker tools are available. Ask for feedback from others and see if it works as a short, interesting piece of written content.

A summons to arms

You'll find a lot of instances of SEO descriptions with some form of a call to action in them. Simply because a good Google meta description tells a user what action they need to take and how to achieve it is the only reason for this.

With a CTA, you can take several alternative routes. For example, if you're conducting a promotion, you might say something like, "Buy now while supplies last!"

Do not go too far.

The SEO description should not exceed 150 characters, as previously stated. However, you don't have to go over the top to get the point over. If you're satisfied with the description's length of, say, 100 characters, don't go above it.

Final Thoughts 

A page description is one of the most important aspects in SEO. It's where you can put your best foot forward and make an impact by writing compelling, engaging content that will both attract people to read about what they're passionate about as well appeal those who are looking up information on Google search engine results pages (SERPs).