How to Write Optimized Meta Descriptions for Search Engines- Complete Beginner’s Guide
Meta descriptions also known as meta description tags or attribute is an HTML element that summarizes the content on the webpage so that search engines and searchers can understand what is the page about. It is one of the first things, searchers see on the search results when they make a query on a specific search term or keyword.
It is an opportunity for you to convince the searchers to click on your page. This is why meta descriptions play a vital role in the SEO ranking of a webpage. Writing one according to google and other search engine requirements increases your chances of gaining online presence and click-through rate (CTR).
Here in this article, we have covered everything you need to know about meta descriptions and their SEO optimization.
What is a meta description?
A unique meta description is a short summary of a webpage’s content that appears on the search engine results page (SERP). The meta description is an HTML tag that provides concise explanations of the contents of web pages.
The length of a meta description is typically between 150-160 characters and is designed to entice users to click on the result when it appears in the SERP under the page title.
The meta description should accurately reflect the content of the page and should be written with both search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience (UX) in mind.
Write a good meta description, it is important for SEO to include relevant keywords that accurately describe the page, as this will help users find what they are looking for quickly.
Additionally, using persuasive language can encourage users to click through while also providing them with an accurate overview of what they can expect from your website. Ultimately, by providing concise and compelling descriptions, you can ensure users will land on your website instead of competitors’ pages.
Importance of meta description for SEO
Meta descriptions are an important part of off-page and on-page SEO. They help search engine crawlers understand the content of a web page. If written correctly, it can give users more insight into what they will find when they click on your page.
Meta descriptions are also used as snippets in organic search results, giving users more information about the page and enticing them to click on it.
Writing compelling meta descriptions can be difficult but is essential for increasing organic reach and improving your SEO ranking.
You should write a meta description that is unique for each page and should include relevant keywords to ensure that your page appears in relevant search queries. Taking the time to craft quality meta descriptions for each page of your website can make a big difference in terms of SEO performance.
How to write great meta descriptions?
Writing great meta descriptions can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by making sure that your meta description is unique and relevant to the content on the web page. Make sure it includes keywords that are related to the page and use them naturally in your writing.
Be sure to keep it short and sweet; aim for around 160 characters or less. Also, make sure it includes a call to action so visitors know what they should do next when they reach your web page.
If you need more inspiration, consider checking out some of your competitors’ meta descriptions for ideas. Following these guidelines will help ensure that your meta descriptions are optimized for search engines and elaborative enough to draw visitors in!
Down below is a mini-tips guide to help you create an amazing meta description including the target keywords.
8 writing tips and best practices to optimize your meta description for SEO
Writing meta descriptions that are optimized for SEO can help to improve your website’s visibility in search engine results pages. Here are seven tips and best practices to ensure that your meta description is optimized for SEO:
The fewer are words, the more powerful will be the meta description
Keeping the meta description between 120 characters to 160 characters long is important. As the character limit is 160. But you also don’t have to just fill in the words. Rather use such words that are compelling and add value to the readers.
Inclusion of target keyword
Your meta description is a key message that the searcher will probably see when they will make the query. If your aim of writing on the internet is to attract traffic, write around the target keyword. If you have not included the target keyword, the search engines will not be able to understand what the page is about.
And you may lose the ranking for this confusion. Include the target keyword at least once in your meta description, preferably near the beginning of the description.
Don’t forget to add a call to action
Encapsulating the whole idea of the webpage in just one line is difficult. So you give only the teaser to excite them to click. To make sure the visitors click on your webpage, give them a direct and clear call to action.
Words like click here, learn more, read more, or contact us are some of the prominent call-to-action keywords. You should add in your meta descriptions that encourage readers to click on your link on the search results page.
Keyword stuffing
Keyword stuffing is what all the search engines want to you avoid. On-page SEO wants you to avoid keyword stuffing as it looks spammy which neither searchers nor engine crawlers. Avoid keyword stuffing, which can lead to lower search engine rankings or even get your site banned from being listed in search results altogether.
Specific meta descriptions
You have to write engaging meta descriptions of each webpage of your website rather than using duplicate meta descriptions.
Duplicate meta descriptions confuse search engines. And this confusion leads to the problem where webpages of the same website start competing with each other.
Leave meta descriptions for Google snippets
Learn how to write a great meta description of each webpage or leave the space blank. Google will pick a snippet of text from the content including the target keyword used in the query and Google rewrites meta descriptions.
But the best practice is to write the page descriptions by yourself to be sure, your content gets indexed for the right search.
Add schema markup tags
Don’t forget to add schema markup tags if appropriate, as this will help search engines better understand what is contained within your page’s content and result in more comprehensive listings on serps (Search Engine Results Pages).
Mention specifications
If you are selling any products, mentioning the specs of the product or the benefits of the products in the HTML element can be a great idea. You can include SKU, price, and such specifications. As the visitors are looking for this information, they will get the right information and it builds trust between you and the searcher.
By following these tips and best practices, you should be able to optimize your meta description for on-page SEO and increase traffic to your website from organic search engine queries!
8 best meta description examples for inspiration
When crafting meta descriptions for your website, it can be helpful to look at examples of successful ones to get some inspiration. Here are eight of the best meta-description examples to help you get started:
Apple
“Introducing a breakthrough way to use your Mac”. This description succinctly explains the purpose of the product while also hinting at its innovative nature, creating intrigue in the reader.
Airbnb
“Live There: Discover unique places to stay, places to explore, and experiences you can’t find anywhere else”. This meta description immediately captures the essence of Airbnb by highlighting its focus on providing unique experiences for travelers.
Microsoft
“Unlock possibilities with Windows 10”. This meta description communicates how using this product can open up new opportunities for users.
The New York Times
“The New York Times is a must-read newspaper with breaking news and in-depth coverage of politics, business, culture, and more.” This meta description packs a lot into a few words and does an excellent job of conveying what readers can expect from the site. Try to edit your meta description or title tag based on this or other examples.
Amazon
“Welcome to Amazon – the world’s largest online store! Shop for books, electronics, home & garden items, and much more.” This page’s meta description tag is simple yet effective, as it succinctly explains what visitors can find on Amazon’s vast website.
Starbucks
“At Starbucks, you’ll find high-quality coffee, tea, and pastries made with care by our baristas and bakers every day.”
This example of a meta description focuses on offering customers a clear picture of what they will get when they visit the site or store.
Tripadvisor
“TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel platform helping millions of people plan their perfect vacation with reviews from real travelers around the world.” This meta description is one of the best examples of service-providing websites. It gives potential customers an accurate description of what they will find when visiting the site while also highlighting its size and reach.
“Pinterest is a visual discovery engine that helps users discover new interests through images shared by others on their network.” This meta description can increase traffic as it captures exactly what Pinterest offers in just a few words and makes it easy to understand why someone should use this service or website.
By considering these five great meta-description examples, you can create your own that accurately describes your website while engaging potential visitors with compelling copywriting techniques.
Final words on meta descriptions
Your meta description is one of the first chances to make an impact on your potential visitors. Make sure the meta description of your website is simple, yet direct and smartly delivers the message about the content on the webpage to the readers with a clear call to action. After all, if you have put so much effort to make valuable content on the webpage, so the content that is describing it should also do the work
