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You will find Meta descriptions on results on search engines results pages. It is from these descriptions that you can gain or lose a visitor. In this article we shall explore these descriptions in detail, whether or not they are still used and their benefits.
Meta Descriptions And Search Engines
To come up with good Meta descriptions for your content, you must first explore what other sites in your niche do. This essential because it helps you prepare succinct and impactful descriptions for your content.Google has in the past said that they do not take into account Meta descriptions during the indexing and ranking process. However, a cursory glance at results of a search query reveals that they have snippets of Meta descriptions in their results. For more information about meta descriptions, please check out the following video:
This basically puts the ball in your court as far as deciding whether or not to go with Meta descriptions. The general advice from most experts is to go ahead with the Meta description tag. To a certain extent, their positioning will affect their ranking on SERPs. Check out billlentis.com/what-is-seo-h1.
On the other hand, if they do not take into account, you still can attract more traffic. This can be attributed to the fact that people will always go to sites they feel will provide what they need. If your description shows that, then you are one up against your competitors.
Therefore, include them in your SEO just the same. You really have nothing to lose either way.
The Case For Use Of Meta Descriptions
The consensus from the top blogs with regards to Meta descriptions is clear: they say go for it. Their thinking is that including a keyword in it will help the prospective visitor click on the link because it will help them get what they want.In a way, it is a sort of advertising for the site as a whole.
Further Exploration Into 3 Key Reasons And Benefits For Meta Descriptions
In this section we shall make ground the case for Meta descriptions by exploring how they factor in converting prospects. They are not considered during ranking but if you want traffic, it is one of the best ways to do it via search engines.Attract User Attention On Search Engine
When a user keys in a keyword for a query, they are looking for something that they need or think will help them. By having a Meta description against your website link, you can capture the prospect’s attention right away.The use of keyword in your Meta description helps you stand out. However, it will only work if you use it in a persuasive manner, which we shall explore in detail in later in the subsequent section.
Get More Views From Social Media Pages
The trend with pages shared on social media sites is such that all the essential information about the site is condensed in a sentence or two. How these two sentences are framed is of the utmost importance because people just look at text cursorily. If it does not grab their attention right away, then you will not achieve the desired results.Another point worth noting about Meta descriptions on social media sites is that they are cut off by ellipsis if they are too long. Therefore, you need to include all the relevant and important information on the first parts. This way you can get people to click on it.
Ride The Bookmark Popularity Wave
If you are look at pages on social bookmarking sites, you will notice the Meta description right away. It is there to give a brief summary about what the site is all about.Sites like Diggs and My SEO Community put Meta descriptions first. Most of these sites use the Pligg CMS system and this system uses Meta descriptions first. These sites allow you to edit your descriptions and tweak them as you see fit.
Therefore, it is upon you to get it right on the first try as you submit your own page.
Effective Use Of Meta Descriptions On Your Pages
In this section, we shall explore how you can get the most out of Meta-descriptions. Let’s get to it.If you are running a self-hosted domain with Word Press, you can add Meta descriptions via a plugin. This plugin will provide you with a box in which you can add details of the Meta description.
In a nutshell, you just have to look for a SEO plug in from your web platform to add Meta descriptions.
How to Create More Impactful SEO Meta-descriptions
So you want to get more out Meta descriptions for your page? The following tips should help spur you in the right direction.Use Powerful Language
You need to make a clear and powerful impact on the first few lines of the description according to Maarten Vink. Look at the first results on the search engine page of a search query of your niche. It should give you a clear idea of what you should do.In crafting your description, always have your visitor in mind as per Matt Press. Ask yourself whether or not you would click on your link if you were a visitor looking for information. Does it offer you enough incentive to do so?
You should try out a few variations and choose one description that gives them enough incentive to click on your site.
Include A Call To Action
In your description, you need to get your prospect to click on the link. Include phrases like, ‘click here for…’ or ‘download it here’ for something you want them to do.CTAs or Calls-To-Action are important because they encourage your visitors to engage with your site according to Weidert. In doing so, you maximize your chances of converting them.
Iterate And Test Different Versions
You will not get a killer Meta description on the first try. It simply cannot be done because people react differently and you want attract as many people to your site with a good Meta description. As such, you need to test different variants on landing pages according to Search Engine Journal.Try to use different lengths and keywords to find the right fit.