The meta description tag is an HTML tag that provides a summary of a web page's content. It is an important aspect of search engine optimisation (SEO) as it gives search engines a clear understanding of what a page is about, which can help increase the page's visibility in search results.
Difference between meta description tag and title tag
The title tag and meta description tag are both important elements of SEO, but they serve different purposes. The title tag is the text that appears in the browser's tab and is also used as the clickable headline for a page in search engine results. It is meant to be a brief, concise summary of the page's content that accurately reflects its topic (between 60 to 65 characters in length). On the other hand, the meta description tag provides a more detailed summary of the page's content. It is intended to give users a better understanding of what they can expect to find on the page, and can also help search engines determine the relevance of the page to a user's query.
Effective meta description can increase web page visibility in search results
Creating an effective meta description is crucial for increasing the visibility of a web page in search results. This is because a well crafted meta description can appear directly on the search engine results page. To create a high-quality, unique meta description, it is important to consider the following:
- Keep it concise and to the point, ideally between 150-160 characters
- Write it as a summary of the page's content
- Make it unique for each page
- Avoid keyword stuffing, which is the practice of overusing keywords in an attempt to manipulate search engine rankings
Here are some examples of good and bad meta descriptions:
Good: "Learn about the latest trends in web design with our comprehensive guide. Discover tips and tricks to improve your website's user experience."
Bad: "Web design, website design, web designer, website designer, web development, website development"
All web page editors should allow it to be updated
The meta description tag can be edited and updated using a variety of web page editors, such as WordPress, Shopify, and Wix. It is important to note that the meta description tag should be unique for each page, as it allows search engines to understand the specific topic of each page and determine its relevance to a user's query.
Craft the description tag to be clear and concise
When crafting a meta description, it is important to make it clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may be confusing to users. It's also important to avoid keyword stuffing, as this practice can negatively impact a page's search engine rankings and could be marked as spam by search engines.
Unique asset is description tag can appear on search engine results page
When written well, the meta description snippet may appear on the search engine results page (SERP) below the title tag. This provides users with a quick summary of what they can expect to find on the page and can help them decide whether to click through to the page. In summary, the meta description tag is an important aspect of SEO that helps search engines understand the content of a page and increase its visibility in search results. It is important to create unique, high-quality meta descriptions that are clear and concise and avoid keyword stuffing to optimise the visibility of a web page.