Marketing Dictionary

Meta description

What is a meta description?

A meta description is a brief summary of the content of a Web page that is placed in the HTML code of the page. This description often appears below the meta title in the search results(SERPs) of search engines such as Google. Although it does not directly affect the ranking of your page, the meta description does play an important role in convincing people to click on your link. It is like a preview of what users can expect when they visit your page.

The meta description gives you a chance to tell users quickly and clearly what your page is about and why it is worth clicking on. A well-written meta description often contains important keywords that are relevant to the content of the page and what people might be searching for. Although search engines sometimes choose their own piece of text from the page to display in search results, it is always wise to include your own, well thought out meta description to ensure that your message comes across clearly.

When using meta descriptions effectively, it is important to keep some best practices in mind. For example, make sure your meta description is not too long; ideally, keep it between 150 and 160 characters so it doesn't get truncated in search results. Also, use actionable language and emphasize what the user will gain from your page. A strong meta description can improve click-through rate (CTR) because it convinces the user that your page provides the best answer to their search query. Combined with a well-chosen meta title and other SEO elements, a thoughtful meta description contributes to better visibility and performance in search results.

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