Google’s assist doc on controlling your snippets in search outcomes has added some examples of “unhealthy” and “higher” meta descriptions.
The unhealthy. Google advises avoiding these 4 kinds of “unhealthy” meta descriptions:
- Listing of key phrases: “Stitching provides, yarn, coloured pencils, stitching machines, threads, bobbins, needles”
- Similar description used for each information article: “Native information in Whoville, delivered to the doorstep. Discover out what occurred immediately.”
- Doesn’t summarize the web page: “Eggs are a supply of pleasure in everybody’s life. After I was a small little one, I bear in mind selecting eggs from the hen home and bringing them to the kitchen. These had been the times.”
- Too brief: “Mechanical pencil“
The higher. Google’s examples of higher meta descriptions:
- Explains what the store sells and particulars like opening hours and placement. “Get every thing you could sew your subsequent garment. Open Monday-Friday 8-5pm, situated within the Trend District.”
- Use a snippet from the precise information article: “Upsetting the small city of Whoville, an area aged man steals everybody’s presents the evening earlier than an vital occasion. Keep tuned for reside updates on the matter.”
- Summarize the entire web page: “Discover ways to prepare dinner eggs with this whole information in 1 hour or much less. We cowl all of the strategies, together with: over-easy, sunny aspect up, boiled, and poached.”
- Are particular and detailed. “Self-sharpening mechanical pencil that autocorrects your penmanship. Consists of 2B auto-replenishing lead. Out there in each Classic Pink and Schoolbus Yellow. Order 50+ pencils, get free transport.”
The up to date doc. Google printed its documentation on controlling your snippets in search leads to October. You may see all the brand new additions, right here.
Why we care. Whereas there’s nothing earth-shattering and that is principally simply primary web optimization, it’s good to see Google present some extra particular steerage on methods to create useful and descriptive meta descriptions which can be extra prone to get clicks and site visitors. Not that we will ever depend on Google to make use of these meta descriptions, in fact.
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About The Writer
Danny Goodwin is Managing Editor of Search Engine Land & SMX. Along with writing each day about web optimization, PPC, and extra for Search Engine Land, Goodwin additionally manages Search Engine Land’s roster of subject-matter specialists. He additionally helps program our convention sequence, SMX – Search Advertising and marketing Expo.
Previous to becoming a member of Search Engine Land, Goodwin was Govt Editor at Search Engine Journal, the place he led editorial initiatives for the model. He additionally was an editor at Search Engine Watch. He has spoken at many main search conferences and digital occasions, and has been sourced for his experience by a variety of publications and podcasts.
