I've noticed Google creating it's own meta descriptions more and more, but not with all of my clients.
Can't find any good info on this, thoughts ?
Cheers,
Gary.
I'm seeing it too, but only when your meta is not on par with the search or content:
http://th3core.com/talk/traffic/google-rewriting-titles-and-descriptions/
I'd forgotten about that thread, thanks.
I'm seeing it when the description is relevant and well-written.
I try to write a meta description that will come across well in the SERPs if Google does choose to use it.
Tune the wording to suit your main target keyword(s) for that page, and whatever happens, happens,
The descriptions that show up in your SERPs are worth keeping an eye on, but not obsessing over.
I work on the basis we know they read it, so it is likely to add weight even if they do not appear to use it.
Keywords, that another matter. I long ago decided they were not worth the effort. Not sure if I am right.
Quote from: Rupert on October 20, 2015, 07:09:08 AM
I work on the basis we know they read it, so it is likely to add weight even if they do not appear to use it.
Keywords, that another matter. I long ago decided they were not worth the effort. Not sure if I am right.
Yes you're right to, Google stopped paying attention to that in 2009 :
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/google-does-not-use-keywords-meta-tag.html
Ha! and Bing interprets it as spam apparently.
http://searchengineland.com/the-meta-keywords-tag-lives-at-bing-why-only-spammers-should-use-it-96874
Google uses keywords again for news though.
Thanks Gurtie. don't generally do much with news. I had forgotten that.
Quote from: Gurtie on October 20, 2015, 01:29:57 PM
Google uses keywords again for news though.
never knew that.
But that's meta="news_keywords" not meta="keywords"
https://support.google.com/news/publisher/answer/68297?hl=en
http://searchengineland.com/google-announces-news-keywords-metatag-133759
http://searchengineland.com/up-close-using-the-news-keywords-tag-for-google-news-140552
Love this place.
Something as simple as meta tags, and I still manage to refresh/ learn.
Nothing is so simple that it doesn't become complex if looked at long enough ;-)
- Einstein
- or Mark Twain
- or Cicero
- or possibly ergophobe
Remember that regardless of ranking factors, a well-crafted meta description will attract USERS.
Quote from: buckworks on October 20, 2015, 07:06:37 PM
Remember that regardless of ranking factors, a well-crafted meta description will attract USERS.
I think that was the question - since Google is rewriting titles and meta descriptions, is it worth the time to craft them carefully?
I think the answer is that they still show up often enough and they are your one chance to actually pitch your page to the user on Google, so yes, it's worth some effort.
>> they still show up often enough
Yes, especially if the content of the meta description relates well to the search term that was used.
So ... craft your meta description so it's relevant to the page's busiest / most probable search terms.
Then quit worrying about it and move on to something else.
Quote from: ergophobe on October 20, 2015, 08:17:23 PM
Quote from: buckworks on October 20, 2015, 07:06:37 PM
Remember that regardless of ranking factors, a well-crafted meta description will attract USERS.
I think that was the question - since Google is rewriting titles and meta descriptions, is it worth the time to craft them carefully?
I think the answer is that they still show up often enough and they are your one chance to actually pitch your page to the user on Google, so yes, it's worth some effort.
Precisely.
I diagnosed until i'm blue in the face and can't see anything in common with the sites that it does decide to rewrite descriptions for, and it doesn't rewrite every description.
Carry on writing them is the way forward then.
Thanks,
Gary.