search-engine-optimization-description-tags

Meta Tag Descriptions should be defined for each page!

A page's description tag gives the Google Bot and other search engines a summary of what the page is about or what the subject of the page is or what you want the readers to read about the page... Whereas, for search engine optimization purposes, a page's title may be a few words or a phrase, a page's description meta tag might be a sentence or two or a short paragraph. Google Webmaster Tools provides a handy content analysis section that will inform you about any description meta tags that are either too short, long, or duplicated too many times (the same information is also shown for <title> tags). Like the <title> tag, the description meta tag is placed within the <head> tag of your HTML document.

What are the advantages of description meta tags?

Description meta tags are important for search engine optimization because Google might use them as snippets for your pages. Note that we say "might" because Google may choose to use a relevant section of your page's visible text if it does a good job of matching up with a user's query. Alternatively, Google might use your site's description in the Open Directory Project (ODP) if your site is listed there (you might want to research and learn how to prevent search engines from displaying ODP data). Adding description meta tags to each of your pages is always a good practice for search engine optimization in case Google does find a good selection of text to use in the snippet. Our recommendation is to accurately control what description Google uses for the description tag. Not doing so could cause a total failure in click through’s and conversion.

Words in the snippet or listing description are bolded when they appear in the search engine results page listing. This gives the user clues about whether the content on the page matches with what he or she is looking for.

A current search engine optimization tactic is to use your main search terms for the page as the first words in the description. It seems to aid in conversion and click through rates.

Also, try using action or call-to-action words and phrases in your descriptions. Examples are; “Buy Now”, “Special Offer”, “Call Today”, or “ Discount”.

Google recommendations: