What it looks like
<meta name="description" content="Plain-English definitions of 300+ SEO terms.">
Does it affect rankings?
No. Google doesn’t use the meta description as a ranking factor, but it can change how many people click on your result. Google also often writes its own snippet from the page’s text when that fits the search better.
How to write a good meta description
- Describe the page accurately and give a reason to click.
- Aim for roughly 120 to 155 characters; longer text is usually cut off.
- Write a unique description for each important page.
- Include the main keyword naturally; Google bolds words that match the search.
Our free online text editor shows the length of your title and meta description as you write.
Meta description examples
| Weak | Better |
|---|---|
| Welcome to our website. We offer many services at good prices. | Emergency and family dentistry in Uppsala. Same-day appointments, clear prices and parking at the clinic. Book online. |
| shoes, running shoes, cheap shoes, buy shoes | Compare lightweight running shoes for road and trail, with size advice and free returns for 30 days. |
Does Google use my meta description?
Sometimes. Google says it may use the description as the snippet when it describes the page better than text from the page, and otherwise writes its own from the page content. So write good descriptions, but also make sure the page itself has clear text near the top.
Meta description mistakes
- Leaving the field empty or using the same text on many pages.
- Writing a list of keywords.
- Promising something the page does not offer.
- Making it so long it is cut off.
Meta description FAQs
Do I need a meta description on every page?
Write one for pages you want to rank and earn clicks. For others, Google will create a snippet from the page.
How do I check my meta descriptions?
Crawl the site to list them, and use Search Console to find pages with a low click-through rate. See also title tags and metadata.