How to Write Meta Descriptions: Tips

You work hard to promote your company. You write product descriptions, optimize images, and master most of the other elements of effective search engine optimization (SEO).

However, if you're like many business owners, one aspect of eCommerce SEO can cause problems: meta descriptions. This guide covers what meta descriptions are and how to write compelling meta descriptions and optimize your site for search engines.

What is a meta description?
A meta description is a piece of HTML code that uganda b2b leads summarizes the contents of a web page. It is a piece of text, typically about 160 characters long, that appears below the page title on search results pages.

The Importance of Meta Descriptions for SEO
Search engines display it in search results when the meta description also contains the keywords being searched for.

Unlike a page title, meta descriptions are not a ranking factor in SEO, but they encourage search engine users to click through to the page and are part of effective on-page SEO.

Meta description examples
Home page
Reading other people’s meta descriptions may seem deceptively simple, but that simplicity is precisely what makes them so difficult to write. The roughly 160-character limit means that meta descriptions should be longer than a sentence or two. Good descriptions provide a quick overview of what the site is about, as well as a compelling reason to click on the title tag.

Product page
Writing meta descriptions for product pages is a little easier than for the home page because product pages don't have to talk about the business as a whole.

Blog posts
Meta descriptions for blog posts are short descriptions that appear in search results. They should hook readers and attract clicks. The post should be 150-160 characters long, highlighting what makes it unique. Use keywords. A great meta description can make a post stand out and increase clicks, even if it doesn’t directly affect rankings.

Social Media
Meta descriptions aren't just for search engines. The text you use also appears on social media sites.

How to Write Meta Descriptions
1. Consider the client's thinking

First, focus on what will make a user click on the headline. To do this, you need to answer two questions:

What do you suggest?
Why should I buy from you?
For product pages, the first question is answered simply: you offer a product. The second question is answered simply by the fact that you are the one selling the product.

2. Make it unique

Tell your readers what you do, tell them your unique selling proposition, and convey that information multiple times because the meta description is not the place for subtleties. It is often difficult to come up with the perfect homepage meta description, so it is best to be patient and think about your brand.

3. Keep it at an optimal length

When choosing the length of the meta description, do not exceed 155-160 characters. Place the most important text at the beginning of the description, such as action phrases or a few words about the brand.

4. Make it actionable.

Think of meta descriptions as a welcome sign when entering your online store. Make sure the description is clear, engaging, and actionable. Tell readers what to expect on the page.

Avoid using too many adjectives or buzzwords – while it’s tempting to write “amazing” or “mind-blowing,” this can distract users from clicking. Actively highlighting text makes the text clearer and more attractive, which may encourage them to click. If you do use creative, make sure it’s relevant.

5. Add a call to action

A call to action (CTA) in the meta description will get people to click through to your page. It helps readers understand what you offer and what to expect after they click through. For e-commerce stores, focus on different search motives.

6. Use your target keyword

Find a way to include your target keyword to help search engines rank your page. Make sure it sounds like a human being wrote it.

7. Avoid meta description generators

There is some debate about whether you should use generators to write meta descriptions. Generators can create descriptions that seem dull and lack personality. But they can work if you are a brand with thousands of products and don’t have the resources to write them.

8. Use structured data to influence rich snippets

Structured data helps your website appear better in search results. It's a special type of code you add to your web pages that helps search engines understand your content. This code tells search engines important information about the page, such as what information it contains.

9. Check the effectiveness of meta descriptions

Testing meta descriptions can help you determine which ones work best. It's like running experiments to see what attracts more people to your site. You can create different versions of meta descriptions for the same page and compare their performance.

_________________
somalia b2b leads