Optimising Description Tags
The first thing search engine users will read, an optimised description tag is your chance to sell your site in 160 characters. An optimised description tag will have a big impact on search engines and readers so make it sizzle!
Description tags are found in the <Head></Head> part of your page and as with the Title Tag form a cornerstone for good on-page optimisation. Description tags are featured on search results below the title.
Value of Description Tags
The description tag is the first clue a potential reader will have as to the quality of your content. You have a limited number of characters within which to sell your website and get visitors to click. Many websites spend thousands on advertising on Pay Per Click however pay little attention to the free listing they get (if they optimise well) in natural search results. Your description tag is part of the very valuable real estate.
Tips on Optimising Description Tags
- It is crucial every description is unique
- Via search the description tag is what users will use to gauge the quality of your site
- Use primary terms for your page in the description
- Your description must make sense to users and be a call to action
- Your description will compete with at least 10 others on a search engine results page. Make it appeal to the user
- Keep descriptions to 160 characters
- Use the terms you are optimising for in the description tag. Where words in your description match those that the user is searching on, Google will bold them. This will help you stand out from the crowd
[...] Optimising Description Tags [...]
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