Meta description

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What is a meta description

Meta description - What is it?

A Meta description is an attribute within your meta tags that helps describe your page. This snippet of text may appear in search engine results under your headline, although search engines sometimes pull a snippet of text from the main body copy of the page instead.

You can use the Meta description on any web page by right-clicking on the page and selecting "View Page Source" or "View Page Source":

Show the Meta description of your page by right-clicking and selecting "Show Source".
Once you look at the code of the page, you will probably see a meta description tag that probably looks something like this:

<meta name=”description” content=”Inhalt der Seite…” />
<meta name=”keywords” content=”meta beschreibung” />
<meta name="robots" content="index,follow" />

This information has some functions, one of which is displayed as a text snippet on the SERP should serve when searchers perform a search query, according to which your page is sorted. The Meta description should give search engine users a brief description of what they will find when they click through to your site.

Meta description - How long should it be?

Since 2017, Google has been showing up to 160 characters in the SERP's on. Therefore, you should use your Meta description so that they are up to 160 characters long.

Meta description - Why are they important?

  • Meta description tags can have a significant impact on your efforts to Search engine optimization have. The Meta description has a central value:
  • Your Meta description acts as "organic ad text".
  • This means that Google and other search engines can Meta description often display as a summary of the page when your ad is following a Keyword is sorted.
  • This makes the Meta description just as important as the ad text.

A convincing Meta description has the ability to increase the click-through rate of your organic search results. This means that more of the people who see your page in the search results will actually click through and land on your website. Thus, a Meta description more Traffic for you, even if your Ranking remains the same!

The description tag of a website shows the visitor in the result pages of e.g. Google what kind of offer it is. The user can immediately decide on the basis of the description tag whether he is "looking for" what you offer him. Since the description tag of a website is an absolutely indispensable criterion for good Ranking is, the Webmaster also pay the necessary attention to this.

With this tag, you have the possibility to address your potential visitors or customers directly. The description tag should contain all relevant information about the page. It should also comply with some of the SEO rules presented here. As already said, they are very important if you want a high Ranking would like to reach in the search engines like Google & Co.

meta description tag

What do I have to consider when creating the Meta Description?

Below we answer the 4 most frequently asked questions about en Description Tag.

1. where should the description tag be located in your website?

The description tag will be included in the head section of your website, so it must be located between ... are. Alternatively, there are plugins in most content management systems, such as WordPress, that do this for you. For this we use for example "Yoast SEO".

2. how should the meta description tag be structured?

For this, I'll show you an example of how I always hide the tag when the option to use the plugin doesn't exist.

Example:<metaname="description" content="This is a description
Of your website. Why you should visit this site." />

Alternatively, see the meta title and meta description details in the Yoast SEO Plugin as follows.

Meta Description Description

3. how long should the meta descriptions of a website be?

In this point many minds are divided, from one side you hear about 200-250 characters would be good, from others again less. I personally have made the experience that a length of about 150-160 characters the ideal length However, this should be checked regularly in practice, as Google has already changed the length specifications several times. However, make sure that your meta description is displayed in full in the search results.

4) How should the description be structured, what content and keyword are a must?

Of course, this depends primarily on your website, but in principle, important keywords as well as Title Tag and information about the website content but also related subpage are included.

Furthermore, I would like to briefly note that in the area of a regional website, for example, a bakery or other service providers, there is the possibility of the Ranking via integration of regional information.

An example of this would be "The Dachau bakery Müller offers very tasty rolls in the Munich area."

Advantages of meta descriptions:

  1. Meta descriptions can help users understand the Relevance of a web page for their search better understand. When the Meta description contains an accurate summary of the content of the web page, users can better assess whether the web page is relevant to them or not.

  2. You can ensure that more users click on the website. When the Meta description is well-worded and makes users curious, this can lead to more users clicking on the website.

  3. You can help to ensure that the Website is ranked better by the search engines. When the Meta description is well formulated and contains relevant keywords, this can help the website to be ranked better by search engines.

  4. You can help to ensure that the Website stands out better in search results. A well formulated Meta description can ensure that the website is better highlighted in search results and thus more easily found by users.

9 examples of keywords and matching meta descriptions:

KeywordMeta descriptionNumber of characters
"Vegan cake recipe""Learn how to easily make delicious vegan cakes at home. From chocolate cake to cheesecake"146
"Yoga for beginners""Discover the world of yoga with our simple instructions and tips for beginners. Improve your flexibility and relaxation"150
"Healthy breakfast""Start your day with our delicious and healthy breakfast ideas. From smoothies to avocado toast, we've got something for everyone."149
"Hair care for men""Get professional tips for daily hair care. From choosing the right shampoo to trendy hairstyles."130
"House Cleaning Tips""Learn how to clean your home quickly and thoroughly. From the kitchen to the bathroom - we have tips for every room."131
"Making natural cosmetics yourself""Discover how to easily make your own natural cosmetics. From face masks to lip care"148
"Gardening for beginners""Learn the basics of gardening. From choosing the right plants to caring for your green thumb."150
"Healthy dinner recipes""Discover delicious and healthy dinner ideas that you can easily make at home. From vegetable skillet to quinoa salad"149
"Stress Management Tips""Learn how to effectively manage your stress. From breathing exercises to short relaxation breaks, we have tips for everyone."148

5 typical mistakes when creating meta descriptions

  1. Exceeding the maximum number of characters allowed: Meta descriptions should generally be no longer than 155 to 160 characters, as Google only displays a limited number of characters in search results. If the Meta description is too long, it will be truncated, which may result in missing important information and thus less appealing to users.
  2. Use of unnecessary keywords: Use of unnecessary keywords in meta descriptions can make the description look unnatural and incomprehensible, and thus less appealing to users.
  3. Missing Relevance: Meta descriptions should be relevant to the page and the content on it to encourage users to click on the link.
  4. Use of duplicates: Use of duplicate meta descriptions may result in the website not being indexed properly and therefore less likely to appear in search results.
  5. Lack of meta descriptions: It is important that each page has a unique Meta description has to Relevance of the page and the content contained on it to stand out to users. Missing meta descriptions can lead to the page being less appealing in search results

WordPress: How to use meta descriptions on WordPress

To use meta descriptions in WordPress, you can use an SEO-Plugin like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack. After installing and activating the plugin, in the WordPress editorial view, you can add a Meta description add

If you use Yoast SEO, you'll find the meta description field under the "SEO" tab on the right side of the editorial view. Enter a short, concise description of your page or post here that includes the most important keywords. This description will be displayed in search results and can help drive more visitors to your site.

If you use All in One SEO Pack, you will find the meta description field in the All in One SEO section of the respective post or page.

Make sure that the Meta description is not too long and that it fits the topic of the page and contains the most important keywords. A detailed and well formulated Meta description can help your site to be found better in the search results and more Traffic is generated to your page.

Shopify: How to use meta descriptions on Shopify

To add meta descriptions to Shopify there are several options, depending on whether you want to edit a product, a collection, or a page.

  1. ProductsWhen you edit a product, you will find the meta description field in the "Search engine optimization" tab under "Product information". Here you can enter a short, concise description of the product, which contains the most important keywords.
  2. CategoriesWhen you edit a category, you will find the meta description field in the "Search Engine Optimization" tab under "Category Information". Here you can enter a short, concise description of the collection that includes the most important keywords.
  3. PagesWhen you edit a page, you will find the meta description field in the "Search Engine Optimization" tab under "Page Information". Here you can enter a short, concise description of the page that includes the most important keywords.

Make sure that the Meta description is not too long and that it fits the theme of the page, product or collection and contains the most important keywords. A detailed and well formulated Meta description can help your site, product or collection to be found better in search results and get more Traffic is generated on your store.

Shopware: How to use meta descriptions with Shopware

In order to use meta-descriptions at Shopware there are a few steps you need to take.

  1. Create a new page template: To create a Meta description you must first create a new page template. Go to the Shopware Backend and select under "Settings" and then "Design" the tab "Templates". Here you can create a new template.
  2. Add the Meta description Once you have created the new template, you can add the Meta description add a description. To do this, click on the "Meta information" tab and add a short, concise description of your page that includes the most important keywords in the "Description" field.
  3. Assigning the template to the page: After you have created the template and Meta description you have to assign it to the page. You can find this option under the "Structure" tab where you can select the template.

With Shopware 6:

  1. Go to the Shopware Backend and select the page for which you want to create a Meta description would like to add.
  2. Click on the "SEO" tab and you will find the meta description field.
  3. Enter a short, concise description of your site here that includes the most important keywords.
  4. Save your changes and the Meta description is automatically displayed on the page.

Conclusion

Meta descriptions can be a valuable aid in search engine optimization. They are easy to write and can help to get more visitors to click on the page. Properly formulated meta descriptions can increase the chances of a page ranking well in search engine results.

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FAQ

What is a meta description? arrow icon in accordion
A meta description is a short section of text assigned to a web page. It is placed in the HTML code of the page and is a summary of the content of the page. This text is used by search engines to classify web pages in search queries.
What characteristics should a meta description have? arrow icon in accordion
A meta description should be short and concise (150-160 characters) and reflect the content of the page in a few words. Search engines prefer meta descriptions that contain relevant keywords, but it is also important that they are meaningful and appealing to attract visitors.
Is it important to set up a meta description for my website? arrow icon in accordion
Yes, it is very important to set up a meta description for your website. This is used by search engines to catalog web pages and helps in indexing your site. A meta description that is well written and relevant can also attract visitors to your site.
Can a meta description affect my search engine ranking? arrow icon in accordion
Yes, a meta description can influence search engine rankings. If search engines find relevant keywords in the meta description, this can lead to your page appearing higher in search results.
Can multiple meta descriptions be used per page? arrow icon in accordion
No, only one meta description should be used per page. Even if multiple meta descriptions are created, only one of them will be used by search engines.
Can I change my meta description at any time? arrow icon in accordion
Yes, you can change your meta description at any time. If you want to optimize your page, it's a good idea to check and adjust the meta description regularly.
How long should a meta description be? arrow icon in accordion
A meta description should be about 150-160 characters long. If the meta description is too long, many search engines will shorten it.
How can I make sure my meta description is relevant? arrow icon in accordion
To make sure that your meta description is relevant, you need to use the right keywords that are relevant to your page. To do this, you could also analyze other websites and see what keywords are used there.
Do I need to create a meta description for every page on my website? arrow icon in accordion
Yes, it is recommended to create a meta description for each page of your website. This will increase your chances that the page will be found by search engines.
What are the effects of a poorly written meta description? arrow icon in accordion
A poorly written meta description can prevent your page from ranking high for search queries. It can also prevent visitors from clicking on your page because the meta description is not engaging or interesting enough.

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