A meta description is an HTML attribute that provides a brief summary of a web page. It appears below the page title in search engine results and influences click-through rates.
Best Practices:
- Length: Keep it between 120-160 characters (optimal: 155)
- Keywords: Include target keywords naturally
- Unique: Write unique descriptions for each page
- Action-oriented: Include a call-to-action when appropriate
- Accurate: Accurately describe the page content
- Compelling: Make it interesting to encourage clicks
Why Meta Descriptions Matter:
- Improve click-through rates from search results
- Provide context to search engines about your page
- Influence user decisions to visit your site
- Help with social media sharing previews