Description snippets

Why would a description snippet change.

[bigace]

My site didn't move from the number one position in the latest google update. However, the description snippet
did change. Neither any description information on the page or in the meta description tags changed, in fact, nothing changed. Yet, the description snippet changed. Does anyone have an idea why this would happen or if there is anything that can be done about it.

Thanks

[physics]

Are you looking at the exact same keyword search?

[bigace]

Yes I am. The strange thing is the site has been #1 for many years and during the so called Jagger update the Description was changed and the site fell about 5 places. However, after Jagger stabilized it went back to the #1 spot but the long time Description didn't return. I don't happen to like the new description showing now and would like to change it.

I have always assumed that the Desc. meta tag was the normal place the bot got the snippet. This has been the case for at least 4 years. I wondered if anyone knew if Google had changed the Algo on this or how I might change it back.

[physics]

You might have to sift through the Jagger update thread here to find out if others have seen this. I may be wrong but I've heard that if you want the meta description to show up as the description in the SERPs you have to be careful that the meta description contains the search phrase and is of the right length. You might find more on that in the SEO forum though. Anyone with experience with getting meta descriptions to show up instead of 'page excerpt' descriptions?

[bigace]

Thanks for that response. This site is quite carefully optimized so the search terms are in the meta desc.

I have also noticed that the #2 result in this particular SERP has also had his long time Description changed. This also adds to the possibility that the algo has been changed on the matter.
I don't know if others in the SERPs for this search have changed or not.

Thanks for the suggestion to look in the SEO forum.