Google description = meta descripton, nothing from the visible page

[eljacko]

I have noticed that even though my site has been in google for a long time it only displays an reads the description set in the meta tag and not in the main page. I can notice this by looking at the site description shown in google. How can I overcome this?

[Pico_Train]

I've got the same thing.

Not sure really. It seems to sometimes switch between the two. A snippet from the page and other times, the meta description. This seems to have popped up after I put in a sitemap. Both rank well for some search terms.

I'm also seeing the options in my drop-down navigation being listed...figure that one out.

I really don't think you can make Google use either.

[annej]

I write the meta description to include the key words people would most likely use in finding the page. Google seems to catch the first snippit that includes the words used in the search phrase. (including the meta description but never the meta key words)

So actually the meta description is a great tool for you because you can write it in such a way as to make your page look appealing to the surfer looking over a search result page.

On more obscure search terms people will still get odd snippets from the page includng the navigation but at least with a good meta description you can control what will be used much of the time.

Also if the page is listed on DMOZ you are stuck with their description.

[eljacko]

I try to place the keyword into the description but what I have noticed that density within the meta description is also something considered by google.

[Chris_H]

I think Anne has touched a very important point that is commonly overlooked.

If your Meta description features in the SERPs then it is very wise to ensure that it is well written, follows the AIDA rule of marketing (attention, interest, desire, action), and not stuffed with keywords.

One of the ways of helping your meta description into the SERPs is to ensure that it <em>accurately</em> describes what the page is about, using a couple of brief sentences containing keywords found on your page.

By doing this, we have ensured that it is <em>our</em> copy that appears on the results pages, and not a rehashed version that Google thinks is relevant.

[trillianjedi]

I think Anne has touched a very important point that is commonly overlooked.

I concur.

Meta descriptions are very much underused, and can be a powerful marketing tool.

Worth spending some time writing good page descriptions. If you have a CMS, worth spending some time ensuring that the prefabricated meta description tag comes out well.

It's no use ranking in the top 10 if your description in the SERPS is a turn-off for the surfer.

TJ

[eljacko]

thanks, but again I have found that my position in google changes upon the amount of words used. The recommended amount is arounf 15-20 max, what would you say is right?

[annej]

Are you saying the number of words in your meta description is changing your rankings?

[eljacko]

yes, I have noticed this over a number of months

[coldworld]

I've noticed that if your all terms in your search query are in the the page title, then the meta description will be shown. If a term in the query is not in the page title, then a snippet of text from the page will be shown instead.

If your website is listed in dmoz, then sometimes the description from that will be shown.

CW

[eljacko]

my website is not listed in demoz, I should still get some text from the body shown.

If google sees my description only then does that mean that the rest of the page is ignored?

[Pico_Train]

Thanks for pointing that out Coldworld, very good point and should have noticed that one.

[annej]

eljacko, are you sure you didn't make any other changes than your meta description? My impression was that Google doesn't use the meta infromation for serps rankings, just for the description on the search result page.

[eljacko]

nope none other than the meta description changes. This is why i am puzzled

[macavity]

Also if the page is listed on DMOZ you are stuck with their description

Does anyone know if the description is changed in DMOZ whether or not that is reflected at some stage in the Google results? I've got a five-year old DMOZ description showing for my main keyword in Google which I'd like to see updated.

Cheers,

Mac

[annej]

Once you get DMOZ to change their description it eventually gets changed in Google. I can't remember how long it took.

[macavity]

Thanks for that!

Cheers,

Mac

[JoeHouse]

Keeping on this subject I have a site that I have been tweaking both the title and meta descriptions.

I can honestly say I have one of the best optimized site in my industry. However for some reason I cannot break the top 10 for my major keyword and it is really hurting my sales.

My site is about 1 year old and I am desperatly trying to break the top 10 in rankings.

I am told if you have just the right title and meta description it will help greatly.

I have tweaked and tweaked....I have gone from number 62, then to no where, then to 250 and now currently at 165 for this major keyword.

Any good advice to put me over the top and get me top 10 rankings on google for my best keyword phrase?

[annej]

Get inbound links from related websites. You can only go so far with on page factors.

Also quit concentrating on just your top keyword. Most search engine visitors come in on more specific key phrases. Build a lot of pages with a lot of different key phrases related to your sites topic.

[JoeHouse]

annej

I have done all of those things you speak of.

The only thing I can think of as to why these sites are doing much better is because these sites are listed in Dmoz and for what every reason its been more than a year and I cannot get listed in their directory.

Fact, if you haven't noticed links are not as important as they once were. Take a look around as to the 10 ten rankings.

In my industry I have notice many sites with much less links then their competitors below them, but yet they are ranking higher than those with more links.

No longer are the days of getting tons of relevant links to get top rankings. Google has caught up with that game.

It now appears things have shifted back to on page factors and away from links.

We need to share these results and finding so we can all help each other out in rankings.

Any ideas?

[tedster]

If google sees my description only then does that mean that the rest of the page is ignored?

Definitely not. Google has recently begun using meta description more and more -- but if they've got your meta, then they've spidered the page. Otherwise your pages would be url-only if they came up at all.

So having a unique meta description -- specific for each page -- has just become more important. In fact, just taking this simple step with several sites recently was quickly followed by a change from url-only listings to title+description listings. Can't say for sure that this was cause and effect, but it was certainly suggestive.