Google changing meta description in search result

[gtate]

Does anyone know how I can change the description that shows in Google search (the few lines under the url) ? I was hoping Google would pick it up from the meta description, but instead it is inaccurate, and looks as if it has been entered manually by a Google operator who doesn't know much about the site.

Any thoughts !

[htmlbasictutor]

You can't. <wink>

All you can do is write the best meta description you can and hope it suits the person's search.

Google and the other search engines will display what they think best suits the user's search.

More info here at Google: support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35624

[gtate]

Most helpful, I found that the snippet had been taken from Dmoz which I've now changed.

Easy when you know how !

;-)

[Robert Charlton]

Descriptions should be page-specific.

Try to anticipate the phrases for which you expect a page to rank and to include that vocabulary in your description.

[gtate]

All good & happy ending, the snippet is now reading correctly and customer satisfied.

:-)

[lucy24]

... except that every time I see the topic header I will think g### has crossed the final frontier and is wantonly tampering with your meta description by using bits of your text mixed in with random other stuff :(

[gtate]

... I think their shoulders are broad enough !

;-)

[AnkitMaheshwari]

FYI: Google has recently updated their Help section for Creating better titles and description - [support.google.com...]

[engine]

Recently, we had a good discussion on titles, too.
[webmasterworld.com...]