Google using meta description instead of snippet

Some sites are displaying meta description tag data for certain searches.

[twoline]

I'm noticing that google is now showing meta description tag data where they usually display the snippet, just under the title. It doesn't always happen, but I'm looking at a PR7 site that ranks in the top 10 for very competitive keywords. The site's listed in DMOZ, and displays results for both the usual snippet section and the DMOZ description. It's also part of the fresh crawl program because it changes fairly regularly. Instead of the usual snippet, google's showing the verbatim meta description tag.

Here's the serp for keyword search "blue meany":

Verbatim title tag: SITENAME: green widgets, blue widgets, blue meany, real meany ...
Verbatim meta description tag: SITENAME offers green widgets, blue widgets, blue meany, and various other things, blah, blah, blah ...
Description: Marketplace for this, that, and various other things.
Category: Business > Business > Business
www.sitename.com/ - 23k - Nov. 13, 2002 - Cached - Similar pages

I haven't figured out what conditions or searches cause the description tag to be used, but it's definitely happening for certain searches. In this case, the keyword does appear in both title and meta description tags, as well as on the page.

[fathom]

I would tend to believe that the query in "quotes" would produce this results.

In addition... the fact the listing description is the same "verbatim" as the meta description doesn't necessarily mean Google quoted this from the meta data.

There could be off page references like many "link anchor text" that is "verbatim" the same of meta description, hence it would appear that the meta data is being used, when not.

[twoline]

Sorry for the confusion on the exact query. The query was NOT in quotes.

[kfander]

I have sometimes seen the meta description rather than the snippet in one of my own sites, although I don't know the why of it.

[annej]

I've noticed that the meta description comes up at times too.

I guess I need to pay more attention to what I write from now on.

Anne

[Hoople]

twoline,

Does this site have 'contentless' (ie Flash or image map) front page?

[percentages]

From what I can tell Google is displaying the Meta description tag if the keyword(s) used for the search appear in the Meta description tag. If they don't you get the snippet(s) where the keywords have the best density.

I tried "cityname1 widgets" and "cityname2 widgets" which resulted in the same site. cityname1 widgets was in the Meta Description tag and displayed the tag, cityname2 widgets wasn't in the description tag and I got the usual snippet.

Before I believe Google always used to display the snippet based upon keyword density.

Anyone know when this started? I never usually look at the snippets that closely.;)

[twoline]

Hoople --

This site has a pretty standard mix of graphics and text. Definitely not a "contentless" page.

twoline

[DaveAtIFG]

On a site that I watch fairly closly, I've noticed the meta description appears with an everflux freshness date and reverts to a snippet in a few days when the date disappears. Often there is a description and no directory link during these times too.

[WebGuerrilla]

We seem to have this discussion about once a month. :)

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