Keyword density

Does keyword density count in the meta description?

[namniboose]

Looking at high-ranking sites, I noticed that some have very short meta descriptions. I know that keyword density on the webpage itself is important but does keyword density in the meta description have an effect on ranking? If so, how big an effect?

Thanks for advice.

[Sharon and Roy]

Hello namniboose,

As far as Google is concerned, your meta description is not important at all and is therefore not even indexed. Many of the other engines are starting to not put any additional weight/boost on these words. Of those that may still do so or those that may just treat them as ordinary page text, then keyword density would become a factor.

So to answer your question ... with all other things considered, the words in the meta description would have the LEAST effect on ranking if any at all.

[caine]

yes it matters a great deal, in reinforing all other aspects of the page that, that a search engines algo's whould read to give a relavancy ranking.

[bufferzone]

It the case of Google I must agree with Sharon and Roy, Meta tags dosn't seem to be that impertant. But since some SE use them, I allways place the keywords that are on the page (in the body text) in description and keyword meta tag. It might not help, but it won't hurt

[namniboose]

To clarify my question: yes, I know that Google & Northern Light take their description from the text on the page and I know that for other S.E.s the metadescription is important. I have incorporated all my keywords in the description and what I am asking about is the keyword DENSITY in this area.

I am trying to get the balance right between keyword density and copy that will get the searcher to click on my site and am wondering if keyword density is an important ranking factor in the metadescription.

Thanks for your definitive answer Caine! I would be interested to hear other peoples' experience too ;)

[tedster]

I have success with using the keyword only once in the description (density) and making that occurance right at the beginning (prominence).

The thing is, when I optimize these days, I usually have Google at the top of my mind. And Google often tolerates a higher keyword density than the other engines because their basis is Page Rank and they trust that math so much.

But when that same page gets evaluated by another SE, and it mixes the meta tags into the calculation, a too-high density can easily be the result. So once is definitely enough in the descrip, I'd say, if you're aiming for a one-size-fits-all page.

[BTW, according to one of their engineers, the Google algo doesn't look at keyword or description meta tags at all, not for anything, ever.]