Google’s John Mueller answered the query about whether or not a meta description can be utilized to affect the search rankings.
It’s a superb query as a result of Google advises to make use of distinctive meta descriptions on internet pages. So there’s some sort of affect however is that affect associated to rankings? John Mueller solutions that query.
Meta Element
The meta tag is formally often known as a meta factor. The meta factor is used to explain (signify) document-level details about an internet web page.
In order to explain completely different properties of the net web page the meta factor (like all HTML parts) has attributes which sort of extends the meta factor in order that it could possibly present a particular sort of data to an internet browser or to an internet crawler (like Googlebot).
For instance:
A meta robots tag communicates to crawlers.
A meta refresh tag communicates to a browser.
There are many different meta tags that talk on to engines like google and browsers:
meta title=”viewport”
meta http-equiv=”refresh”
meta title=”google-site-verification”
meta title=”googlebot” content material=”notranslate”
Meta factor knowledge is data that’s not meant for web site guests to straight see (though it may be seen not directly through the search outcomes).
Meta Description
The W3C is the standards-making physique accountable for defining HTML (amongst different issues)
The official W3C specification for the meta description tag says that the meta description is designed for use by engines like google.
“The worth should be a free-form string that describes the web page. The worth should be acceptable for use in a listing of pages, e.g. in a search engine.There should not be multiple meta factor with its title attribute set to the worth description per doc.”
Google’s Use of Meta Descriptions
Google’s documentation of snippets notes that meta descriptions are used for producing search outcomes snippets.
If a meta description is correctly used then the meta description displayed within the search outcomes will talk to the potential web site customer what the web page is about and provides them an thought of what to anticipate if they click on the hyperlink and go to the web site.
There isn’t any restrict on how lengthy a meta description may be.
However there’s a restrict on how a lot of the meta description that engines like google will select to indicate. The restrict is outlined by how a lot may be proven on the person’s browser machine.
Does Google Use Meta Description for Ranking?
The individual asking the query was particularly asking about including location title data to the meta description and if it might assist rankings.
Google’s John Mueller answered with a broader scope than simply including the situation title, his reply was about whether or not something within the meta description affected rankings.
This is the query requested:
“Does including the situation title within the meta description matter to Google when it comes to rating if the content material high quality is maintained?”
John Mueller answered:
“So the meta description is primarily used as a snippet within the search outcomes web page.
And that’s not one thing that we might use for rating.
But clearly, having a superb snippet on a search outcomes web page, that may make it extra fascinating for individuals to truly go to your web page after they see your web page rating within the search outcomes.”
Meta Description and web optimization
There’s loads to learn about HTML meta parts and this query is an effective instance of the worth of understanding HTML and the way they’re utilized by browsers and engines like google.
Understanding the background details about meta parts and the meta description tag specifically helps construct a greater understanding of how all of the items match collectively for web optimization.
Citation
Does Meta Description Matter for Rankings?
Watch John Mueller reply the query on the 26:47 mark within the video:
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-answers-if-meta-description-matters-for-rankings/449119/
