Google Answers if Meta Description Matters for Rankings
Google’s John Mueller answered the issue about irrespective of whether a meta description can be used to affect the lookup rankings.
It’s a excellent problem because Google advises to use distinctive meta descriptions on world wide web web pages. So there is some sort of influence but is that influence similar to rankings? John Mueller answers that issue.
Meta Factor
The meta tag is formally identified as a meta component. The meta ingredient is applied to describe (stand for) document-amount information about a internet website page.
In buy to describe distinct qualities of the internet page the meta element (like all HTML features) has characteristics which variety of extends the meta component so that it can offer a distinct variety of details to a world wide web browser or to a website crawler (like Googlebot).
For case in point:
- A meta robots tag communicates to crawlers.
- A meta refresh tag communicates to a browser.
There are quite a few other meta tags that converse directly to lookup engines and browsers:
- meta identify=”viewport”
- meta http-equiv=”refresh”
- meta name=”google-website-verification”
- meta identify=”googlebot” articles=”notranslate”
Meta component facts is details that is not intended for internet site website visitors to specifically see (whilst it can be seen indirectly through the lookup outcomes).
Meta Description
The W3C is the specifications-creating entire body dependable for defining HTML (amid other items)
The formal W3C specification for the meta description tag says that the meta description is developed for use by search engines.
“The worth will have to be a free of charge-form string that describes the web page. The worth have to be ideal for use in a listing of webpages, e.g. in a lookup engine.
There will have to not be extra than one particular meta component with its identify attribute established to the value description for every document.”
Google’s Use of Meta Descriptions
Google’s documentation of snippets notes that meta descriptions are employed for creating research success snippets.
If a meta description is thoroughly utilized then the meta description exhibited in the research outcomes will communicate to the likely internet site customer what the site is about and give them an concept of what to anticipate if they click on the url and take a look at the site.
There is no limit on how very long a meta description can be.
On the other hand there is a limit on how significantly of the meta description that search engines will decide on to present. The limit is outlined by how considerably can be demonstrated on the user’s browser gadget.
Does Google Use Meta Description for Rating?
The human being inquiring the query was particularly inquiring about including site name facts to the meta description and if it would assistance rankings.
Google’s John Mueller answered with a broader scope than just incorporating the spot title, his respond to was about no matter if something in the meta description afflicted rankings.
This is the concern asked:
“Does adding the location identify in the meta description matter to Google in phrases of rating if the material top quality is preserved?”
John Mueller answered:
“So the meta description is generally utilised as a snippet in the search benefits website page.
And that’s not one thing that we would use for ranking.
But definitely, getting a very good snippet on a search success web site, that can make it far more intriguing for men and women to essentially take a look at your web page when they see your web site ranking in the look for final results.”
Meta Description and Web optimization
There is a good deal to know about HTML meta features and this concern is a great illustration of the benefit of comprehension HTML and how they are employed by browsers and lookup engines.
Knowledge the qualifications information and facts about meta elements and the meta description tag in specific will help create a improved knowledge of how all the items fit together for Search engine optimisation.
Quotation
Does Meta Description Matter for Rankings?
Check out John Mueller remedy the query at the 26:47 mark in the online video: