Best SEO Firm Practices: Meta Descriptions

Does it feel like you create a lot of great content but you still aren’t seeing the ROI that you would like? When it comes to your SEO, details count. Here at Website Depot, we do everything we can to be the best SEO firm for the “big” things as well as the “small” things (that really aren’t so small). Case in point: meta descriptions. 

The importance of crafting unique, keyword-rich meta descriptions for each page of your site cannot be overstated. 

They provide an excellent opportunity to improve user experience, increase your click-through rate (CTR), and help define your brand’s online presence.

The Importance of Meta Descriptions 

You may have heard that Google doesn’t use meta descriptions to rank your page. Even so, Google still refers to it to comprehend the content better. The description becomes part of how your page is indexed. 

Think of the meta description as your first opportunity to engage a potential visitor. It could be the first thing someone notices when they see your name/brand/site/etc. 

A well-written description may be the difference between someone clicking on your page or scrolling past it. Meta descriptions can turn search engine users into website visitors, and those visitors into loyal customers.

How Can I Better Write Meta Descriptions? 

The key to writing a great meta description is to think of it as your “elevator pitch” for that particular page. “Elevator pitch” means: if you had just one elevator ride with someone who could give you a lot of money for your idea, could you explain it to them and sell them on it in a brief period of time? 

The more precise you are, the more likely you are to capture your audience’s attention.

Writing Meta Descriptions in a Pinch 

Remember: your main keyword is your main keyword for a reason: it matters. So, put it early in your meta description. 

Positioning your primary keyword near the beginning of your meta description ensures both users and search engines immediately understand what your content is about. It also sets a clear tone for the page, grabbing attention right from the start.

Don’t go too long, either. Stick to between 140-160 characters for desktop and 120 characters for mobile to ensure the entire message is visible. A meta description that exceeds 160 characters will get cut off in search results.

Find a unique way to appeal to your user’s emotions in every meta description. Avoid copying large chunks of text from your content as your meta description—craft something fresh.

Tailor your meta descriptions to the audience you’re targeting. Consider their demographics, pain points, and knowledge level. If you know what problem your content solves, make it clear in the description.

Each page should have its distinct meta description to prevent confusion and dilution of your SEO efforts. Even the best SEO firm can’t save you if that happens. 

So, to avoid it, engage users emotionally by addressing their pain points or offering a unique benefit. Search engines favor unique content, and so do users.

So, if you’re doing that, then you know you can’t engage in “keyword stuffing,” putting in too many keywords. 

Stay on topic, too. The meta description should be directly connected to the page’s content and title tags. A user skimming search results needs to understand what your page offers in an instant. Avoid vague or promotional language and, instead, offer concise, clear descriptions of the content. 

Make sure the meta description outlines what benefit the user will gain by clicking on your link. 

The Best SEO Firm to Help Your Company Grow 

Good meta descriptions will help your content today as well as for a long time to come. Remember: even if Google decides to rewrite the meta description for its search results, it still uses your provided content to understand what the page is about. 

This is key in helping your site get indexed properly and ensuring it reaches your target audience.

By following these best practices for meta descriptions, you can enhance not only your SEO efforts but also your user engagement. 

At Website Depot, we believe in maximizing every opportunity for your website to shine, and meta descriptions are an essential part of that process. So take the time to craft them strategically—it’s worth the effort!

Writing meta descriptions is just one of the many, many forms of content I create here at WD. Blogs, service pages, city pages, videos, podcasts, TikToks – if there’s a kind of content that can help your business grow, the team I’m part of here can get the job done right. 

That said, there’s more to what we do here for our clients than just content. As an omnichannel digital marketing agency, we can help you with everything related to not just SEO but online marketing. 

To see how we can help your company, schedule a free consultation with us by calling or shooting us a message.