Practical Tips to Create Effective Meta Descriptions

by Kristen White Blogger

A meta description is a 155-character HTML snippet, giving a detailed summary of a website’s page content. It is the description shown by search engines after a search is done. When investing in an outbound lead generation service, you should always inquire about their strategies to strengthen your meta descriptions.

What Meta Descriptions Do?

Known as an HTML tag, a meta description looks exactly like an HTML code. It convinces readers to click your website’s link. Meta descriptions don’t directly help rank your site, but through click-through-rates, they persuade Google to raise your search engine ranking. A specialist with an outbound lead generation service can help create interesting and convincing meta descriptions.

What Makes the Perfect Meta Description?

Meta descriptions must have certain features to be effective. The best meta descriptions are:

●About 155 characters—there is no specified length for meta descriptions but 155-160 is recommended for best user experience. Provided it conveys the message and has less than 155 characters, it should trigger conversions.

●Actively written—a good Meta description will actively address the reader, encouraging them to take action.

●Contain a call to action—the best descriptions will also include a persuading call to action.

●Has a target keyword—a meta description that includes the target keyword will be favored by Google. It will be highlighted on search results, making the link to your website irresistible.

●Consistent with your website’s content—if your meta descriptions don’t direct readers to the page content with the same information, chances are high, Google will “finalize” you. Google considers this kind of description a violation of their terms because it misleads readers. Even if Google does not finalize you, making this mistake will lead to increased bounce rates.

●Uniquely Crafted— don’t just copy meta descriptions from your competitors and expect to sell. Using the same content in other pages on your website as meta descriptions is not advised. Making descriptions unique will make your descriptions stand out to users and search engines.

If all of this seems confusing, you can hire a local marketing agency in Phoenix to assist you with creating meta descriptions.

What Powerful Meta Descriptions Do

Powerful Meta descriptions will feature all of the above characteristics. They will be interesting and convincing enough to give readers a reason to click.

●They convince readers to take action — once they come across powerful and persuasive meta descriptions, readers are convinced to click the links for your specific web pages.

●Will encourage reading — powerful meta descriptions won’t bore readers, but instead encourage them to keep reading. Just make sure they’re not too long.

●They use active but not commanding voice — the most effective meta descriptions use an active but not commanding voice. They address the reader directly, convincing them to take action, but don’t do so in a commanding tone.

●They address the keywords effectively — Powerful meta descriptions will include the keyword and connect readers to content that describe that keyword. Creating effective meta descriptions containing the target keyword ensures your brand and business get noticed and sell better.