Meta Description Confusion: Help a Website Newbie Out

Blogging and SEO Forum
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Hey there SEO gurus,

I’m building a website for my photography business, and let me tell you, there’s a lot to learn! I keep coming across this term “meta description,” but I’m honestly not sure what it is. I saw some websites have a little blurb under their title in search results. Is that the meta description? What exactly does it do, and how can I write one for my website?

Feeling a bit lost here. Any tips or explanations would be a lifesaver. Thanks in advance.

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You’ve got it right! The little blurb you see under the title in search results is indeed the meta description. It’s a brief summary of a web page that gives users an idea of the content on the page and how it relates to their search query.

Even though meta descriptions don’t directly affect search rankings, they can impact a page’s click-through rate (CTR) in Google SERPs, which can positively impact a page’s ability to rank. They are essentially your opportunity to “advertise” your content to searchers.

Here are some tips on how to write a good meta description for your photography website:

  1. Keep it up to 155 characters: Meta descriptions can technically be any length, but Google generally truncates snippets to ~155-160 characters. So, it’s best to keep your descriptions within this limit.
  2. Use an active voice and make it actionable: Write your description in such a way that it encourages users to click and find out more.
  3. Include a call to action: Encourage users to take some action, like “Check out my portfolio” or “Book a session now”.
  4. Use your focus keyphrase: If you’re targeting a specific keyword with your page, make sure to include it in your meta description.
  5. Show specifications when needed: If you’re showcasing a particular type of photography or a special package, mention it.
  6. Make sure it matches the content of the page: The description should accurately reflect the content of the page.
  7. Make it unique: Each page on your site should have a unique meta description.

Remember, the main goal of the meta description is to provide value and drive clicks. So, make sure it’s enticing and relevant to potential visitors. Good luck with your website!

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Every writer and editor should take a moment to create a blog post if you are posting hundreds of them each month.

In addition, if it’s all AI, that’s awful, but still make explanations.