On-page SEO · Beginner

Meta description

A meta description is a short summary of a page in its HTML. Search engines often show it under the title in results. It doesn't directly affect rankings, but a good one earns more clicks.

By Thryv StudioUpdated

Category
On-page SEO
Level
Beginner
Element
<meta name="description" content="…">
Shown up to
About 920 pixels on desktop (roughly 150 to 160 characters)
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What is a meta description?

<meta name="description" content="Waterproof trail shoes with a wide toe box. Free returns within 30 days.">

Search engines may show it as the snippet under your title. Google often writes its own snippet from the page when it thinks another passage matches the query better.

How to write a good one

  1. Summarize the page in one or two sentences.
  2. Include the main keyword naturally; Google bolds matching words.
  3. Give a reason to click: a benefit, a detail, a next step.
  4. Keep it within about 150 to 160 characters.
  5. Write a unique one for every important page.

Frequently asked questions

Does the meta description affect rankings?

No, but it affects how many searchers click, which is why it's worth writing well.

Why doesn't Google use my description?

Google shows the text it thinks best answers each query. Descriptions that summarize the page clearly are used more often.

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