Compelling meta descriptions are essential for your content, and your page’s click-through rate on Google search engine results pages (SERP).
Have you been stuck at a place while writing trying to figure out how to put one or two sentences together to write engaging and captivating meta descriptions that will help your content gain visibility and clicks?
If this resonates with you, read on to find out how you can write your meta descriptions in just a few seconds.
What is a Meta Description?
A meta description is an HTML meta tag under the title of a post that provides a concise summary of a web page.
Meta descriptions in a short definition tell you everything about the particular web page. Usually, readers check the post’s title first, then the meta description next to know if the page will provide good results for their search.
The title tags are blue on the search engine results display, while meta descriptions are directly under the title tag.
Why do You Need to Write a Meta Description?
The whole essence of writing a good meta description is to convince people to take action to bring them to your website. Therefore, it includes the page’s focus keyword and attracts users to click on the post.
How to Write a Perfect Meta Description
To learn how to write attractive meta descriptions, you need to understand that users will visit your page based on the content and quality of the meta description.
The following points will guide you in structuring your sentences to compel users to click on your webpage.
Keep on reading!
1. Add a call to action.
The addition of a call to action in your meta description prompts the reader to take any action on your page. They help people to have a good understanding of what your page is all about and what you expect them to do.
Examples of call to action are:
- Read on
- Discover new items
- Learn more
- Sign up
- Buy now
- Visit the shop
The list of calls to action is endless. But, you know what your business or website does and what you want people to do. So, write your call to action with a goal in mind.
2. Add your focus keyword.
Adding your focus keyword to the meta description is good for visibility as it will help the ranking of your page by search engines. However, be sure not to stuff all your keywords in the meta description. It should flow naturally.
Focus keywords could be; top freelancing practices, websites for freelancing, etc. For example, if you are writing an article about freelancing, your focus keywords could be; best freelancing websites, how to make money as a freelancer.
3. Keep to the actual length.
In the real sense, your meta description can be any length, but the recommended length is between 50 to 160 words. However, do not go above 160 words, as Google truncates words at the above-given number in your meta description, so keep your sentences at one or two.
4. Make it appealing and unique.
Your meta description could be within the optimal length and even contain a focus keyword but may not appeal to readers. But, again, good research will help you know how to keep your meta description unique and engaging.
Don’t just use whatever other people are using; tailor your words according to your content and target audience.
5. Trigger emotion
You need to pay attention to your readers’ mindset and trigger their emotions through your writings. Let your content give them 1000 reasons to click on your search page.
Emotions could be sad, happy, weak, excitement, anxiety, curiosity, etc.
6. Avoid duplicating meta descriptions
Duplicating meta descriptions is not suitable for your page’s communication and understanding. If you intend to rank a particular page, do not repeat meta descriptions already used before because the click-through rate positively impacts your page’s ability to rank.
Try something new and engaging so that Google will not consider your web page a low-quality page.
7. Avoid stuffing keywords
As much as it is good to include keywords, overusing them will not help your ranking on Google.
Google suggests that the stuffing of keywords or phrases looks spammy to search engines and readers and that there is no point in actually stuffing keywords.
For example, if your webpage is about loans, instead of writing; ‘quick loans with no collateral before acquiring the loan and examples of fast loan companies, you can make it shorter and simple to read.
So rewriting the above meta description without getting the readers confused, your can write;
‘List of loan companies with no collateral.’
You can see that this meta description is easy to read and communicates better to readers. Also, it has all the keywords that it needs to attract readers to click on the search result.
8. Let it contain the solution and challenge.
With this, it quickly helps to understand that your webpage will give them everything they need to know about a particular topic that they are seeking to learn.
So they will be eager to click to find solutions to their problems.
Examples of Meta Description
The snippet below shows a clear example of a well-written meta description. The meta description is in black right under the title tag.
Final thought
HubSpot advises you to think of your meta description as a pitching deck for your webpage. You must remember that your meta descriptions are short sentences that tell readers the content of your page.