Search engine optimization might not be every marketerâs or business ownerâs favorite task, but it is definitely necessary. Thatâs exactly why you need to take care of your meta descriptions and keywords rather than overlooking them and hoping for the best. Hence, here are some practical writing and SEO tips for meta descriptions and keywords.
Why Do You Need Meta Descriptions and Keywords?
It goes without saying that meta descriptions and keywords are important. But while itâs obvious that keywords are needed for search rankings, not everyone understands why meta descriptions are necessary. Here are the three main reasons why you need meta descriptions:
Meta descriptions are pretty much mini ads for your web pages. They persuade a user to click on the link and visit your website.
Meta descriptions look better in search results than simply having the first sentences in your web page show up instead.
Meta descriptions (and titles) that are targeted to your audience can help you increase your click-through rate which, in turn, increases search rankings.
#1 Create Meta Descriptions for Every Web Page
First and foremost, you need to understand that you should create meta descriptions for every single web page on your website. It might take some time if you have a relatively big website, but it is absolutely necessary.
You can develop the habit of creating meta descriptions every time you create a new web page. If you are too busy to create meta descriptions for your current web pages, you can outsource the process by hiring a professional writer from the writing services reviews site Rated by Students. They will take care of it just as well as you would yourself.
#2 Avoid Using Duplicate Meta Descriptions
When writing meta descriptions, itâs a good idea to have a set of practices that you follow. For example, you might start every description with a question to hook your readers. However, you should never use duplicate meta descriptions for simplifying the process of creating the said descriptions. All your meta descriptions and titles must be unique.
#3 Aim for 135 to 160 Characters in Length
There is no set rule for the ideal length of a meta description. However, there is the fact that in search results, only around 135 to 160 characters will be displayed from your meta description. This means that you should fit into this frame if you want users to see your complete thought.
If you arenât good with writing shorter texts, you can seek professional help to aid you. For instance, you can hire an experienced writer from the custom writing reviews site Top
Writing Reviews who will be able to keep your meta descriptions concise.
#4 Use the Keywords You Are Targeting
On different web pages, you will be targeting different keywords â the same can be said about your meta descriptions and titles. When writing your meta descriptions, try to use the main keywords from your web page. Search engines will highlight the said keywords in search results and will help your descriptions stand out.
#5 Focus on Your Value Proposition
As mentioned earlier, meta descriptions are like mini ads for your web pages. This means that you should persuade potential readers to click on the link and visit your web page â all with the help of your meta description and title.
To do this, focus on your value proposition. Give your readers a reason to click on the link and visit your website. To craft the best meta descriptions, you can outsource the process by hiring professional writers from a good paper writer service. This will keep the quality of your meta descriptions consistently high and will always âsellâ your page to your audience.
#6 Donât Use Quotation Marks
This might be a weird tip, but you shouldnât use quotation marks in your meta descriptions. SEO meta descriptions are included in the HTML, so double quotation marks can end up causing problems for you. If you do want to use quotation marks, opt for ââ instead.
#7 Conclude Your Meta Descriptions with a CTA
To make your meta descriptions the most effective they can be, conclude them with a good CTA. Something along the lines of âcheck outâ, âreadâ, etc. can encourage your audience to click on the link and visit your web page.
#8 Be Honest with Your Target Audience
Donât try to trick or deceive your target audience in some way. If your web page has an article on one topic while you are describing something else in your meta description or title, users can quickly leave your website disappointed.
#9 Optimize Your Page Titles for Your Descriptions
Last but not least, donât forget to write your meta titles as well. If the title of your web page is already good (e.g. it is an article or some sort), then you can use the same wording for your meta title. Always keep the meta titles relevant both to your web pages and to the meta descriptions used for the said pages.
Final Words
To summarise, itâs not that hard to create good meta descriptions and titles for your web pages â and using the right keywords might even be easier than that. Just make sure to use the practices from this article, and you will have good meta descriptions across all the pages on your website.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle