Term: "Meta Description"
Definition
A meta description is an HTML attribute that provides a concise summary of a webpage's content, typically around 150-160 characters in length. This summary appears below the page title in search engine results pages (SERPs) and serves as a preview snippet to inform users about the page's content before they click through to the site. The meta description is placed within the <head>
section of the HTML code, like this: <meta name="description" content="Your concise summary here.">
. While meta descriptions do not directly influence search engine rankings, they play a crucial role in click-through rates (CTR). A well-crafted meta description can attract more users to click on the link by clearly and compellingly conveying the relevance and value of the content. To optimize a meta description, it should be unique for each page, accurately reflect the page's content, and include targeted keywords naturally. Additionally, a strong call-to-action can enhance its effectiveness. By effectively utilizing meta descriptions, websites can improve their visibility in search results, drive more organic traffic, and ultimately enhance user engagement and satisfaction.