Comments on: Google + Meta Keywords Tag ≠ Rankings? DUH! http://www.thesearchagents.com/2009/09/google-meta-keywords-tag-rankings-duh/ Online Marketing Intelligence Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:41:12 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mike S http://www.thesearchagents.com/2009/09/google-meta-keywords-tag-rankings-duh/comment-page-1/#comment-454 Mike S Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:38:27 +0000 http://www.thesearchagents.com/?p=2289#comment-454 "The fundamentals of Meta Description tag optimization are 1)... , and 2) length." Any chance you provide a source where we can read about the optimal length? “The fundamentals of Meta Description tag optimization are 1)… , and 2) length.”

Any chance you provide a source where we can read about the optimal length?

]]> By: David Waterman http://www.thesearchagents.com/2009/09/google-meta-keywords-tag-rankings-duh/comment-page-1/#comment-399 David Waterman Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:07:23 +0000 http://www.thesearchagents.com/?p=2289#comment-399 Right you are Mr. Scaglione. Since it was thought for many years that the Meta Description had significant value in regards to rankings, marketing text was significantly reduced in them, or at least pushed to the end. However, now there's the ability to actually build some strong messaging in Meta Descriptions since we don't need to focus so much on keyword counts. HOWEVER...the one big thing to remember is that the snippet that Google pulls in the SERPS MIGHT be the Meta Description...but it might not. Google pulls content to form the description based on the search query. So, if you search on "hot pink tights" and your website has a page that talks all about hot pink tights, but for some reason your Meta Description doesn't have the keyword phrase in it because you figured "Hey, the Meta Description doesn't mean a thang no mo, so I'm not going to waste space by shoving in a keyword phrase. So instead, I'm gonna write the best sales description EVER!", then there's a good chance your amazing sales description WON'T show up in the SERP. Why? Because your Meta Description, the description that is now laden with amazing sales copy, doesn't have the keyword phrase the search engine is looking for. So instead, random content is pulled from the site surrounding your usage of the term "hot pink tights" on the page. So what does this mean? It means you can write an amazing sales-based Meta Description for your page, but you still need to follow these 2 rules: 1) Make sure every page has a unique Meta Description 2) Make sure your Meta Description contains the primary keyword phrase you want that page to rank for. It's a sure-fire way to ensure the search engines will display the actual page description you want to show in the SERPs. Right you are Mr. Scaglione. Since it was thought for many years that the Meta Description had significant value in regards to rankings, marketing text was significantly reduced in them, or at least pushed to the end. However, now there’s the ability to actually build some strong messaging in Meta Descriptions since we don’t need to focus so much on keyword counts.

HOWEVER…the one big thing to remember is that the snippet that Google pulls in the SERPS MIGHT be the Meta Description…but it might not. Google pulls content to form the description based on the search query. So, if you search on “hot pink tights” and your website has a page that talks all about hot pink tights, but for some reason your Meta Description doesn’t have the keyword phrase in it because you figured “Hey, the Meta Description doesn’t mean a thang no mo, so I’m not going to waste space by shoving in a keyword phrase. So instead, I’m gonna write the best sales description EVER!”, then there’s a good chance your amazing sales description WON’T show up in the SERP. Why? Because your Meta Description, the description that is now laden with amazing sales copy, doesn’t have the keyword phrase the search engine is looking for. So instead, random content is pulled from the site surrounding your usage of the term “hot pink tights” on the page.

So what does this mean? It means you can write an amazing sales-based Meta Description for your page, but you still need to follow these 2 rules:

1) Make sure every page has a unique Meta Description
2) Make sure your Meta Description contains the primary keyword phrase you want that page to rank for. It’s a sure-fire way to ensure the search engines will display the actual page description you want to show in the SERPs.

]]> By: Rich Scaglione http://www.thesearchagents.com/2009/09/google-meta-keywords-tag-rankings-duh/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Rich Scaglione Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:56:47 +0000 http://www.thesearchagents.com/?p=2289#comment-398 I would also like to bring up the point that the meta description tag may not be as important as it once was for rankings, but it is still important for click thru's. You can and should use your meta description to grab the attention of the reader and encourage them to click. After all, what good is a high ranking position if nobody clicks. I would also like to bring up the point that the meta description tag may not be as important as it once was for rankings, but it is still important for click thru’s. You can and should use your meta description to grab the attention of the reader and encourage them to click. After all, what good is a high ranking position if nobody clicks.

]]> By: Chris http://www.thesearchagents.com/2009/09/google-meta-keywords-tag-rankings-duh/comment-page-1/#comment-394 Chris Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:34:39 +0000 http://www.thesearchagents.com/?p=2289#comment-394 Very interesting and great having all the tips in one place. Very interesting and great having all the tips in one place.

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