Meta description and its influence on the SERPS

[waynestock]

Hi Hi,

on the On-Page Ranking Card I read:

"The meta description, while it does not influence rankings in the results, can still be valuable to employ to improve the click-through-rate of searchers from the results page and to provide context to those visitors about the page's topic/focus."

And Google confirms that it doesn't influence the results.

On the infografic on this page (text is in german), the say, it has a little relevance for the serps and that is what I experience, too. http://t3n.de/news/diese-faktoren-beeinflussen-365580/

What is you experience with meta description and serps?

André

[Keszi]

Hi André,

While Meta Descriptions really don't effect the Search Engine Rankings it can give a quality signal for your page, just as you quoted, by the click-through-rate.

If you think about it, it makes sense, if you get a high number of impressions in SERPs but you have a low CTR, what could cause it?

• Do you have an engaging Title?
• Do you have an engaging Description?

If you were a Search Engine and you see someone in the top 10 results for a highly searched query, but with a low CTR, would you let them stay there? (Underlining the fact that your motto contains: "make the web a better place").

If it was me, who can take that decision... I wouldn't let them stay there.

Both your Meta Title and Meta Description should describe the real intent of the specific page, of what you are trying to deliver there.

Write your meta title and meta description for your potential visitors and your CTR will grow.

I hope that helped,

Istvan