What is your experience so far, with the new Google's Meta Description length up to 320 characters?

[VeroBrain]

I updated a few home pages and some landing pages, so far so good!

Although, I wish to know about other experiences, before continue updating. Thanks for your comments!

[Dalessi]

Hello,

I am in the process of updating Meta tags and top of page content to try and get relevant text and description tags to show in Google listings. On some of my pages Google uses my Mets "Description" tags and on many others, Google is using the content from the top of the pages. I am not sure how or why which one gets used so I am working on both tags and top of page content.

Best Regards

[VeroBrain]

Hello William,

Thanks for the input.
I noticed that sometimes Google chooses text randomly. Till now I cannot find a pattern, sometimes from the first paragraph, others from the middle of the page. Although, regarding the pages already SEO optimized, I mean with adecuate page title, meta description and h1, it is showing the written meta description.

Best regards

[brooksmanley]

My agency just launched a new website and in the process updated many of our meta descriptions. Though in optimizing, we realized some really just didn't need to be any longer than 160ish characters.

However, for other pages, such as our services pages, the additional characters gave us a chance to introduce the page, detail what the user can find, and sort of "preview" the call to action.

We've already seen a little increase in CTR for some of our services pages.

Best of luck!

[EGOL]

"really just didn't need to be any longer than 160ish characters"

Thanks!

That's a very interesting thought.  Especially if you can do effective "short and punchy" descriptions.  If you ramble too long it stinks it up. 

[brooksmanley]

Agreed.

I don't have any data to prove it's usefulness, but there's something really nice and satisfying about a solid, short, and effective meta description.

[EGOL]

Agreed, and sometimes there can be power in a one word title - both for optimization and communication.

[VeroBrain]

Hi Brooks,

Thanks for the input. It is great to know that it is also working in your ecosystem.