Meta Description On Categories

[brentmitchell]

Is it really necessary to add a meta description to your categories and admin pages? I don't even have that option with my Genesis platform. When i received my first crawl test, those are the things that stick out as errors...

[EGOL]

If you don't have a meta description, Google will grab some relevant text from your page and display it instead.  I know a couple people who would rather allow google to choose the description, however, I would rather craft it myself in an attempt to elicit clicks.

I don't know anything about Genesis... but if it does not provide for something as important as a description tag I would be wondering what else is missing?

[PHDL]

I would agree with EGOL. Custom meta descriptions are important for all pages (at least the main ones if you don't have time for all of them). It's all about user experience and when one of your web pages displays in the SERPs, it's important for users to be able to quickly scan the snippet of what that page is about and if it's what they are searching for. EGOL's right, the more content you control the better from a SEO perspective because you know what keywords your targeting and how your content should be described.

[Thos003]

Take the time and do it right. Add your "description meta tags".

While it may not directly affect rankings it can indirectly affect rankings. You want the description tag to add a little bait on your hook for the searcher. Google monitors CTRs and therefore having a higher click through because of better description will improve your rankings.

[brentmitchell]

thanks for all the input, but do the search engines really find author pages, tags and admin pages? those are the ones that are showing errors...