Duplicate meta descriptions

[elaineryan]

Hi all,

I'm using Yoast's SEO plugin and when I run a On Page report card here on SEOMOZ it says there are 2 descriptions tags

I've been trying to fix this but can't (I'm new!)

Anyone any ideas on this?

Thanks

Elaine

[Nobody1560986989723]

Hi there!

What you need to do is note down which two pages are causing the duplicate META DESCRIPTION and then log into Wordpress and go and edit those posts or pages.

At the bottom of the page editor are boxes for title and meta description, so you will need to change one or both of them and then republish the page.

Let me know if you need screenshots as I have a couple of clients who we use Yoast's SEO plugin as a part of managing the on-site SEO.

Thanks,

Martin

[elaineryan]

Hi Martin

Thanks for coming back to me so quickly!  I don't think there are different pages causing the problem.  I've looked at it again.

My theme has an SEO description box, as does Yoast's plugin.  When I do not use Yoast, and run a page report there, it comes up with a tick on the box, saying that I do not have a 2 meta descriptions.

I am guessing the problem is with my theme (having SEO already in it).  God help us all, at the moment I am in the header php having a look at that.  I am not a tech person, I'm a psychologist, so that should tell me loud and clear "Get out of the PHP!

I have just emailed the theme support to see if there is a way to disable their SEO, as I want to continue with Yoast.

I should say that it is not showing up in google webmaster tools.  It shows no errors or problems with the site

Thanks again for posting

[Nobody1560986989723]

Hmmm. Which URLs is SEOmoz saying are containing the duplicate meta description?

And have a look in Wordpress under 'plugins' and see if there are two 'SEO' plugins, as you might be able to disable one if one has shipped with the theme you're using.

Another experiment might be to temporarily apply a different theme and re-run the SEOmoz tool and see if you still have duplicate META DESCRIPTIONs as that would help you to see if it is the theme causing the problem.

[elaineryan]

Hi Martin

You're very kind to help.  I checked, theres only one SEC plugin and every single url on the site was showing duplicate meta descriptions according to SEOMOZ tools.  This is resolved when I don't use Yoast description.

[Nobody1560986989723]

Maybe for now then, use the Description you can provide via the theme you're using and use Yoast for the other bits?

[elaineryan]

Hi Martin

That's what I am doing now, going through pages and taking out the description and using Yoast for everything else.  Love his Plugin.

Thanks again for all your time and help

elaine

[Nobody1560986989723]

No problem, glad I could help - and I agree the Yoast plugin is a good one but if you're a paying member of SEOmoz, follow up using it with the on-page optimiser so you have a variety of angles covered.