Meta description tag in rss xml file?

[scanlin]

The SEOmoz crawl diagnostic tool is complaining that I'm missing a meta description tag from a file that is an RSS xml file. In my <channel>section I do have a <description>tag. Is this a bug in the SEOmoz tool or do I need to add another tag to satisify the warning?</description></channel>

[StalkerB]

What happens when you view source? Is there a tag?

If it's their I'd imagine you're all right, if not, then you'll need to add it.

[scanlin]

Hi Barry,

Here's the URL

I don't know if .xml files are suppose to have a meta description tag, or if they use just the 'description' tag within the 'channel' block.

[StalkerB]

Damnit, the one time I don't ctrl+c before hitting submit, grrr.

Anyway, I misunderstood, I though you were pulling descriptions from a .xml file not having your feed crawled.

Do you really want your feed to be indexed? Just duplicate content isn't it?

I'd think about blocking bots from crawling it (though please seek a second opinion first).

And to answer your actual questions the RSS description is not the same as the meta description (though I'm not sure if adding it will stop readers parsing the feed).

[scanlin]

You're right, I probably should block bots from crawling that xml file (yes, it duplicates what is on my blog). On the other hand, it may be a bug in SEOmoz's crawler that it's reporting a warning about a missing meta description tag in a .xml file, too. (so FYI SEOmoz, if you're listening...).

[Guest]

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