Have you started extending your meta descriptions?

[ContentWriter]

Hi, fellow BHW members!

We've been monitoring this update about the length of meta descriptions since it became one of the trending topics in the SEO community since November this year.

At the moment, we still keep our meta descriptions between 130 and 156 characters because Yoast SEO has not made an update yet on the maximum character count that would give us the green SEO signal. It's just most of our clients have gotten used to seeing that green SEO signal lit when they check.

We understand that a meta description is not a ranking factor, and this has been confirmed by Google. However, just like what other bloggers have already mentioned, a good meta description helps the users decide on whether they will click your article or not over the ones that are ahead of you on SERPs.

How about you? Did you already start extending your meta descriptions up to 300 characters regardless of whether Yoast SEO is still following the 130-156 character count limit?

Jaycee

 

[skeye]

I have on some pages, because Google fetched descriptions for some of my pages from random places. I see it happens a lot, example:

and how it should be:

 

[jstover77]

I have on some pages, because Google fetched descriptions for some of my pages from random places. I see it happens a lot, example:

and how it should be:

Google has been doing this for years. This is one reason I sometimes leave the meta description tag blank (mostly on content rich pages), as Google will pull most relevant match to the search query and highlight keyword within the snippet (better for CTRs).

The NYtimes snippet is strange, because they are pulling from the footer. I've seen this before, but not often. This is one of the reasons why I try to always have some kind of static content...even if the pages is partially dynamic.

 

[skeye]

Google has been doing this for years. This is one reason I sometimes leave the meta description tag blank (mostly on content rich pages), as Google will pull most relevant match to the search query and highlight keyword within the snippet (better for CTRs).

The NYtimes snippet is strange, because they are pulling from the footer. I've seen this before, but not often. This is one of the reasons why I try to always have some kind of static content...even if the pages is partially dynamic.

Snippets like the on nytimes are extremely common now, I've dozens only today. Google want to show longer descriptions and has no idea what to show, hence this,

 

[jstover77]

Snippets like the on nytimes are extremely common now, I've dozens only today. Google want to show longer descriptions and has no idea what to show, hence this,

Still working out the kinks I guess

 

[ContentWriter]

Google has been doing this for years. This is one reason I sometimes leave the meta description tag blank (mostly on content rich pages), as Google will pull most relevant match to the search query and highlight keyword within the snippet (better for CTRs).

The NYtimes snippet is strange, because they are pulling from the footer. I've seen this before, but not often. This is one of the reasons why I try to always have some kind of static content...even if the pages is partially dynamic.

Hi, @jstover77. Google explains that meta descriptions are pulled dynamically. They recommend that we still write a meta description for a better CTR.

 

[ContentWriter]

There we go. Yoast SEO made an update.

 

[jstover77]

Hi, @jstover77. Google explains that meta descriptions are pulled dynamically. They recommend that we still write a meta description for a better CTR.

If I believed everything Google said, I'd be poor.

 

[ContentWriter]

If I believed everything Google said, I'd be poor.

Haha. Whether it's Google or not, due diligence is encouraged.
As far as meta descriptions are concerned, Google's recommendation on meta descriptions works for us and our clients.

 

[don chino]

Haven't rushed to change them yet, probably will leave it as is and make it 300 for new projects and new metas. It seems good if you're after a lot of kw's or want to express a longer statement to search visitors, but maybe shorter description better for eye to catch?

 

[ContentWriter]

Haven't rushed to change them yet, probably will leave it as is and make it 300 for new projects and new metas. It seems good if you're after a lot of kw's or want to express a longer statement to search visitors, but maybe shorter description better for eye to catch?

I find the extended meta description's character count limit favorable especially when I want to write questions that could invoke emotions.