Meta description being ignored by Google

  • Resolved victorpietro

    (@victorpietro)


    3 years, 6 months ago

    Hello! First of all, I really like this plugin. Thanks.

    I’ve been noticing that, not only our website’s meta description is being ignored, but also our clients’ websites.

    When I search for “servicos nectho”, it shows some random text (whereas when I search for site:servicos.nectho.com.br, it seems to be working).

    Another example: our client’s website Madluz. Another random meta description…

    Now, searching about this, it doesn’t seem to be actually your fault. If I understood it correctly, Google seems to act like this quite ocasionally.

    I wonder if there is any way that I, somehow, enforce Google to use our designed meta descriptions? Or some plugin configuration maybe? Anything that could lead me in the right direction? I’ve made pretty sure to write relevant content in this description.

    One of the possibilities was using “nosnippet” attribute in each section of text, but unfortunately this is impracticable in our situation.

    As we work with web development, it’s kind of embarassing and unacceptable being unable to fix one of the most basic SEO setting ??

    Thanks in advance.

    • This topic was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by victorpietro.

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Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Plugin Author Sybre Waaijer

    (@cybr)

    Hello!

    If the search query doesn’t partially match the custom description, Google might return a section from the page.

    These issues are less likely to happen with languages Google understands, such as English and Spanish — recognizing synonyms and inflections. For example, if you search in English “assistance,” you may also get matched “service, services, serving, etc.”.

    To regain control, you may want to use focus keywords. You can do this through wit or use a tool that guides you. We have a premium one, aptly called Focus. Under the “Usage” tab, we explain how it works.

    Please mind that meta descriptions do not directly contribute to ranking — those do affect the click-through rate, which in turn does help with ranking… The gist is this: SEO is practically helping guide new users onto your website. If an auto-generated description can do that for you, you’re all set.

    Thread Starter victorpietro

    (@victorpietro)

    Hi there @cybr, thank you for your answer!

    What do you mean by using focus keywords through “wit”?

    Of course, meta descriptions don’t directly contribute to ranking – in a sense that it’s hard to quantify the results. But to me it seems very important, since some of our clients’ websites have a name unrelated to their niche.

    In my line of thought a quick description after a search result with relevant content would improve CTR, as you’ve mentioned, thus making the website more relevant because of more accesses, and therefore, improving its ranking…

    Plugin Author Sybre Waaijer

    (@cybr)

    Hi again!

    With “wit,” I mean that you understand the process of using focus keywords by heart — no guiding tools necessary ??

    And yes, you’re spot on about the descriptions — it’s why I chose the word “directly” carefully. It’s Google causing all the confusion by not being straightforward, making SEO a mystery to many unnecessarily. But, I think you’ve proven your astuteness and see through the fog.

    Thread Starter victorpietro

    (@victorpietro)

    Hi there @cybr! Thanks for you answer.

    Oh, of course, my bad on that – English is not my native language and sometimes I mess up.

    Well, it’s really unfortunate that Google acts like this. That does seem unnecessary.

    Once again, thanks for claryfying. ??

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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