Google uses meta description?

that's wrong

if there is no meta description then only it displays the text from the content of the site.

 

Not, what he said is not wrong, and what you said is twice wrong. There are 2 cases where G will not use the meta, even if it exists:

a) if it doesn't match the query, or
b) if it happens to use an ODP description instead.

-Michael

 

What is ODP?

 

Dmoz. The open directory project

 

Google will display the meta description if it relates to the search term. They will default to the dmoz description if you don't have the meta noodp tag. So yes you should still use the meta description and put your keywords in it. It may not have any weight on rankings but you can control the description that shows in the SERPs. A good description may improve the CTR of your link in the SERPS.

 

Oh, alright. I want my site in there but they won't put it in there because they don't like me

 

Don't worry about it. It's not a very important backlink and it converts to zero traffic.

 

There has always been confusion on if Google uses the meta tag data. Some say Google uses the meta description tag, some say they don't. Most say, Google doesn't use the meta keywords tag. In any event, Google's Vanessa Fox said that you should use the meta description tag.

 

but what i would say it putting metas is better than leaving it blank anyway.

 

Yep, another unsubstantiated claim from a successful SEO pro and webmaster.

Show me why you are such a f*cking authority, and maybe I'll believe your bullshit. Looking at your resume, you are definitely COLD shit.

 

Has anyone noticed google ignoring the meta description tag lately and using the first bit of text on each page as the search results snippet??

 

Still nothing to back up your dubious and unsubstantiated claim. Hint: Insulting the person asking the question does not answer the question.

Now, do you have anything? Anything at all? Or is this just your usual hot air?

The displayed snippet will depend on the specific search query used.

 

If the specific keyword searched for is not in your meta description, Google may ignore your description and scrape a blurb of text from your content that contains those specific keywords.

But if the search contains words, or variations of them (plurals, ing's, etc..) that appear in the description tag, Google will preferentially show the description as the snippet.

As for using the ODP data, i don't know.

And I recall seeing a case of a mash of description tag and scraped text from content. I think this might occur if the description tag is really short. I got no evidence of this, just something i recall seeing at some point in time.

As for meta keywords, I've seen no evidence (yet) that they have any weight. Nor have I seen concrete evidence that they have absolutely 0 weight. If its out there could someone point me to it.

So I still add the keywords tag, in the off chance that it has 0.01% of weight. lol

 

The meta description tag IS used. Be sure to use the same text for your meta description tag in your DMOZ listings, for this will increase the authority of your site and build the power of your site considerably regarding the description used and relevancy of your text in comparison to your meta text. Follow the laws of TrustRank and be sure to build onto your TrustRank by appealing to highly-intelligent users.

 

That's not what's being debated here. The question is HOW and for what purpose(s) is it being used?

Pardon me? What "meta description tag in your DMOZ listings"? Since the site descriptions are written by or edited by DMOZ editors and only DMOZ editors have any control over that description, just how do you suggest that webmasters write their own?

"Follow The laws of TrustRank"? Care to tell us what the hell that means exactly?

 

Ok, it happened... ranked for a phrase used only in the meta description, and not on the page itself:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=chonknata

So, yes, Google does indeed use the meta description for text matching on actual rankings, not just for what to display.

-Michael

 

Now he and others will understand that Google uses Meta Description also!

 

http://www.sciseek.com/search/search.php?Terms=Chemistry

You have a backlink here from one of the other pages in that Google search page quoting your meta description phrase and pointing to your page.

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=3544857&postcount=28

You also have a backlink in the above DP post pointing to your page with the word chonknata as anchor text.

Your "test" doesn't demonstrate that the page ranked for that term because of the word in the meta description at all.

 

I have another example for you!


Here is my site www.livepr.info

Ranks 25 for the keyword Check Page rank of Internal pages


The site was launched only 7 days ago and the keyword is only in my description

Here is the snap shot of it!

Now you would understand that Google uses Meta description also





It is only a matter of time before I get on to top for that keyword!

 

Ok, and this is why I asked before if you were able to follow this or not. I also had a backlink with the term [chocktootlebunnies] in it, and the site does not rank for that. The SciSeek page you linked to is not mine and not part of this test.

Therefore, a link alone was not enough, and the meta description had to have been factored in.

-Michael