I have a site using a sitemap.xml, correctly configured etc etc for google and it has been in place for 2 months, however, within googles results, it shows a completely different description to that within the sitemap and that in the page code. The cached page shows the correct description but cannot work out why the description shown in the results is an old one from about one and a half years ago. Any ideas why this happened or how to flush it out?
Hvae you check if it is the description form dmoz / open directory that is used? Also, your meta description tag is more of a hint than anything else. Search engines aren't obligated to use it. It may also depend on the search query.
You are correct, it IS the DMOZ listing that is out of kilter with more recent changes, I have updated the listing. Thank you for your speedy advice
Actually, the description of what to display as part of the results is decided by Google, if you recall, the sitemap has no description field, I think you mean meta description, even that is optional, and ultimately Google decides what to display.
Yes, I meant the meta description for the website and also realised that the sitemap has no description in itself. As to google choosing what to display, I have always opted to use the meta description and it has always, without fail, displayed alongside all of my google results. I suppose that DMOZ can takes so long to actually get a listing to a website that by the time it is listed, the the website data (as in this case) is a little outdated. Particularly as a website is and should be ever evolving.