Change descriptive Google Text

Jack Franklin · #1 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 08:18

Hey all,

When I search for my site, CSS Trickery, in google, it comes up first (

) but, the descriptive text is

Quote:

CSS Trickery is proudly powered by WordPress Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS). Theme by Bob. Content not to be published anywhere else without Permission.

How do I go about changing this to something like 'CSS Trickery is a website designed to spread CSS knowledge and enhance CSS skills.'

Thanks,

Jack

dangergeek · #2 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 08:38

I was tempted not to answer this becasue there are some proper SEO ninjas on this site who could probably answer better. However it was fun to come to work this morning and actually find some unanswered threads on this forum!

Please correct me if i am wrong but I would say it displays that message because google is searcing for the phrase 'ccs trickery' which only appears in the footer and as the page title.

If you change your meta desciption tag

Quote:

to

Quote:

This should sort it.

Jack Franklin · #3 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 08:47

Hey I have done that but nothing happened. Could you check on your google and see please?

dangergeek · #4 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 08:51

Getting the same message. Maybe google needs to re-spider first

Jack Franklin · #5 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 09:02

Yes true. I'll leave it for now and check it again later. How long do you think Google takes to spider again?

Aso · #6 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 10:43

It depends on your sites importance to Google. Some sites will be crawled more frequently than others (sites like BBC and Youtube are crawled daily), but most can be between 4 and 6 weeks

However, when Google re-crawls your site it will still not necessarily display your meta description in the results. Whether your description is displayed or not, like dangergeek says, will depend on it's relevance to the search.

If Google can find a snippet more relevant to the search within your page content, then it may well end up displaying that instead. A short read on search result snippets explains a few factors.

Also, make sure your meta descriptions reflect the page content, with a fluid description. You've got about 160 characters to work with, so make the most of it!

What about something like this?

Quote:

Get the latest CSS tips and tricks, with advice and tutorials to suit all levels. Learn the techniques and master the art that is, CSS Trickery

Also make sure each post has it's own description (All In One SEO plugin for Wordpress can do just that)

MikeHopley · #7 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 11:46

There's no need to put your site name in your meta description. Actually, it's a little pointless.

alexgeek · #8 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 14:27

Mike wouldn't it sort of help with boosting for the word "CSS" since the name is "CSS Trickery"?
I could understand it being pointless if it was a totally unrelated name though.

Jack Franklin · #9 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by aso186

It depends on your sites importance to Google. Some sites will be crawled more frequently than others (sites like BBC and Youtube are crawled daily), but most can be between 4 and 6 weeks

However, when Google re-crawls your site it will still not necessarily display your meta description in the results. Whether your description is displayed or not, like dangergeek says, will depend on it's relevance to the search.

If Google can find a snippet more relevant to the search within your page content, then it may well end up displaying that instead. A short read on search result snippets explains a few factors.

Also, make sure your meta descriptions reflect the page content, with a fluid description. You've got about 160 characters to work with, so make the most of it!

What about something like this?
Also make sure each post has it's own description (All In One SEO plugin for Wordpress can do just that)

I have the plug in

And use it for each post.

On typing in 'css trickery' one of the post comes second! Thanks for the description, might have to use it

Jack

MikeHopley · #10 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 14:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexgeek

Mike wouldn't it sort of help with boosting for the word "CSS" since the name is "CSS Trickery"?

Yes, but simply "CSS" would be just as good.

Note also that the description has no effect on rankings. It just affects the description under your page title in the search results page.

My point is merely that there's no need to repeat your site name. That should be part of your page title. So the format I use is something like this:

Title: Page title | Website name

Description: short description of the page, focusing on what benefits it offers to the reader/user.

alexgeek · #11 (**permalink**) Dec 21st, 2007, 14:56

Touché, thanks Mike.

Jack Franklin · #12 (**permalink**) Dec 23rd, 2007, 09:16

Thanks all, just like to update you that it now works:

Quote:

CSS Trickery

Get the latest CSS tips and tricks, with advice and tutorials to suit all levels. Learn the techniques and master the art that is, CSS Trickery.
www.csstrickery.co.uk/ - 14k - Cached - Similar pages

Thanks for all your help.

[SOLVED]

Jack Franklin · #13 (**permalink**) Dec 23rd, 2007, 21:28

Ok it has now changed back

How weird.

Jack Franklin · #14 (**permalink**) Dec 23rd, 2007, 21:29

Also, its more weird because the theme is mine, so why is the text still saying that?

simonb · #15 (**permalink**) Dec 24th, 2007, 08:57

This is more a Seo Problem with your rank
After looking at you code there is no H1 Tag, There is a title tag in the body tag.

And with the all in one seo pack make your home page title more keywordy

Jack Franklin · #16 (**permalink**) Dec 24th, 2007, 09:41

I use the All in One SEO.

simonb · #17 (**permalink**) Dec 24th, 2007, 12:42

in the options you should make you title more keywordy

Aso · #18 (**permalink**) Dec 24th, 2007, 14:15

I agree with Simon, Jack. Something like

Quote:

CSS Trickery - CSS Tutorials, Tips & Tricks for All Levels

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Change descriptive Google Text