Duplicate meta descriptions are meta descriptions which can be the identical for 2 or extra pages in your web site.
A meta description is an HTML tag that holds a brief abstract of a webpage’s content material. Serps like Google typically use them to generate descriptive snippets in search outcomes.
Let’s see what duplicate meta descriptions seem like in follow.
That is an instance of two pages on a single web site having the identical meta description.
However why are duplicate meta descriptions a difficulty?
Duplicate meta descriptions can have a unfavourable influence on the person expertise and click-through charges from search engine outcomes.
When two or extra pages have the identical meta descriptions, customers might not be capable of determine what sort of content material they will count on on every web page.
That may trigger confusion amongst your potential web site guests and trigger them to hunt solutions elsewhere—presumably in your rivals’ web sites which can be rating on the identical search engine outcomes pages (SERPs).
That may result in a decrease click-through price, a dip in natural visitors, and doubtlessly hurt to your model’s popularity.
Let’s discover the right way to simply discover and repair duplicate meta descriptions in 4 steps.
1. Discover Pages With Duplicate Meta Descriptions
You may simply discover pages with duplicate meta descriptions with Semrush’s Web site Audit device.
Let’s see the way it works.
Go to Web site Audit.
In case you’ve by no means used the device earlier than, take a look at these configuration directions to arrange your first venture.
As soon as your audit is full, return to Web site Audit.
Click on on the “Points” tab.
You’ll see an inventory of all points, warnings, and notices your web site has.
Kind “duplicate meta descriptions” within the search bar.
Click on on the “# pages” to see an inventory of pages affected by this subject.
You’ll see an inventory of all pages which have duplicate meta descriptions.
By clicking on the “# pages” subsequent to every URL, you’ll see which different URLs have the identical meta description because the one within the record.
2. Prioritize the Key Pages
In case your web site has plenty of duplicate meta description points, it’s finest to repair the important thing points first.
The important thing pages to repair are people who have:
- Excessive enterprise significance: For instance, gross sales touchdown pages with excessive conversion charges and/or pages that lately skilled a drop in visitors
- Excessive search visitors potential: For instance, pages supposed to focus on key phrases with excessive search quantity which can be seeing numerous impressions however comparatively few clicks in search engines like google and yahoo
Let’s see how you could find pages with excessive natural impressions and few clicks.
Go to Google Search Console.
Click on “Full report” within the “Efficiency” part.
Click on “Whole clicks” > “Whole impressions” > “Common CTR” to look at all three metrics directly.
Scroll all the way down to the record and click on “Pages.”
Double-click “CTR” to see low-performing pages.
On high of the record, you’ll see pages with the bottom CTR and excessive variety of impressions.
These pages are displaying up in search outcomes typically. However customers are selecting to not click on on them.
By bettering meta descriptions on these pages, you could possibly enhance the click-through price and natural visitors.
3. Create Distinctive, Descriptive Meta Descriptions
For every web page you chose, write a novel meta description.
Let’s take a look at among the finest practices in relation to meta descriptions:
- Embrace the first goal key phrase. By doing that, you’ll let the reader and search engines like google and yahoo know what to anticipate in your web page.
- Reply the search intent. Reassure customers they’ll discover what they’re in search of in your web page. For instance, if somebody is in search of “the right way to model crocs,”you can begin your meta description with “discover ways to model crocs…”
- Make sure that it aligns with the content material on the web page. If one thing’s not on the web page, don’t point out it within the meta description, as that can result in disappointment and better bounce charges.
- Maintain it quick. A meta description of 105 characters (680 pixels) shall be seen on each desktop and cell.
- Begin with the important thing data: This ensures that the key phrases seem even when a portion of the meta description will get reduce off by Google.
Use meta description checker instruments (like To The Net’s) to see what it’ll seem like if it seems within the SERPs.
Additional studying: How To not Write a Meta Description
4. Replace Meta Descriptions on Your Web site and Monitor Adjustments
When you create new meta descriptions, replace them in your web site’s content material administration system (CMS).
After you do this, you may re-run the Web site Audit test to be sure you up to date the meta descriptions correctly.
Go to Web site Audit.
Click on “Rerun marketing campaign.”
As soon as the audit is finished, click on “Points” and seek for “duplicate meta descriptions.”
The pages you up to date ought to be absent from the report.
If some pages you up to date nonetheless seem, double-check that you simply did the whole lot appropriately.
How Do I Repair Duplicate Meta Descriptions?
Use a device like Web site Audit to search out pages with duplicate meta descriptions. Then, write distinctive, descriptive meta descriptions for every web page and replace them in your web site.
Can You Use the Identical Meta Description for A number of Pages?
It is best to keep away from this follow. The identical meta descriptions for a number of pages can damage the efficiency of your web site in search engines like google and yahoo. Google advises that you simply “create distinctive descriptions for every web page in your website.”
Can a Web page Have A number of Meta Descriptions?
A number of meta descriptions for a single web page can confuse search engines like google and yahoo. Which might have an effect on how they show your content material in SERPs.
Do Duplicate Meta Descriptions Have an effect on search engine marketing?
Whereas meta descriptions usually are not a direct Google rating issue, duplicate meta descriptions could cause points along with your natural click-through price, which impacts your natural visitors. When two or extra pages have the identical meta descriptions, customers might not perceive how they’re totally different and should select to hunt solutions elsewhere.