Meta description should be less than 200 characters?

mars guitars · 01-19-2008, 02:18 PM

I've been told that meta description should not be more than 200 characters.

I know that some Search Engine results pages will truncate beyond 200 characters, but is it OK for the actual meta text to be longer?

midlandi · 01-19-2008, 09:16 PM

The length of the meta description tag
Search engines vary in their preferred size for meta tags. Try to use the smaller number, 150 characters, for your site. Never make your meta tag more than 250 characters long because some results pages will cut it off.

Avoid spam
Avoid repeating keywords more than 3-7 times in your meta description. Some search engines consider it to be spam.

An overview

The meta description tag

* Use the meta description tag on all pages
* Limit it to 150 characters
* Include keywords
* Don't repeat keywords more than 7 times

jumpenjuhosaphat · 01-20-2008, 04:30 AM

That's just it......You won't be penalized for using a description that is very long, but it won't get displayed....I don't know how many each engine displays, but it isn't much longer than 150 characters.

mars guitars · 01-20-2008, 09:45 AM

Thanks guys.

I know that search engines sometimes use relevant 'snippets', rather than full meta description, so presumably a fuller description has more opportunity to be relevant to a particular search term.

alemcherry · 01-21-2008, 08:12 PM

Note sure about the limits, but always better to keep it brief and without repeating the keywords. Meta dis. doesnt help in serps so why do you take any risk. Only help from meta dis. is when it appear under your title in serp pages. So write something catchy for the user, rather than filling the keywords for the robot!

Alan · 01-21-2008, 08:23 PM

The meta description tag should contain multiple keywords organised as a natural sentence with the keywords at the beginning of the description and as close together as possible to achieve the best possible rankings.

Search engines vary in their preferred size for meta tags from 150. Try to use the smaller number, 150 characters, and certainly not more than 250 characters long because some search engines will cut it off.

Avoid repeating keywords more than about 3 to 4 times in your meta description. Some search engines will consider this to be spam.

hem1234 · 01-31-2008, 07:52 AM

It is the wasting of time if add more than 200-250 characters. Some search engines read 250 characters. Donot repeat keywords many times in description. It should be a meaningful sentence.

TimuM · 02-01-2008, 03:06 PM

Check out what your top ranking competitors has....

01-19-2008, 02:18 PM	#1
mars guitars Junior Guru Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 742	Meta description should be less than 200 characters? I've been told that meta description should not be more than 200 characters. I know that some Search Engine results pages will truncate beyond 200 characters, but is it OK for the actual meta text to be longer? __________________ Guitar strings and accessories, Rotosound bass strings, Guitar Capos and Guitar Gifts from Mars Guitars UK . . . .under development.. guitar string guide

01-19-2008, 09:16 PM	#2
midlandi iWEBTOOL Moderator Contributor Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,172	Re: Meta description should be less than 200 characters? The length of the meta description tag Search engines vary in their preferred size for meta tags. Try to use the smaller number, 150 characters, for your site. Never make your meta tag more than 250 characters long because some results pages will cut it off. Avoid spam Avoid repeating keywords more than 3-7 times in your meta description. Some search engines consider it to be spam. An overview The meta description tag * Use the meta description tag on all pages * Limit it to 150 characters * Include keywords * Don't repeat keywords more than 7 times __________________ Webmaster Resources & Forums SubmitterBot - Semi-automatic directory submission tool

01-20-2008, 04:30 AM	#3
jumpenjuhosaphat Forum Admin Contributor Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 4,459	Re: Meta description should be less than 200 characters? That's just it......You won't be penalized for using a description that is very long, but it won't get displayed....I don't know how many each engine displays, but it isn't much longer than 150 characters. __________________ Storage Sheds Lost Forum

01-20-2008, 09:45 AM	#4
mars guitars Junior Guru Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 742	Re: Meta description should be less than 200 characters? Thanks guys. I know that search engines sometimes use relevant 'snippets', rather than full meta description, so presumably a fuller description has more opportunity to be relevant to a particular search term. __________________ Guitar strings and accessories, Rotosound bass strings, Guitar Capos and Guitar Gifts from Mars Guitars UK . . . .under development.. guitar string guide

01-21-2008, 08:12 PM	#5
alemcherry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 280	Re: Meta description should be less than 200 characters? Note sure about the limits, but always better to keep it brief and without repeating the keywords. Meta dis. doesnt help in serps so why do you take any risk. Only help from meta dis. is when it appear under your title in serp pages. So write something catchy for the user, rather than filling the keywords for the robot! __________________ Shared Hosting Reviews - Dedicated Server Review - Bluehost Review

01-21-2008, 08:23 PM	#6
Alan iWEBTOOL Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ayr, Scotland Posts: 904	Re: Meta description should be less than 200 characters? The meta description tag should contain multiple keywords organised as a natural sentence with the keywords at the beginning of the description and as close together as possible to achieve the best possible rankings. Search engines vary in their preferred size for meta tags from 150. Try to use the smaller number, 150 characters, and certainly not more than 250 characters long because some search engines will cut it off. Avoid repeating keywords more than about 3 to 4 times in your meta description. Some search engines will consider this to be spam. __________________ ahb Solutions Consultancy and Web Development Seen a good post - Give some reputation click on the

01-31-2008, 07:52 AM	#7
hem1234 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 174	Re: Meta description should be less than 200 characters? It is the wasting of time if add more than 200-250 characters. Some search engines read 250 characters. Donot repeat keywords many times in description. It should be a meaningful sentence.

02-01-2008, 03:06 PM	#8
TimuM Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami Posts: 57	Re: Meta description should be less than 200 characters? Check out what your top ranking competitors has.... __________________ SEO Expert 7SEO- SEO Company

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