Google: Fill In Your Meta Descriptions Because You Know Your Content Best

Oct 30, 2018 - 8:18 am 12 by

Google

Google's John Mueller said on Twitter that it is best not to leave your meta descriptions blank. Instead he said try to fill them out because you know your content best.

This is despite a recent study from Yoast that shows that Google often uses your web site content, not your meta description, for your Google search result snippets.

Here are the tweets:

Now, while you are writing the content, I do recommend you fill in your meta descriptions. If Google doesn't use it, so be it. Your CMS can also auto-generate useful meta descriptions based on the content you enter into your CMS. In either case, I wouldn't intentionally leave them blank if you have time and resources to enter them.

But I also wouldn't count on Google always using your meta descriptions for the snippets over what Google thinks is best. Because really, who knows your content best? You or Google? :)

Forum discussion at Twitter.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: July 11, 2025

Jul 11, 2025 - 10:00 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Helpful Content Recoveries With Core Update, AI Mode Expands, Hidden Ad Terms & Fewer Ad Clicks

Jul 11, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google Maps

Google Local & Business Profiles Drops June 25th - Reporting Glitch?

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Tests Zoom Effect In On Images Within Search Results

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:41 am
Bing Search

Bing Search Image Box Tests Explore Image & Visual Search Buttons

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:31 am
Bing Search

Microsoft Bing Tests Delivery Truck Icon In Search Ads

Jul 11, 2025 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: SEOs Turn To EAT After Recent Google Algorithm Updates