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Meta Descriptions

5-10 minBeginner

Meta descriptions influence click-through rates from search results. Blogger provides a built-in 'Search Description' feature that must be enabled first. This guide covers enabling the feature, writing effective descriptions, and optimizing for different page types.

Prerequisites

  • Blogger/Google account
  • Blog admin access
  • Search Description enabled (covered in this guide)
Easy Recommended

Enable Search Description Feature

Blogger's search description feature is disabled by default. You must enable it before you can add meta descriptions to posts.

1

Access Blog Settings

1

Sign in to Blogger

2

Select your blog from the dashboard

3

Click 'Settings' in the left menu

2

Enable Meta Tags

1

Scroll to 'Meta tags' section (under Basic)

2

Toggle 'Enable search description' to ON

3

A 'Search description' field will appear

3

Set Default Blog Description

1

Enter a default description for your blog homepage

2

Keep it 150-160 characters

3

Include your main topics and value proposition

4

Example: 'Expert cooking tips, easy recipes, and kitchen hacks for home chefs. Learn to cook delicious meals in 30 minutes or less.'

This description is used for your homepage and as a fallback

Best Practices

Do

  • Keep descriptions between 150-160 characters
  • Include primary keyword naturally within first 100 characters
  • Write unique descriptions for every post
  • Start with compelling information or benefit
  • Include a call-to-action when appropriate
  • Match the description to actual page content
  • Use active voice: 'Learn how to...' not 'In this post you will learn...'

Don't

  • Copy the same description across multiple posts
  • Stuff keywords: 'SEO, SEO tips, best SEO, SEO guide'
  • Write descriptions over 160 characters (will be truncated)
  • Use quotes or special characters that might break display
  • Make empty promises that content doesn't deliver
  • Leave the Search Description field empty
  • Use meta description as a secondary place to put keywords

Verification Checklist

  • View page source > Search for 'meta name="description"'
  • Use SEO browser extension to check meta description
  • Test with Facebook Debugger or Twitter Card Validator
  • Search Console > URL Inspection > Check indexed description
  • Google 'site:yourblog' and see snippets displayed

Pro Tips

  • Write descriptions that complete the title's thought—they should work together
  • Use numbers and data when available: 'Join 50,000+ readers'
  • Test different CTA styles: questions vs statements vs commands
  • Check competitor descriptions for inspiration (but don't copy)
  • Focus on benefits, not features: 'Save time' not 'Step-by-step guide'
  • Update old posts with new descriptions—it can boost CTR significantly

Common Issues & Fixes

Problem: Meta description field not appearing in post editor
Solution: The Search Description feature is disabled. Go to Settings > Basic > Meta tags > Enable search description.
Prevention: Always check settings when starting a new blog.
Problem: Google showing different description than what I wrote
Solution: Google may generate its own snippet if it thinks your description doesn't match search intent. Make sure your description accurately reflects content and includes the keywords users are searching for.
Problem: Description looks good in Blogger but truncated in search
Solution: Mobile search results show fewer characters. Keep the most important information in the first 120 characters.
Prevention: Test descriptions on mobile search results.
Problem: Social media showing wrong description
Solution: Social platforms use og:description meta tag, which Blogger doesn't generate by default. For social sharing, you need to add Open Graph tags via Theme > Edit HTML.