Google Picking Up Descriptions Dynamically Based on Search Query

Google Uses Search Queries to Return the Right Description

After turning off the importance of keywords tag, now Google is working on picking up the descriptions it shows in the search results based on the content rather than solely depending on the description provided in the meta description tag.

We talk about how this is done on an episode of Path TV, with host Ruben Quinones and guest Avinash Conda.  A brief summary of the conversation in the video is given below.

3 ways Google picks up the description of a web page:

  1. The description tag <meta name=”description” content=”put your description here” />.
  2. The description provided in the ODP – Open Directory project (Dmoz.org).
  3. Description randomly picked up from the on-page content.

When does Google actually pick up a description that’s different than the meta description tag?

  1. If the description provided in the description tag is too long
  2. If there’s no description tag
  3. When Google thinks it can pick up better description from the content based on the search query


What are other ways to suggest to the search engine the description you desire?

This can’t be controlled completely, but keeping in mind the following best practices can help prevent Google from showing a description different that the one you specify in the meta description tag:

  1. Write unique, relevant and short descriptions for each web page on your site. Avoid having same title or description tags on multiple pages.
  2. Include <meta name=”robots” content=”NOODP”>  in the code to tell the robots to ignore the description from the Open Directory Project. Use <meta name=”robots” content=”NOYDIR”> for Yahoo! Directory (but currently only Yahoo!’s spider, Slurp, uses the Yahoo! Directory).

How To Brand Your Facebook Page

Part 2

Last week in Branding Your Facebook Page, we discussed an offline ad that encouraged users to go to their facebook page, however, it seem disconnected.  Unfortunately, this seems to be the norm.  We decided that it would be a good idea to point out a campaign that was doing it right.  Join Michael Stearne and I as we discuss an offline ad for Top Chef, and how they did a good job of following through on their call to action.

A Look at iPad App: Flipboard

A new way of aggregating your social news

One of the hot iPad apps over the last year that has created a buzz in our industry and we got to take a look at it up close recently.  In a nutshell, this app aggregates your “social” news, news that is posted by your friends, people you are following via your social networks.   Join Michael Stearne and I as we discuss this very unique app.

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Thoughts from CES 2011 With Ramon B Nuez Jr

Join guest Ramon B Nuez Jr, contributor to the Huffington Post, and examiner.com. Ramon had just come back from CES and shares his thoughts on the latest from the one of the most anticipated trade events when it comes to consumer technology.  A special thank you to Michael Stearne and Christa Romano at the offices for upgrading Path TV!

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Digital Media Predictions for 2011

Our last episode of the year and it went out with a bang! (literally, watch the video, :) ) This month we had number of guests provide us with predictions of their own, and now we take a stab at it ourselves. Watch up to 6 predictions as we try to keep our composure after our unexpected occurrence in the very beginning of this episode.

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