A meta description is the short summary Google can show under your title in search results. It has no direct ranking effect, but a clear one improves click-through rate. Write one per page, 110 to 160 characters, that reads like a reason to click.
Why it matters
Google does not always use the meta description you write. It sometimes pulls a different snippet from the page if it judges that more relevant to the search query. Writing a good one still improves the odds Google uses it, and gives you a fallback searchers see.
A missing description usually means Google shows a scraped fragment of the page instead, which reads awkwardly and undersells the page.
Like titles, a description reused across pages weakens the signal that each page is distinct.
How AuditCrow checks this
AuditCrow reads the `<meta name="description">` tag on each sampled page and flags it when it is missing, empty, outside the 110 to 160 character range that tends to display fully in search results, or duplicated across more than one URL.
How to fix it
- 1Add a `<meta name="description" content="...">` tag inside the page's `<head>` if one is missing.
- 2Write one to two sentences summarising the page and the reason to click through, aimed at 110 to 160 characters.
- 3Avoid keyword stuffing. Google's algorithms read this as filler, and it reads badly to a person too.
- 4In WordPress, an SEO plugin adds a description field per page; without one, there is usually no description at all, not a bad one, which is the more common finding.
- 5Give Google a few weeks to pick up a new description in live search results. A single re-scan straight after publishing will not show the change in Google itself, only that the tag is now present.
Fix it on your platform
How to fix it on WordPress
Yoast SEO
Where: Page editor > Yoast SEO > Search appearance
- Open the page in the WordPress editor and find the Yoast SEO sidebar, or the Yoast SEO box under the content.
- Click Search appearance and fill in SEO title and Meta description, watching the preview.
- Click Update to save.
Source: How to create a good meta description · Last checked
Rank Math
Where: Page editor > Rank Math > General > Edit Snippet
- Open the page in the WordPress editor and click the Rank Math icon at the top right.
- On the General tab, click Edit Snippet and fill in Title and Description.
- Close the snippet window and click Update.
Note: In the classic editor, the Rank Math box is below the content instead.
Source: How to Enter SEO Meta Title, Description, and Focus Keyword · Last checked
How to fix it on Shopify
Pages
Where: Online Store > Pages > Search engine listing preview > Edit website SEO
- In Shopify admin go to Online Store > Pages and open the page.
- In Search engine listing preview, click Edit website SEO.
- Fill in Page title and Description, then click Save.
Note: For the homepage, use Online Store > Preferences instead.
Source: Adding keywords for SEO to your Shopify store · Last checked
Products
Where: Products > your product > Search engine listing
- In Shopify admin go to Products and open the product.
- In Search engine listing, click the edit icon.
- Fill in Page title and Meta description, then click Save.
Source: Adding and updating products · Last checked
Collections
Where: Products > Collections > your collection > Search engine listing
- In Shopify admin go to Products > Collections and open the collection.
- In Search engine listing, click the edit icon.
- Fill in Page title and Meta description, then click Save.
Note: Avoid changing the URL handle in the same panel unless you also create a redirect.
Source: Collection settings · Last checked
How to fix it on Wix
Where: Pages & Menu > More Actions > SEO basics
- In the Wix Editor click Pages & Menu, then the More Actions icon next to the page.
- Click SEO basics and fill in Title tag and Meta description.
- Publish the site.
Note: To set defaults for a whole page type, use SEO & GEO > Tools and settings > SEO Settings in the dashboard.
Source: Adding SEO Title Tags and Meta Descriptions to Your Pages · Last checked
How to fix it on Squarespace
Where: Pages panel > page settings > SEO
- Open the Pages panel, hover over the page and click its settings icon.
- Open the SEO tab and fill in SEO Title and SEO Description.
- Click Save.
Note: The homepage has no SEO title; its description is the SEO site description.
Source: Adding SEO descriptions · Last checked
How to fix it on Webflow
Where: Pages panel > Page settings > SEO settings
- In the Designer open the Pages panel and click Page settings for the page.
- Under SEO settings, fill in Title tag and Meta description.
- Publish the site.
Note: Webflow has no site-wide default, so each page needs its own.
Source: Add SEO title and meta description · Last checked
How to fix it on any other website
- In the page's HTML head, make sure there's one <title> element with the page's title.
- Add or edit <meta name="description" content="..."> with a short summary of the page.
- Make both unique for every page, then publish.
Source: Influencing your title links in search results · Last checked
Related terms
Related checks
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