DMOZ description as Google description tag?

andertoons · #1 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 10:27 AM

This has gotta be a stupid question, but I'm gonna ask anyway.

Recently one of my search terms is listing my site with an ODP description instead of my page's description tag in the SERPs.

The title tag isn't showing either, again showing the ODP result.

The ranking is still fine, but what's going on here? All of my other search terms are still fine.

**brian.mark** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 01:30 PM

They're experimenting. Have been for a while.

Basically, if the most relevant text for that search query is from DMOZ, they try to use it. Otherwise, they use some mixture of on-page stuff.

I can't say I like it, but that's what they're doing.

Brian.

greeneagle · #3 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 03:12 PM

I addressed that issue in an article months ago entitled; "Why Is GOOGLE Butchering SERP Titles?" . It was picked up by a number of Sites. Here is one:
http://tools.devshed.com/c/a/Search-...-Descriptions/

Hope this helps,
Ken

andertoons · #4 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 04:38 PM

Ahhhh... Thanks! I look forward to reading it!

sem-seo-pro · #5 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 06:19 PM

Hi there

Google has used DMOZ listings for years to describe websites.

If there is no DMOZ listing then Google used to fall to the site meta description tag. It will still use these in some instances.

If it does not find an acceptable meta description it will use the first content it can find on the page usually.

Clint

greeneagle · #6 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 06:27 PM

sem-seo-pro

Quote:

"If it does not find an acceptable meta description it will use the first content it can find on the page usually."

Definitely not the case here! You may want to go back and revisit.

Ken

sem-seo-pro · #7 (**permalink**) 06-21-2005, 07:49 PM

Seems to be that way from what I see

My Website as listed in Google matches my description tag to the T

Search Engine Marketing Optimization Promotion By Clint ;->
Search engine marketing services information professional search engine marketing
services for your website Find search marketing solutions to improve your ...
www.sem-advance.com/

Even picks up my custom title ;->

My blog which changes frequently and which is spidered frequently goes by the posting on the page when Googlebot visits

sem-surgeon.com
June 10th, 2005. Hi Everyone,. The site disappeared the other day and I had no
idea that it was offline till I came to post a news article and found it gone ...
www.sem-surgeon.com

These are recent listings, so maybe things have settled after the month long update.

Clint