Google not updating meta descriptions

[MarkHodson]

Why would Google index a site but not update its meta description in SERPS?

The description is written thus:
<meta http-equiv="description" content="blah blah blah">

is there something wrong with the code?

thanks,
Mark.

[martty]

Google hardly ever uses the meta tag description.

BUT, I see from the site in your profile that you offer SEO services - and you don't know the answer to the question you asked?

[incrediblehelp]

Google usually uses DMOZ or content from your page as the description.

[idansh]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Google usually uses DMOZ or content from your page as the description.

and for websites tat are not indexed by dmoz ?

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by idansh

and for websites tat are not indexed by dmoz ?

Page content first, and occasionally the meta description.

Originally Posted by martty

BUT, I see from the site in your profile that you offer SEO services - and you don't know the answer to the question you asked?

I don't see any site in his profile so I am not sure where that question comes from ... and even so, this is a fairly new member, on his 4th post, so let's be a little more gentle.

I have been doing SEO for many years - since 1998 - I'd guess as long or longer than most on this forum, and there are lots of things I don't know yet or won't ever *know* because they change.

I admire forum members such as incrediblehelp who answer the same questions over and over without ever suggesting they ought to know the answer.

In gratitude for an ever friendly forum, MJ

[spiceboy]

Curious this.

Google usually uses my meta description tags on Google UK. If I changed one it usually appeared after the next cache. I recently redesigned the site and changed the meta descriptions on almost every page. Sure enough they were indexed straight away. I have now changed details on the majority of those pages including meta descriptions - corrected spellings, changed copy to avoid duplicates where I can (still in the process) etc etc.

The strange thing is that while the changed pages are being indexed OK, the meta description tags have remained as the old ones for around 3 months now even though they have been updated/changed. Even on descriptions where I have mistakenly forgotten to add description tags the text used (originally taken from the page) is old and no longer on the page. Why would the descriptions be so out of date?

[martty]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

I don't see any site in his profile so I am not sure where that question comes from ... and even so, this is a fairly new member, on his 4th post, so let's be a little more gentle.

he removed the site from his profile, bit it was Blank Page .

[mjtaylor]

Thinking further about what Google uses for description: Google seems to use whatever best relates to the query term.

For example, I just Googled 'web design seo' (not in quotes) and the description it uses for cyber-key.com is indeed my meta tag description. My site is listed in DMOZ twice, and I can't find a search query that prompts the use of that description.

And here's an anamoly:

When I do a search for 'key west web design' it uses content for the description, but takes the title from DMOZ. I've always found that curious. For most other searches it uses my title tag.

I also did a search for 'design, hosting and search engine placement services cyber' and the description reads: "Affordable web design and top search engine placement firm in Key West, ... Cyber Key also designed, maintains, hosts or provides marketing services and ..."

"Affordable web design and top search engine placement firm in Key West," is the alt tag on the logo. There is no place else on that page where the word 'firm is used' ...

So, alt tags are occasionally used as descriptions ... I am liking that little discovery!

Cheers, MJ

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by MarkHodson

Why would Google index a site but not update its meta description in SERPS?

The description is written thus:
<meta http-equiv="description" content="blah blah blah">

is there something wrong with the code?

thanks,
Mark.

So, let me answer this question directly:

IME, Google uses the most relevant description it can find for the search term so it may well ignore an updated description tag if it has indexed something else that seems a better match for the query.

This is the sort of thing we tend to overlook when we consider Google (as we mostly tend to complain). Google is trying its best to return the keywords in the description because it knows that makes it more likely to please the searcher. Google is trying to return the most relevant results.

Still, MJ

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

IME, Google uses the most relevant description it can find for the search term so it may well ignore an updated description tag if it has indexed something else that seems a better match for the query.

This is the sort of thing we tend to overlook when we consider Google (as we mostly tend to complain). Google is trying its best to return the keywords in the description because it knows that makes it more likely to please the searcher. Google is trying to return the most relevant results.

Thanks for the kinds words MJ and she is right on here.

[MarkHodson]

MJ, thanks very much for your reply, which is very useful.

Spiceboy, your comments ring true to me. I'm wondering if Google UK is using different criteria.

Martty, I'm sure your confrontational style is just a front and that underneath it you'll a really sweet guy.