14 replies to this topic

[brvonline]

Hi, I'm new. I've tried searching the forum for this, but can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for.
My site is pretty old and does ok in SEs. I am redesigning from table to css layout. One of the thing I've always hated was that google would use the top left block of text as the description for the page in results, so since it was a ssi that is the same on all pages, it would not be very effective. Anyway, what I want to do is make my main content as the first div on the page, then use css to position the navbar above, sidebar to left....

I'm mainly just worried that this may be seen as spam and cause my decent rankings to drop.
(BTW, I think that meta desc can be used to change the results, but I have a lot of pages and do not want to go through and change each one)
Thanks!

[oneofthe3lions]

This isnt actually the case. It depends what phrase the searcher uses and the snippet can be pulled from anywhere on your page.

You really should go through and change the descriptions on every page, even if it does require some effort.

[brvonline]

This isnt actually the case. It depends what phrase the searcher uses and the snippet can be pulled from anywhere on your page.

You really should go through and change the descriptions on every page, even if it does require some effort.

Thanks for the reply!
My apologies. I misspoke in my OP. The problem actually lies in my sites internal SE using the same description for every page. I don't really know why I said google...
From what I've read, there is not any really good reasons to use meta desc, is there?

[Randy]

Welcome bryonline !

To answer your main question, no css-positioning isn't spam. I use it in one way or another on every site I've created in the last 7 or so years. No worries there.

Oot3l's is correct though. You really should take the time to give each page its own description. Same goes with the <title> content of each page if those are all the same. The title tag is actually more important, since it has an effect on rankings.

While you're revamping things is the right time to take on such things. If you're worried about not being able to use SSI or some other type of include for your header code, that's an easy one to overcome if you're using any of the dynamic scripting languages such as php, asp, etc. You can simply variablize the title and meta description in your header include, then drop in the variables at to top of each page that best fits the page.

[Randy]

From what I've read, there is not any really good reasons to use meta desc, is there?

The engines have been known to use the meta description content in their snippet if it contains the keyword phrase the user has searched on.

[brvonline]

The engines have been known to use the meta description content in their snippet if it contains the keyword phrase the user has searched on.

So then main reason is to control what the SEs will put on the description, rather than letting the snippet thing that the first reply mentioned?

[oneofthe3lions]

If your target phase that you rank well for is in your description then it is most likely that the description will be shown. It should be a brief accurate summary of the individual page and one of the first basic things one should do to each page along with an individual title.

[brvonline]

If your target phase that you rank well for is in your description then it is most likely that the description will be shown. It should be a brief accurate summary of the individual page and one of the first basic things one should do to each page along with an individual title.

I'm not trying to argue with you, but I just want to make sure I understand. I've read quite a bit of material that says that they have no effect on SEs and essentially are outdated and pointless. I do kind of wish I'd had done it while I built my site, but I REALLY don't want to spend hours upon hours adding descriptions if there will not be a major benefit. Could you summarize your view of meta desc tags and why you've stated that it should be done?

[piskie]

When using CSS absolute positioning to manipulate the running order, just remember accessibility issues for Text Only Browsers.

[Randy]

The meta description tag absolutely affect the snippet that shows up in the SERPs, if you include the keyword phrase(s) the page is targeting in the tag. Additionally, it gives you an easy way to include a call-to-action to get that first click from the SERPs to your site.

If you're looking for a ranking benefit from the meta description tags you're probably going to be disappointed. I've seen no evidence that they're anything remotely important to the search engines, other than for snippet display.

[brvonline]

When using CSS absolute positioning to manipulate the running order, just remember accessibility issues for Text Only Browsers.

Would that be to say that one would expect to find the main navigation menu at the top of the page? I guess I've always just tried to provide redundant links to make sure that people can find the pages they're looking for within a couple clicks. I like to make sure that anyone can use my page, but I don't get a lot of traffic from text browsers, either... Would having the main menu at the top be beneficial. My keyword phrases are pretty specific and I'd rather focus SEs on those, rather than the main navigation links.


And thanks everybody for your help!

[Ahmed]

Would that be to say that one would expect to find the main navigation menu at the top of the page? I guess I've always just tried to provide redundant links to make sure that people can find the pages they're looking for within a couple clicks. I like to make sure that anyone can use my page, but I don't get a lot of traffic from text browsers, either... Would having the main menu at the top be beneficial. My keyword phrases are pretty specific and I'd rather focus SEs on those, rather than the main navigation links.


And thanks everybody for your help!

I'm pretty sure search engines are sophisticated enough to "know" where your content is and evaluate it. I'm not sold on the idea of putting your main content at the top of your HTML just for the sake of the spiders, it doesn’t make any sense. The search engines will spider the page correctly and understand your content - I’m not sure what all this fuss is about.

I think all of these are outdated methods that also include:

- putting keywords in a meaningless line at the very top of the page
- putting keywords in a meaningless line at the very bottom of the page
- Making sure you have a %-- keyword density or the spider will have a stomach ache and not spider your website etc.

Just build your website like you normally would. My I guess.

[piskie]

Accessibility and DDA compliance is a major (emerging) factor in the UK and I am sure in other countries also. This includes not making life unnecessarily difficult for visually the impaired who may be using something other than a conventional browser.

[chrishirst]

http://www.mattcutts...search-snippet/

[Jill]

I'm not trying to argue with you, but I just want to make sure I understand. I've read quite a bit of material that says that they have no effect on SEs and essentially are outdated and pointless.

Me thinks you're thinking about the Meta keywords tag not the Meta description tag. The former is not helpful, the latter is.

That said, if you have a site search engine as you mentioned in your original post, then even the Meta keywords tag may very well be helpful.