However, when I try it on my own site using "calgary internet marketing", it still pulls out the copy.
Any explanation for this?
Great issue, by the way!
Lisa
Edited by lisa, 15 April 2004 - 09:50 AM.
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Getting A Great Google Description
Started by
lisa
, Apr 15 2004 09:18 AM
28 replies to this topic
#1
lisa
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Posted 15 April 2004 - 09:18 AM
In Jill's last newsletter she mentioned that as long as the given keyword was in your meta description, Google would pick the meta description over the actual copy on the page.
However, when I try it on my own site using "calgary internet marketing", it still pulls out the copy.
Any explanation for this?
Great issue, by the way!
Lisa
However, when I try it on my own site using "calgary internet marketing", it still pulls out the copy.
Any explanation for this?
Great issue, by the way!
Lisa
#2
SearchRank
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Posted 15 April 2004 - 09:33 AM
I think the essence of what Jill was saying is that it "can" pull from your meta description tag if the exact phrase is found in the tag. In fact what I have found is that if you search for a phrase or set of words that do not appear exactly the same in your copy but they are in your meta description tag, then Google will pull from there. Heck, I have even seen them pull from alt attributes when no html copy exists and the search query matches a phrase located in the alt attribute.
Therefore the general rule I follow is to optimize all of these three areas - meta description, html copy and alt attributes. I still believe Google favors html text over anything else however.
Therefore the general rule I follow is to optimize all of these three areas - meta description, html copy and alt attributes. I still believe Google favors html text over anything else however.
#3
Craig B
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Posted 15 April 2004 - 09:41 AM
For some reason it always pulls the copy from my meta description for 'Calgary web design'. I am not sure why it does this for me and not for you...
-Craig
-Craig
#4
OldWelshGuy
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Posted 15 April 2004 - 09:50 AM
Knowing the way Google works with regard relevancy, I would say that if it considers the occurence of the phrase in the body copy more important then it will display that over and above the mostly ignored 'description' copy.
We are talking miniscule amounts here, as it is down not to the phrase, but the phrase within the context of your page. Is the snippet it is pulling anchor text, italicized, bold etc? This could be just enough IMO to warrant selecting that over your description.
Yep, I have just looked, and the occurence of the text is in fact bold and close to and part included in a link using the anchor 'internet marketing'
We are talking miniscule amounts here, as it is down not to the phrase, but the phrase within the context of your page. Is the snippet it is pulling anchor text, italicized, bold etc? This could be just enough IMO to warrant selecting that over your description.
Yep, I have just looked, and the occurence of the text is in fact bold and close to and part included in a link using the anchor 'internet marketing'
#5
Jill
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Posted 15 April 2004 - 11:46 PM
Hmm...in all the instances I had checked, it always pulled the Meta description if it was using an exact phrase from there.
Lisa's page definitely appears to be an exception.
But you know what, for some reason it seems like Google isn't picking up Lisa's Meta description at all. Do a search for Lisa Wong and it still is not picking up the meta description.
I don't see anything in the code as to why it wouldn't, but I wonder if there's something? Very strange!
I just tried to search for
Wong for Calgary
Which is in her meta description and not on the page, and it STILL doesn't show up.
Seems really fishy!
Lisa's page definitely appears to be an exception.
But you know what, for some reason it seems like Google isn't picking up Lisa's Meta description at all. Do a search for Lisa Wong and it still is not picking up the meta description.
I don't see anything in the code as to why it wouldn't, but I wonder if there's something? Very strange!
I just tried to search for
Wong for Calgary
Which is in her meta description and not on the page, and it STILL doesn't show up.
Seems really fishy!
#6
SmellieNellie
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Posted 16 April 2004 - 07:01 AM
I may well be completely on the wrong track here but - I had a look at Lisa's site in a text browser and none of the text in the header is showing up at all - no description - no nothing.
Then I had a look at the source code and compared it to mine (I use my own templates too with editable regions) and the only difference apart from the 4.01 Transitional Blurb was:
Where as Lisa's code says:
Mine says:
Would this make any difference?
On the Calgary Mass website, when I did a search all I had brought back was a .pdf file, again, in a text browser, the main page was invisible. It is a flash movie though isn't it? I certainly didn't find any results with the description as part of the results, did anyone else find this?
Then I had a look at the source code and compared it to mine (I use my own templates too with editable regions) and the only difference apart from the 4.01 Transitional Blurb was:
codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="false" -->
Where as Lisa's code says:
<!-- #BeginTemplate "/Templates/wong.dwt" -->
Mine says:
<!-- InstanceBegin template="/Templates/crystal123.dwt" codeOutsideHTMLIsLocked="false" -->
Would this make any difference?
On the Calgary Mass website, when I did a search all I had brought back was a .pdf file, again, in a text browser, the main page was invisible. It is a flash movie though isn't it? I certainly didn't find any results with the description as part of the results, did anyone else find this?
#7
Jill
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Posted 16 April 2004 - 08:12 AM
I was thinking it had something to do with that code there too, but not sure why.
#8
SmellieNellie
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Posted 17 April 2004 - 03:21 AM
Yeah - I think we might be on the right track with this one Jill!!
I'm wondering if it is because they are Dreamweaver Templates and the template automatically locks any code outside of the <html> tags which of course would include Title & Description.
So come on Lisa - you are gonna have to put us out of our misery and let us know if it does the trick!!
I'm wondering if it is because they are Dreamweaver Templates and the template automatically locks any code outside of the <html> tags which of course would include Title & Description.
So come on Lisa - you are gonna have to put us out of our misery and let us know if it does the trick!!
#9
Jill
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Posted 17 April 2004 - 10:18 AM
Have you ever seen that code in the <head> section before? I don't use dreamweaver but have optimized sites that use it and I don't recall it being in the head section usually.
#10
SmellieNellie
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Posted 17 April 2004 - 02:24 PM
Jill -
No, I can't say I have noticed it before in other people's sites.
Dreamweaver says:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
This would not seem to point to the problem would it? I think I am going to have to go to the Dreamweaver Forum to find out!
No, I can't say I have noticed it before in other people's sites.
Dreamweaver says:
When this code is present in a template, changes to scripts before the <html> tag or after the </html> tag will be copied to documents based on that template. However, you will no longer be allowed to edit those scripts in documents based on the template. Thus, you can choose to be able to edit these scripts in the template, or in documents based on the template, but not both.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
This would not seem to point to the problem would it? I think I am going to have to go to the Dreamweaver Forum to find out!
#11
OldWelshGuy
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Posted 17 April 2004 - 02:52 PM
You leave this forum for another my girl, you don't come backI think I am going to have to go to the Dreamweaver Forum to find out!
A Bit of Welsh Mam humor there
#12
Jill
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Posted 17 April 2004 - 04:05 PM
LOL...I think that's universal humor OWG!You leave this forum for another my girl, you don't come back
A Bit of Welsh Mam humor there
#13
SmellieNellie
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Posted 18 April 2004 - 02:54 PM
Well when I saidy "go" I really meant "visit"!
I have posted the question - lets see what they come up with .............................
I have posted the question - lets see what they come up with .............................
#14
lisa
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Posted 18 April 2004 - 05:31 PM
Thank you for helping me to investigate this, guys!
#15
SmellieNellie
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Posted 19 April 2004 - 03:23 AM
Well - that worked! So far one answer by someone who didn't read the question properly!
Lisa - if you compare your source code with mine (see signature), there are a few subtle differences, but I must be honest, I have no idea whether these make a difference or not. All I know is that My Titles and Descriptions are picked up by the Search Engines.
It might be worth testing it out.
Lisa - if you compare your source code with mine (see signature), there are a few subtle differences, but I must be honest, I have no idea whether these make a difference or not. All I know is that My Titles and Descriptions are picked up by the Search Engines.
It might be worth testing it out.
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