Sharpen Your SERP Display
In your Wordpress Dashboard, when you go to "Pages", you see a list of the pages you created. Beside each page you see 3 columns of data
- Page Title
- Page Description
- Page Keywords
This gives a rough idea of what your SERP snippet could look like.
But where does this information come from? And how important is it?
How Important Is It?
From the SE point of view, whatever is said today will not apply tomorrow. Search engine technology is in a constant state of evolution. Currently Google updates its algorithm twice per day.
Having said that, it has to get its data from somewhere. All we can do is "suggest" that "this is a good place to start". The SE will make its own mind up whether to accept or ignore.
The more important value is what it does to our marketing ability. I use these columns to sharpen and focus the quality of my ability to deliver content.
Where does it come from?
Go into "edit" any one of your pages, and scroll down below the "edit" window.
In the lower section you'll find "Preview Snippet" showing you what your SERP entry will look like.
Below that there are the 3 columns of data you looked at earlier
- Page Title
- Page Description
- Page Keywords
Go into those boxes and start typing. You'll see your snippet change in real time.
The character limits are a good guide to "best practice". They are only a guide because current display is by pixel count, not character count, thus it depends on the screen resolution of the user's device.
How Do I Use This?
I use the "keyword" list purely as a reminder to me of my page's focus. Then I can use the "Title" and "Description" boxes to hone the snippet to how I want it seen, remembering to put the main keyword in both.
The items I've marked in green come from elsewhere, and I've hinted at their sources. I might revise the "Site Title" if it makes the snippet line incongruous.
The content I end up with I then copy/paste to my real page. Title goes to Title, Description becomes first paragraph.
To me this is the true value and importance of "Preview Snippet". Google can ignore it and get the info direct from my page, which is the SE's ultimate goal anyway.
Recent Comments
10
Hey Chris,
Thanks for this post man. It will serve as yet another handy tool to use in the endeavour to make our sites perform better.
Much appreciated.
-Theuns
Very good information and as with your other posts written in a style visual learners can understand and apply- much thanks! It will be a great "starting template" and focus as you initiate each post or page. It reigns you in and gives you boundaries.
And, man, do I need boundaries. My mind just rockets off into space and spends several days touring the planets. I just sit here and wait for it to return. It usually does. Eventually. But, one day, ...
Ha - I like that... I totally agree with you - that focus is desperately needed for me too and it will help me to push other thoughts into future posts - not for this one!
Thanks Chris
I am not really ready for this analysis.Would you explain the terms in more detail ?
Two comments
1. Which terms?
2. If you are new to WA, then follow the training until you get to this bit. The terms will be explained en route.
I'm glad you blogged this info. I can see very, very soon I will need to do this and it's good to see how to do it now. Thanks, Chris.
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Great info. Thanks!