Most small business owners either skip meta descriptions entirely or write something boring like "Learn about our services." That's like having a billboard that says "We sell stuff." Your meta description is basically a mini-advertisement for your content.
You've got about 160 characters to make someone think "I need to read this right now." Every character matters because Google will cut off anything longer.
Include your target keyword naturally because Google bolds matching terms in search results. If someone searches for "wedding photography tips" and your meta description includes that phrase, it'll stand out visually. But don't just stuff the keyword in there—make it flow naturally.
Promise a specific benefit or outcome. Instead of "Tips for better photography," try "5 photography mistakes that are ruining your wedding photos (and how to fix them)." The second version tells people exactly what they'll learn and implies they'll improve their photos.
Create urgency or curiosity. Use phrases like "right now," "before it's too late," or "the secret that." You want people to feel like they need to click immediately, not bookmark it for later.
Ask a question that makes people curious. "Are you making these SEO mistakes?" is more compelling than "SEO tips for small businesses" because it makes people wonder if they're doing something wrong.
Avoid duplicating your page title in the meta description. The title and description should work together to tell a complete story. If your title is "How to Start a Blog," your meta description might be "Skip the overwhelm and launch your business blog in 30 minutes with this step-by-step guide."
Make every page's meta description unique. Don't copy and paste the same description across multiple pages—each page should have its own compelling mini-ad. Enji's blog copywriter can help you craft compelling meta descriptions for blogs you create that stand out in search results and improve your click-through rates.