Meta description query

[Ian J]

Is it possible to have more than one meta description for each web page with one aimed at Google and one at MSN for example.

If you are "fortunate" enough to be listed in DMOZ, MSN will discard your carefully worded meta description and use the drab and lifeless wording in the DMOZ listing instead.

Google do something similar but they are more advanced and will only use the DMOZ description if the search term is contained in the DMOZ description and if it isn't they will use the site's own meta description. This suits me as the DMOZ listing doesn't include my single word search term.

Looking at the results for factoring on MSN here you can see that my site occupies the top two positions but the index page has such a woolly description that it won't entice people to click on the link.

The three alternatives are:-

1) Put up with it
2) Use two different meta decsriptions for the two search engines (if possible)
3) Get the listing removed from DMOZ altogether.

Any ideas gang ?

[peterjhale]

can you get the dmoz description changed at all ?

additionally, I would delete all of the following:

<meta name="language" content="English">
<meta name="author" content="Equinox Design">
<meta name="copyright" content="2002">
<meta name="robots" content="ALL">
<meta name="revisit-after" content="30 days">
<meta name="document-rights" content="Copyrighted Work">
<meta name="document-type" content="Public">
<meta name="document-rating" content="Safe for Kids">
<meta name="document-distribution" content="Global">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="EN-GB">
<meta name="Publisher" content="Equinox Design">
<meta name="MSSmartTagsPreventParsing" content="true">
<meta http-equiv="imagetoolbar" content="no">

[Ian J]

I don't think that changing the DMOZ description is a viable option as they are supposed to describe what is on the website rather than what the company does and why and how etc.

I've never taken much notice of the minor meta names on my site and assumed that those that didn't do any good didn't do any harm either but are not the "robots" and "revisit" commands important ?

[peterjhale]

the SEs visit your site and do what they want when they feel like it...

[Pete Wailes]

The smaller <meta> tags aren't always hugely important, but as with the keywords tag, it does no harm to leave them there. Leave them there. Why not?

Now, in regards to the DMOZ listing, you MAY be able to tweak it. As far as I'm aware, when you submit your site to the DMOZ listing it should tweak. But don't quote me on that. My advice would be to make your description tag as good as you can, and then try resubmiting.

I'll ask around, and see what other people think, and if anyone says anything of note, I'll get back to you.
Pete

[I, Brian]

DMOZ don;t like changing their descriptions.

http://www.abakus-internet-marketing...moz-delisting/

I wouldn;t worry about serving different metas to different engines - just focus on a single meta-description which - if displayed - will encourage users to clickthrough.

2c.

[Ian J]

Trouble is that I already have a brilliant meta description that does encourage people to click through but MSN won't use it as they now use the DMOZ boring description.

Google isn't so bad as they continue to use my own site description simply because the DMOZ description doesn't include the keyword "factoring".

In the olden days it used to be important to be listed by DMOZ but I am now wondering whether it's outlived it's usefulness.

[JoJo]

Having two meta description tags is not a usual practice.

The smaller meta tags are not that useful and can impact on keyword density.
Ensure that title/meta description/meta keywords are as high in your page as possible.

How many other back-links do you have to the site? if you really feel dmoz is doing you no favours...then why not pull it.

[Ian J]

Google acknowledge 134 backlinks whilst other search engines will add a zero to the end of that some.

I have thought of pulling the site from DMOZ but it is ranked very highly by Google and I'm loathe to do anything that might upset that so perhaps a poor description on MSN is a good trade off for a high position on Google