Homepage Meta Description
Meta descriptions appear in search results below the title. While not a direct ranking factor, they significantly impact click-through rates from search.
What It Measures
Verifies homepage meta description exists and is properly sized for search snippets
Detection Method
Extracts <meta name="description"> from homepage HTML and validates length
Why This Matters to You
Shopify Agencies
Missing descriptions indicate neglected SEO - easy wins for agency services.
SEO App Builders
Perfect targets for meta tag generation and optimization apps.
General App Builders
Description issues suggest the store needs content marketing help.
Theme Developers
Often fixed by upgrading to themes with better SEO defaults.
Scoring Breakdown
Missing
No meta description found
Bad Length
Description length outside optimal range (50-160 characters)
Real-World Examples
Good Example
Meta description: "Shop premium, freshly roasted coffee beans delivered to your door. 100% organic, ethically sourced. Free shipping on orders over $50."
Character count: 147
✓ Within optimal range (50-160 characters)
✓ Compelling call-to-action
✓ Includes key benefits
Bad Example
No meta description tag found
✗ Missing description (-10 points)
✗ Google will auto-generate one (often poorly)
Meta description: "Welcome to our store!"
Character count: 22
✗ Too short (-4 points)
✗ Not informative or compelling
Related SEO Factors
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What's the ideal meta description length?
Between 50-160 characters. Google typically displays 120-160 characters on desktop and slightly less on mobile. Descriptions shorter than 50 often lack enough information to be compelling.
Does the meta description affect rankings?
Not directly - meta descriptions aren't a ranking factor. However, they significantly impact click-through rates from search results, which can indirectly affect rankings over time.
What happens if I don't have a meta description?
Google will automatically generate one by pulling text from your page content. This often results in poor, disjointed snippets that don't effectively sell your page in search results.