Can't change my meta description on search engines

[Cerys82]

I've set up a Wordpress site for my business Bodywyrcs (which this forum won't let me post the address for - its dot wales) but I can't change the description that comes up on google searches etc... Currently it just says 'Latest Posts: Text text text text....etc and even though I've got an SEO plugin and have changed the description on there I just can't get it to change (this was a good week ago that I changed it and nothing). Any help? Thanks!

 

[Ian J]

The Google cache is dated 27th April and it will take time for them to re-spider your site and change the description

 

[Faevilangel]

your description on the site is setup fine, so it;s one of the following:

- google hasn't been back to your site so is still showing the old description

- Google doesn't like your description and is making it's own up (unlikely in this case)

The best way to get Google to check the site again is to sign up for Google webmasters (google.com/webmasters) and then do the google fetch

 

[Jason L]

Some helpful comments above.

Also, are you generating an xml sitemap? Do this and once you have your Webmaster Tools account upload the sitemap URL there (normally www.example.com/sitemap.xml)

Keep adding content to the site and google will be back soon!

 

[Sober Media]

@Cerys82 Google will update in time, do you have webmaster tools setup? If so you can get it to fetch your homepage and submit to index. Also noticed your Website Page Speed is very low, 64 on desktop and 50 on mobile, you need to get this sorted mate or Google will not include you in the search.

<removed by Mod>

Matt.

 

[Deleted member 106254]

@Cerys82 Also noticed your Website Page Speed is very low, 64 on desktop and 50 on mobile, you need to get this sorted mate or Google will not include you in the search.

<removed by Mod>

Matt.

Not true, the site just won't rank as high as it could.

 

[Medusa Juice]

Go to webmaster tools > crawl > fetch as google then press submit and it usually updates the page on google pretty fast. For your page speed, install a caching plugin I personally use w3 total cache, there are plenty of tutorials on how to set that up.

 

[Cerys82]

Brilliant! Thanks for the advice, its sorted!

 

[Tom Porter]

Brilliant - I was having the same issue. Turns out I had two conflicting plugins.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

This is why it is always good to act. often with multi plugins you end up with multiple meta data, and Googlke will take the first it finds.

 

[Tom Porter]

I agree OWG, I've also found the more plugins, the slower your site. There are a number of plugins which actually speed to site up.... although seems like a bit of a catch 22.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Yep some plugins can be horrendous resource hogs and can slow a site down terribly

 

[RobStephen0]

Some questions I have are, what meta plugin are you using? I prefer to add my own meta description and keywords and change the page/post title so use Add Meta Tags by George Notaras, simple and effective. Plus it adds microformat data which seems to be all the rage these days so mobiles can be pinged by the user, search metrics for companies to place adverts. Most of the others like Yoast take over your site not just your seo which doesn't allow some changes to be made unless you can access your sites pages by ftp and as they're all in competition to bring out the latest must have gizmo just compounds the problem. As fo speeding up your site just use WP Super Cache. And yes the more plugins you have the longer the load times. Try looking at your site with Googles own speed test tool (can't post link - google it -PageSpeed Insights) free and of course they tell you how to fix any problems. Should have wordfence installed as well to protect your site from hackers, wordpress is apparently very easy to hack, but don't use their caching tool Falcon as it will conflict with other suggestion and actually doesn't work or work that well. Your server response is really poor, this is generally found when you are on a server with 'Lots' of other websites a symptom of cheap webhosting. and or por computing services by your hosting company, only one fix - better webhost.

 

[fisicx]

There are a number of plugins which actually speed to site up....

Most of them don't work. If you want a fast site the trick is to send less data. Which means building a site without lots of bling (like sliders and galleries) and making sure you crunch your images to the max.

 

[RobStephen0]

Most of them don't work. If you want a fast site the trick is to send less data. Which means building a site without lots of bling (like sliders and galleries) and making sure you crunch your images to the max.

A webdesigner who doesn't add bling. Had to have a look at your site and maybe I'm odd but I like and agree with everything you say on there. Very much how I like my sites. You came you read you went. No fuss.

 

[delxyyy]

One of the best WP plugins is Yoast WordPress SEO, you can change your meta information directly from the article. You can also check All in One SEO Pack WordPress, it also works fine.

 

[TianaRodriquez]

It could be from the theme template you are using

 

[fisicx]

One of the best WP plugins is Yoast WordPress SEO, you can change your meta information directly from the article. You can also check All in One SEO Pack WordPress, it also works fine.

Did you even read the opening post?

 

[delxyyy]

Did you even read the opening post?

Yes, but I didn't explain it right. Recently I had the same issue with the titles and it turns out I had two conflicting SEO plugins. I uninstalled them both and installed one of the above mentioned, worked fine for me.

 

[Plan A Link]

your description on the site is setup fine, so it;s one of the following:

- google hasn't been back to your site so is still showing the old description

- Google doesn't like your description and is making it's own up (unlikely in this case)

The best way to get Google to check the site again is to sign up for Google webmasters and then do the google fetch

Any time you want to update the content on google make sure you do a fetch and then submit the link through google webmaster tools. It helps a lot if you do not know about it I suggest checking it out You can see all your internal links/external links.