SEO Question

kilcher

Active member
When I search Google for indexed pages they are displayed as follows...

True Blood | HBO Forum
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Latest: Sookie Stackhouse – True... julz, Feb 18, 2011. RSS · Search this forum. Search titles only; Display results as threads. Advanced search. ...

As you can see, the search stuff takes up some valuable space where a description could be. Is there any way to replace that with something specific to that forum -either keywords or a description?
 
Enter the information that you want in the first lines of the thread, that you want to appear in search results from Google.

Example of Search : http://www.google.com/search?q=iPod+Design+-+Need+Feedback&start=0
You'll find the link to this thread at my forum : http://www.iwebbuddy.com/community/threads/ipod-design-need-feedback.511/

2irony0.png


The first 150 characters counts in search results from the meta description and the content from your first post of a thread is what you see in your meta description.

I hope that this information helps, (y) .
 
What page is that from? Can you post the URL?

Search on Google for (site:hbofourm.com)...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1920&bih=890&q=site:hboforum.com&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=

Shows up as...

In Development | HBO Forum



Search this forum. Search titles only; Display results as threads. Advanced search... Sort by: Title Start Date · Replies Views · Last Message ↓ ...

Actual page on my forum...

http://hboforum.com/forum/index.php?forums/HBO_original_programs_in_development/

Enter the information that you want in the first lines of the thread, that you want to appear in search results from Google.

Example of Search : http://www.google.com/search?q=iPod Design - Need Feedback&start=0
You'll find the link to this thread at my forum : http://www.iwebbuddy.com/community/threads/ipod-design-need-feedback.511/

2irony0.png


The first 150 characters counts in search results from the meta description and the content from your first post of a thread is what you see in your meta description.

I hope that this information helps, (y) .

Links to specific threads are showing like the one above. I guess it's just the forum (thread list) pages that aren't including a decent description. Not a huge deal I guess.

Thanks for the help guys!
 
Links to specific threads are showing like the one above. I guess it's just the forum (thread list) pages that aren't including a decent description. Not a huge deal I guess.
Search engines generally use your meta description tag as the description field. If you don't have a meta description, search engines tend to fetch random things as seen in your case. For the forum view pages it looks like XF will take your description of the forum and use it as a meta description, but that is provided you actually fill out a description. For example, if you view the source of your forum page you can see the meta description missing, but try adding a forum description and it should use your description for the meta tag. Search engines will need to reindex the page before you see the actual change in the SERPs though.
 
Search engines generally use your meta description tag as the description field. If you don't have a meta description, search engines tend to fetch random things as seen in your case. For the forum view pages it looks like XF will take your description of the forum and use it as a meta description, but that is provided you actually fill out a description. For example, if you view the source of your forum page you can see the meta description missing, but try adding a forum description and it should use your description for the meta tag. Search engines will need to reindex the page before you see the actual change in the SERPs though.

In the admincp under Options -> Basic Board Information I have a description listed for Board Meta Description. Is that what you're referring to or is there somewhere I can fill it out on a per forum basis?

I don't see anything under Node Tree -> Edit Forum, there is a description that shows on the main forum page (if enabled), is that what you're referring to?
 
In the admincp under Options -> Basic Board Information I have a description listed for Board Meta Description. Is that what you're referring to or is there somewhere I can fill it out on a per forum basis?

I don't see anything under Node Tree -> Edit Forum, there is a description that shows on the main forum page (if enabled), is that what you're referring to?
The "Options -> Basic Board Information" is for your forum home page only.

"Node Tree -> Edit Forum", yep the description field underneath the URL portion field is the one I'm referring to. Try filling in the description and then navigating to the forum page and view the source. You should then see in the <head> section:
HTML:
<meta name="description" content="Your description should be here." />
 
The "Options -> Basic Board Information" is for your forum home page only.

"Node Tree -> Edit Forum", yep the description field underneath the URL portion field is the one I'm referring to. Try filling in the description and then navigating to the forum page and view the source. You should then see in the <head> section:
HTML:
<meta name="description" content="Your description should be here." />

Ah, great to know because I hadn't filled that out (obviously), I don't have descriptions displayed on the main page and I thought that's all it was for. I will fill them out now, thank you!!! :)
 
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