Do meta descriptions affect SEO?

Meta descriptions aren’t a direct ranking factor, but they strongly influence CTR, which affects downstream business metrics and can correlate with better visibility over time. Well‑written descriptions set expectations, get bolded for matching terms, and can win clicks even when you’re not #1.

How to write them:

1) 140–160 characters; front‑load the value proposition and the primary entity/keyword.

2) Match the search intent—transactional pages should include differentiators (pricing, free trial, shipping, guarantees).

3) Write unique descriptions for important URLs; let low‑value pages inherit or be noindex.

4) Expect Google to rewrite some snippets; still supply good defaults and avoid duplication.

Example: “Compare the top CRM tools for startup sales teams—pricing, integrations, and real user feedback. Try our interactive comparison.”

Further reading:

https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/snippet https://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-a-meta-description