What does MyBizGrade check?

We analyze your website speed, SEO tags, Google reviews, social media presence, and accessibility. Each area gets its own score and letter grade.

How is the grade calculated?

Each category is scored from 0 to 100 based on real data from your site. The overall grade is a weighted average across all five categories.

Yes, the full audit and grade are completely free. You can upgrade to a Pro report with copy-paste fixes for $39 if you want help improving.

What's in the Pro report?

You get a priority action plan, copy-paste ready fixes for every issue, time estimates, and a downloadable PDF. It tells you exactly what to change and how.

How long does the audit take?

Most audits finish in under 30 seconds. Complex sites with many pages may take up to a minute.

Do you store my data?

We store your audit results so you can revisit your report. We never sell your data or share it with third parties.

How often should I check my grade?

We recommend running a new audit every month. Your online presence changes as you update your site, get new reviews, and post on social media.

MyBizGrade was built by a small team of developers who wanted to make online presence auditing simple and affordable for small businesses.

How to Write Meta Descriptions That Get Clicks

# How to Write Meta Descriptions That Get Clicks Your meta description is the two-line sales pitch appearing below your page title in Google search results. It does not directly affect rankings. But it determines whether someone clicks your listing or scrolls past it. A well-written meta description increases your click-through rate (CTR). A higher CTR means more visitors from the same ranking position. And Google notices when people click your result over others, which indirectly helps your rankings over time. Most small business websites either have no meta descriptions or have terrible ones auto-generated by their platform. This is a missed opportunity requiring 10 minutes to fix. ## What Is a Meta Description? A meta description is an HTML tag providing a brief summary of a web page. It looks like this in your page code: ``` ``` Google displays this text below your page title in search results. When a user's search query matches words in your meta description, Google bolds those words, making your listing stand out. If you do not set a meta description, Google auto-generates one by pulling random text from your page. These auto-generated descriptions rarely represent your page well and almost never compel clicks. ## The Rules of Meta Descriptions ### Length: 150-155 Characters Google truncates descriptions longer than about 155 characters. Aim for 150-155 characters to use the full space without getting cut off. Shorter descriptions waste space. If your description is 80 characters, you leave half the real estate empty while competitors fill it with compelling copy. ### Include Your Target Keyword When someone searches for "plumber in Denver" and your meta description contains those words, Google bolds them. Bolded text catches the eye and signals relevance to the searcher. Place your primary keyword naturally within the description. Do not force it if the sentence sounds unnatural. ### Write for Humans, Not Search Engines Meta descriptions stuffed with keywords look spammy and deter clicks. Write a sentence a real person would want to read. Answer the question: "Why should someone click this result?" ### Include a Call to Action Tell the reader what to do or what they get. "Get a free quote today." "See our 10-step checklist." "Find out if your site passes." Action-oriented language creates urgency and gives the searcher a reason to click your result specifically. ### Make Each Description Unique Every page on your site needs its own meta description. Duplicate descriptions confuse Google and waste opportunities. Your homepage, services page, about page, and each blog post should have distinct descriptions. ## The Meta Description Formula Here is a formula working across industries: **[What the page offers] + [Benefit or proof point] + [Call to action]** Examples: **Plumber homepage:** "24/7 emergency plumbing in Denver. Licensed plumbers with 500+ five-star reviews. Call now for same-day service and upfront pricing." **Dentist services page:** "Family and cosmetic dentistry in Austin. Gentle care for all ages with evening and Saturday appointments. Book your visit online today." **Restaurant homepage:** "Authentic Italian dining in downtown Portland. Fresh pasta, wood-fired pizza, and an award-winning wine list. Reserve your table now." **Blog post:** "Learn how to fix your Google Business Profile in 15 minutes. Step-by-step guide with screenshots covering every field and setting." **E-commerce product page:** "Handmade leather wallet built to last a lifetime. Full-grain leather, 6 card slots, RFID blocking. Free shipping on all orders." Each example follows the formula: what you get, why it matters, and what to do next. ## 10 Meta Description Examples by Business Type ### Local Service Business "Licensed electrician serving all of Tampa Bay. Same-day appointments, transparent pricing, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Get your free estimate." ### Law Firm "Experienced personal injury attorneys in Chicago. No fee unless we win your case. Free consultations available in person or by phone. Call today." ### Real Estate Agent "Top-rated realtor in San Diego with 200+ homes sold. Expert local knowledge and personalized service. Search listings or schedule a free consultation." ### Auto Repair Shop "Honest auto repair in Phoenix since 1998. ASE-certified mechanics, fair prices, and a 2-year warranty on all work. Schedule your appointment online." ### Salon "Hair coloring and styling in Nashville by award-winning stylists. Balayage, highlights, and precision cuts. Book online and skip the wait." ### Accounting Firm "Small business accounting and tax preparation in Boston. Dedicated CPA for your business with year-round support. Request a free consultation." ### Gym "Full-service gym in downtown Seattle with personal training, group classes, and 24/7 access. Your first week is free. Sign up today." ### Pet Service "Professional dog grooming in Atlanta. Gentle handling, breed-specific cuts, and walk-in availability. See our work and book your pup's appointment." ### Cleaning Service "Residential cleaning in Miami with eco-friendly products. Background-checked cleaners, flexible scheduling, and satisfaction guaranteed. Get an instant quote." ### Photography "Wedding and portrait photography in Dallas. Natural light, candid moments, and albums delivered in 3 weeks. View our portfolio and check availability." ## Common Meta Description Mistakes ### Mistake 1: No Description at All Leaving the meta description blank tells Google to grab random text from your page. The result is often a sentence fragment starting mid-paragraph, reading awkwardly in search results. Every important page needs a hand-written meta description. ### Mistake 2: Keyword Stuffing "Plumber Denver plumber services Denver CO plumbing repair Denver plumber near me" is not a meta description. It is a keyword list. No one clicks on listings like this. Use your keyword once or twice, naturally. ### Mistake 3: Too Vague "Welcome to our website. We offer services. Contact us for more information." This tells the searcher nothing. It could describe any business. Be specific. Mention your location, specialty, and a concrete benefit. ### Mistake 4: Same Description on Every Page Copying one description across your entire site wastes the opportunity to target different keywords and audiences on different pages. Your homepage targets your brand and location. Your services page targets specific offerings. Each blog post targets its unique topic. ### Mistake 5: Starting With Your Business Name "ABC Plumbing is a plumbing company..." wastes valuable characters on information already visible in the page title. Lead with benefits and services instead. ### Mistake 6: Making Promises You Do Not Keep If your meta description says "Free same-day service" but your page says nothing about free same-day service, visitors bounce. Google notices high bounce rates and lowers your ranking. Your description should accurately represent the page content. ## How to Add Meta Descriptions to Your Website ### WordPress Install the Yoast SEO or Rank Math plugin. Edit any page or post. Scroll to the SEO section below the content editor. Type your meta description in the designated field. The plugin shows a preview of how your listing appears in Google. ### Wix Open the page in the editor. Click "Page Settings" (the gear icon). Select the "SEO" tab. Type your description in the "Description" field. ### Squarespace Open the page. Click the gear icon for page settings. Select "SEO." Enter your meta description. ### Shopify Open the page or product. Scroll to the bottom. Click "Edit website SEO." Type your meta description in the "Description" field. ### Custom HTML Add this tag between the `` and `` tags of your page: ``` ``` ## How to Check Your Existing Meta Descriptions Google "site:yourwebsite.com" to see how your pages appear in search results. Review each listing. Note which pages have compelling descriptions, which have auto-generated ones, and which have none. Prioritize your most important pages first: homepage, services/products pages, contact page, and top-performing blog posts. ## Does Google Always Use Your Meta Description? No. Google rewrites meta descriptions about 62% of the time, according to a study by Ahrefs. Google replaces your description with text from the page it considers more relevant to the specific search query. This does not mean writing meta descriptions is pointless. Google uses your description when it matches the query well. And a well-written description gives Google better source material to work with, even when it modifies the text. Write the best description possible and let Google decide when to use it. ## Audit Your Entire Online Presence Meta descriptions are one element of your website's SEO. GradeMyBiz checks your website's technical health, content optimization, Google Business Profile, reviews, and competitive positioning in one scan. [Get your free SEO grade at GradeMyBiz](https://grademybiz.vercel.app) ## For more on this topic, read [Google Business Profile Optimization: The Complete Guide](/blog/google-business-profile-optimization). For more on this topic, read [The Small Business Website Checklist: 15 Things to Check Today](/blog/small-business-website-checklist).Start Fixing Your Descriptions Today Open your website admin. Find your five most important pages. Write a unique, compelling meta description for each one using the formula above. This takes 30 minutes and improves every Google listing for your business. More clicks from the same rankings means more customers without spending a dollar on advertising. [Grade your online presence for free](https://grademybiz.vercel.app)