Meta description

Yes… I also would like to know why this change…
Thanks

@joskevermeulen @pako69 The reason for this change is that in the 14.7 release of the plugin we have removed the option to show/hide the date in the snippet preview, and now always show the date in the snippet preview. Because the date is now shown in the snippet preview, it “takes away” a few characters from the maximum length of your meta description if you had previously disabled this feature, which is what you are experiencing. This doesn’t mean you need to redo all of your meta descriptions though.

As for why this feature was change, we’ve removed the option to show/hide the date in the snippet preview because it was leading to some amounts of confusion. Many of our users felt as if this setting would influence whether or not the date would be shown in the Google search results but this feature only influences the snippet preview in Yoast SEO.

I understand, but now we don’t know anymore how many caracaters we can use…

@joskevermeulen It’s not a matter of characters since a long time in the Google SERP, but pixels…

You can test here: https://serpsim.com/

@devnihil I also understand but with the date, the lenght is less. So you should adjust you pixels calculation…

Thanks

• This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by pako69.

@joskevermeulen We do apologize if that change is causing you any inconvenience and can certainly understand how this would be frustrating. As for the number of characters, the meta description recommendation calculates the width of characters, and not the total number. For example, the letter ‘w’ takes up a greater width than the character ‘i’. We’d still recommend using the recommendation for new posts, but it doesn’t mean you would have to update old posts.

Yes, I know, but I type words for my meta description, not pixels. ??
So from now on, I have to use Serpsim to get it right? Unbelievable.
Maybe it is time to change to Rank Math or something else, I don’t know.
Time for a Duvel, cheers.

Hi @joskevermeulen,

To be very direct, no you don’t have to use any other tool to get it right. Yoast SEO continues to give you good advice.

And since this a relatively small change, there’s no need to go in and edit all your existing pages/posts. It’s simply not worth the time and effort.

But, when you do edit an existing post or write a new one, we strongly recommend following the updated directions.

I hope that clears things up a bit.

Unrelated, I can really recommend the Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere!

Hello all,

I’m sorry to say, but I find it a strange reaction. Why shouldn’t I use all the possibilities Google offers. I lose +- 2 words every time where I can explain more.

Example from my website:
Before in Google:
Jieldé La Standard work lamp. Design: Jean-Louis Domecq. Industrial table or wall lamp in white painted iron. Made in the 50s, 60s in France. E14 socket.

With fewer pixels, it will be:

Jieldé La Standard work lamp. Design: Jean-Louis Domecq. Industrial table or wall lamp in white painted iron. Made in the 50s, 60s in France.

Why shouldn’t I use it? The “E14 socket” It is exactly the number of pixels less.

Of topic: I prefer the normal Duvel. ??

Hi @joskevermeulen,

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for the confusion. Let’s clarify what the reasoning behind this was/is.

We have removed the option to show/hide the date in the snippet preview, and now always show the date in the snippet preview.

We’ve removed this option because it was leading to confusion. Many of our customers felt as if that setting would influence whether or not the date would be shown in the (Google) search results. In reality, it only influenced the snippet preview in Yoast SEO.

Because the date is now shown in the snippet preview, it “takes away” a few characters from the max length of your meta description if you had previously disabled this feature. That’s what you experienced.

Offtopic: I do like Duvel the most of all Belgian beers. Cheers. ??

Hello,

I understand, but why shorten it with the date in the snippet preview? Less is not more in Google. I want to use it to the max. So I have to use the Sersim.com website to get it right. If the date (I don’t use it) is important to show for many people, why don’t you put it somewhere else? It got nothing to do with the snippet preview.

Offtopic: also try the Omer beer, many friends say it is even better than Duvel. I love them both. ??

Totally agree with @joskevermeulen

@joskevermeulen I understand what you’re saying. However, our research shows that Google shows the date for the majority of the results. That’s why our new approach makes sense and actually takes away confusion.

If you could share the link to your site here, I’d be happy to take a look and see what the situation is for your content.

Maybe it is better than to make an on/off switch?
For my site dates are not important, that’s why I get rid of it. The extra space is much more interesting.

For instance, when you search in Google for Jieldé La Standard Work Lamp, you see the result immediately, without the date and used to the max.

https://vintageinfo.be

We removed the on/off switch because it was leading to too much confusion. Therefore, it will not return to Yoast SEO.

The problem is that you/we don’t have control over when Google does or doesn’t show the date. So what you can do is ‘gamble’ that your slightly longer meta description doesn’t get cut off occasionally, but that wouldn’t be our recommendation.

Ok, so I have to use the Serp simulator who has an on/off button. Google does not show dates from my website, because I made it that way. So have many others. Even plugins exist for that purpose.
A strange thing for an SEO company to think that it is better to remove the option. Explaining why this option could be used is much better. We are no little children. There are much more complicating things than this small option. But hey, who am I…

Have a nice weekend.