Description Metatag can affect your SERP's?

[DarrenC]

I added a description to my travel blog and when Google had picked this up it dropped me 2 pages for a competitive keyword.

Anyone seen an example where using the description metatag can actually have a negative a
effect on your rankings?

[mystikmedia]

No...I think it was just coincidence. Having a description meta tag can do nothing but help...

[DarrenC]

Well we will see soon enough

I have removed the description and I'll see if it jumps back up.

[digiweb]

I was creating some yahoo search marketing campaigns a few days ago, there was a "did you know" tip in there saying that the advertiser ought to use meta tags.

I haven't seen a recommendation for meta tags since 1998.

[reteep]

Interesting.. looking forward to the Results Darren

[irka]

Yep don't forget to tell us , seems interesting

[John Scott]

Google may use snippets of text from the description meta tag, but I have tested it and a page will NOT rank on Google for a keyword if that keyword is just in the meta description and nowhere else.

On Yahoo, however, pages do rank for keywords found in only the meta description tag.

[digiweb]

That jibes with my theory that Yahoo is falling into a slow but inevitable decline to an oblivion hovering somwhere in quality just above Alta Vista. Google keeps leaping ahead on the quality of search while Yahoo rolls out more stuff to sell.

What do you think?

[John Scott]

I like Yahoo. Easily anchor text bombed, "seo friendly".

[digiweb]

lol - I meant as a user looking for stuff, will it fall behind your needs.