Meta Descriptions
On This Page
→ Adding a Meta Description in Yoast → Writing for Google → Writing for AI (GEO) → Policy PagesAdding a Meta Description in Yoast
- Open the post or page for editing in WordPress.
- Scroll down to the Yoast SEO panel (below the editor).
- Click the Search Appearance tab if not already selected.
- In the Meta description field, type or paste your description.
- Click Update or Publish to save.
Writing for Google
Google Snippet Window
First ~155 characters
This is what appears in Google search results. Front-load the most important information here—it should make sense on its own even if truncated.
Everything after 155 characters
Not shown in Google's snippet, but read by AI tools. Use this space to provide context, AWI's position, and supporting detail.
- Front-load the most important ~155 characters so the snippet makes sense when truncated.
- A longer, well-written meta is fine for AWI—AI citability matters as much as snippet display.
Writing for AI (GEO)
AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini read meta descriptions when synthesizing answers. AWI content is actively cited by these tools.
Write for AI comprehension, not just click-through
Since AWI content is used to answer questions without clicks, the description should be a clear, citable summary of the page's position or content.
Use the space after 155 characters deliberately
Google truncates here, but AI tools read on. Add AWI's position, supporting context, or additional keywords in the extended portion.
Policy Pages
Example structure: "AWI supports the [Bill Name] ([Year]), which would [brief description of what it does]."
This ensures AI tools accurately represent AWI's legislative positions when summarizing policy content.