A page should have one, and only one, meta description. The presence of multiple meta descriptions in a page’s HTML `<head>` is a technical error that sends a confusing and conflicting signal to search engines. When a crawler finds two or more `<meta name=”description” …>` tags, it doesn’t know which one to use. The most likely outcome is that it will ignore all of them, causing you to lose control over your search snippet.
Think of your meta description as your page’s official statement to the press. If you issue two different, conflicting statements, the press will likely disregard both and write their own story based on their interpretation. Similarly, Google will ignore your conflicting descriptions and generate its own snippet from your page’s content. For a broader look at metadata, see our guide on the on-page SEO category.
Why Multiple Meta Descriptions Are a Problem
This issue is almost always the result of a technical glitch, often a conflict between a CMS, a theme, and an SEO plugin all trying to add a meta description. For a deep dive into writing for search engines, check out this guide from Ahrefs on meta descriptions.
- Conflicting Signals: It creates ambiguity for search engine crawlers, which thrive on clear, definitive signals.
- Loss of Control: When Google ignores your preferred description, it will generate one from your content that may not be as compelling or well-written, which can lower your click-through rate.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Consolidating Your Message
The goal is to ensure that every page on your site has exactly one meta description tag in its HTML `<head>`. For Google’s perspective on this, their guide on controlling your snippets is an essential resource.
Example: Consolidating Meta Descriptions
<!-- Before: Two meta description tags -->
<head>
<meta name="description" content="This is the first description.">
<meta name="description" content="This is the second description.">
</head>
<!-- After: Only one meta description tag -->
<head>
<meta name="description" content="This is the correct description.">
</head>For more on this topic, see our guide on meta descriptions only in rendered HTML.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do multiple meta descriptions even happen?
This issue is almost always a technical error. It can be caused by a conflict between your CMS (like WordPress), your theme, and an SEO plugin, with each one trying to insert its own meta description tag into the HTML `<head>`. It can also happen from mistakes in custom code.
Does this issue apply to other meta tags?
Yes. While it’s most common with meta descriptions, having multiple title tags, canonical tags, or meta robots tags can also cause significant confusion for search engines. Every page should have only one of each of these critical meta tags.
How can I find pages with multiple meta descriptions?
The most effective way is to use a website crawler like Creeper. It will scan the full HTML of every page and is specifically programmed to flag any page that contains more than one `<meta name=\”description\” …>` tag.
Is your site sending mixed messages? Start your Creeper audit today to find and fix pages with multiple meta descriptions.