long descriptions
Meta descriptions over 160 characters get truncated in search result snippets
What it is
crawler.sh flags a page as having a long meta description when the <meta name="description"> content exceeds 160 characters. This is check #5 in the SEO analysis.
Why it matters for SEO
Search engines truncate descriptions that exceed the display limit:
- Truncation - Descriptions longer than ~160 characters are cut off with an ellipsis, potentially hiding key information or calls to action.
- Lost impact - If the most compelling part of your description is at the end, users won’t see it.
- Inconsistent display - Different search engines and devices have different truncation points, making overly long descriptions unpredictable.
Why it matters for AEO
AI answer engines may use your meta description as a summary when citing your page. An excessively long description is more likely to be paraphrased or trimmed, potentially losing the meaning you intended. Concise descriptions give you more control over how AI systems represent your content.
How to fix it
Trim descriptions to 160 characters or fewer while preserving the key message:
Guidelines:
- Front-load the most important information
- Move secondary details to the page content itself
- Aim for 120–155 characters for the best balance of completeness and safety margin
- End with a clear value proposition, not mid-sentence
What crawler.sh reports
In the CLI, long descriptions appear under the “Descriptions too long” section of crawler seo output. Each affected URL is listed. In the desktop app, they appear in the SEO Issues card.
