SEO Snippet Preview
Auto-generated from your title. Paste your full URL or edit the slug directly.
Google search preview
yoursite.com
Your page title
Your meta description will appear here. Write a compelling 140-160 character summary of what this page offers.
This SEO snippet preview tool shows you exactly how your page will appear in Google search results before you publish it. Enter your page title, meta description, and URL slug to see a live Google SERP card that updates as you type. Character count warnings flag titles that are too long or descriptions that are too short, so you can optimise your snippet and improve click-through rates without guessing.
How to use this tool
- 1Enter your page title in the first field. The live preview and character counter update instantly. Aim for 50-60 characters to avoid truncation in search results.
- 2Enter your meta description in the second field. Google typically shows 140-160 characters, so write a compelling summary within that range.
- 3Enter your page URL or paste in a full URL - the tool extracts and formats the path for the preview. A clean slug is also auto-generated from your title.
- 4Watch the Google SERP preview card update in real time. If the title or description appears cut off, shorten it until the full text is visible.
- 5Copy the slug from the URL field using the Copy button and use it directly as your page URL.
Example
Title: 'Professional Plumbing Services in Manchester | FastFix' (56 chars - good). Description: 'Emergency and planned plumbing services across Greater Manchester. Same-day callouts, fixed prices, fully insured.' (115 chars - could be longer). The preview immediately shows the title fits but the description has room for another 25 characters, which could mention 'No call-out fee'.
Title: 'How to Write a Business Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide for Startups in 2026' (78 chars - too long). The preview shows the title truncated mid-sentence. Shortening to 'How to Write a Business Plan: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)' (57 chars) keeps the full title visible and includes the year for freshness.
Common use cases
- Website owners and bloggers previewing every new page before publishing to avoid truncated titles in search results
- SEO freelancers and consultants reviewing client page metadata as part of an on-page audit
- Small business owners writing their own page titles and descriptions for their websites
- Content marketers testing different title and description variants before choosing which to publish
- Developers who want a quick visual check on dynamic meta tags generated by a CMS or framework
Common mistakes
- Writing a title over 60 characters and assuming Google will show all of it - Google truncates titles at around 580 pixels width (roughly 60 average-width characters) and replaces the rest with '...'.
- Using the same meta description on multiple pages - Google may rewrite your description or penalise duplicate content; every page should have a unique description that accurately reflects its content.
- Stuffing the title with keywords instead of writing for the reader - title tags are a ranking signal, but over-optimised titles that read unnaturally have lower click-through rates.
- Leaving the meta description blank - when no description is set, Google picks a random excerpt from the page, which is often out of context. Always write a custom description for important pages.
- Ignoring the URL slug - a clean, descriptive slug that matches the title helps both readability and rankings. Avoid auto-generated slugs with IDs, dates, or random strings.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SEO snippet?
An SEO snippet is the block of text Google shows for your page in search results. It has three parts: the URL (shown above the title), the title (the large clickable link), and the meta description (the summary text below the title). Optimising all three improves both ranking potential and click-through rate.
How many characters should a page title be?
Google truncates titles at approximately 580 pixels, which translates to roughly 50-60 characters for average-width text. Wider characters like 'W' and 'M' take more space; narrow ones like 'i' and 'l' take less. Aim for 55 characters as a safe target and always check the preview to confirm nothing is cut off.
How long should a meta description be?
Google shows approximately 140-160 characters of a meta description on desktop. On mobile the limit is slightly shorter. Write 140-155 characters to stay safely within both limits. The description should accurately summarise the page and include a natural call to action or key differentiator to encourage clicks.
Does this preview exactly match what Google shows?
The preview closely matches Google's typical SERP appearance, but Google can override your meta description with page content it considers more relevant to the search query. The title may also be rewritten if Google decides your version does not accurately describe the page. This tool shows the snippet you are asking Google to display.
Does the meta description affect Google rankings?
Not directly. Google has confirmed that meta descriptions are not a ranking factor. However, a well-written description increases click-through rate, which is a strong relevance signal. A higher click-through rate can indirectly improve ranking. Write descriptions for the searcher, not for the algorithm.
What is a URL slug and how should I format it?
A URL slug is the part of the URL that identifies the specific page, appearing after the domain (e.g. /blog/how-to-write-a-business-plan). Best practice is to use lowercase letters, hyphens between words (not underscores), and no special characters or spaces. Include the primary keyword naturally. Avoid dates and random strings for content pages.
Is my data saved or shared?
No. Everything you enter is processed locally in your browser. Your titles, descriptions, and URLs are never sent to a server or stored anywhere.
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