Should I remove all meta descriptions to avoid duplicates as a short term fix?

[RG_SEO]

I’m currently trying to implement Matt Cutt’s advice from a recent YouTube video, in which he said that it was better to have no meta descriptions at all than duplicates.

I know that there are better alternatives, but, if forced to make a choice, would it be better to remove all duplicate meta descriptions from a site than to have duplicates (leaving a lone meta tag description on the home page perhaps?). This would be a short term fix prior to making changes to our CMS to allow us to add unique meta descriptions to the most important pages.

I’ve seen various blogs across the internet which recommend removing all the tags in these circumstances, but I’m interested in what people on Moz think of this.

The site currently has a meta description which is duplicated across every page on the site.

[nurzhyk]

Yes, if you can quickly write unique meta descriptions you can start doing that immediately and if the site is not big and you manage to finish it in 1- 2 weeks there is no use to delete meta descriptions. If you see that this will occupy more then 2 weeks it is better to delete duplicated metadescriptions. But the best solution will be to write unique meta description immediately for home page and other important pages which rank right now.

[RG_SEO]

Thanks Marc for answering what is in many ways an unfair question.

I definitely agree that the long term objective should be different and relevant meta descriptions as you say. It's also good to know that each of the approaches I suggested were ultimately bad practice, even if one of them is less bad than the other.

[dotfly]

this is a tough choice between 2 bad "mistakes" - if you leave it blank or empty you don`t use the potential you have... if you have duplicates this is also the same PLUS being afraid what could happen because Matt Cutts mentioned this topic...

You cant expect a really serious recommendation because both is a "no-go" to me at the moment. If you leave it blank, Google will decide what they display within their SERPs respective Snippets. If your sites have a good and relevant text this wont end up in a desaster but if there is nothing which Google can pick from???! You no what I mean? (many shops have this problem then)

On the other hand this announcement might be a hint to what already happend with the meta keywords... they have no relevance anymore... the only recommendation I would give you now: try it out!

Take one page or a few more and delete the meta description. Leave it blank and wait a little bit... sooner or later you will be able to see the effect within the SERPs then. Upon this result you can make your decision. Don`t do that with your start/home/entry page... use sites (URLs I mean) which are linked more deeper...

BUT your long-term goal should be: create different and relevant meta descriptions