The Meta Keywords tag is an HTML attribute that was commonly used in the past to provide search engines with a list of keywords relevant to a webpage’s content. It was part of the Meta tags section in the HTML head section and looked like this:
<meta name=”keywords” content=”keyword1, keyword2, keyword3″>
The purpose of the Meta Keywords tag was to help search engines understand the main topics and themes of a webpage. Webmasters would include relevant keywords that were related to the content in the hopes of improving the page’s visibility in search engine results.
However, over time, search engines, including Google, have shifted their algorithms and no longer consider the Meta Keywords tag as a significant ranking factor. This change occurred because the tag was widely misused and abused by website owners who would stuff it with irrelevant or excessive keywords to manipulate search results.
As a result, major search engines now rely primarily on other factors, such as the page’s content, backlinks, user experience, and social signals, to determine a webpage’s relevance and ranking. The Meta Keywords tag has lost its relevance in modern search engine optimization (SEO) practices.
In fact, search engines like Google have officially stated that they ignore the Meta Keywords tag. Therefore, it is generally unnecessary to include this tag in your HTML code, as it has no direct impact on search engine rankings.
Instead, it is recommended to focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that naturally incorporates relevant keywords and provides value to users. Additionally, other SEO techniques, such as optimizing page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and improving website structure and user experience, are more effective for improving search engine visibility.
In conclusion, the Meta Keywords tag was once used to provide search engines with a list of keywords related to a webpage’s content, but its importance has significantly diminished. It is no longer considered a relevant factor in modern SEO practices, and search engines like Google ignore this tag when determining search rankings.
How to write Meta Keywords Tag
While the Meta Keywords tag is no longer considered a significant factor in search engine rankings, if you still wish to include it in your HTML code, you can follow these steps:
1. Open your HTML file in a text editor or HTML editor of your choice.
2. Locate the <head> section of your HTML document. It typically appears between the <html> and <body> tags.
3. Within the <head> section, add the following line of code:
<meta name=”keywords” content=”keyword1, keyword2, keyword3″>
Replace “keyword1, keyword2, keyword3” with the actual keywords you want to associate with your webpage. Separate each keyword with a comma.
4. Save the changes to your HTML file.
It’s important to note that while you can still add the Meta Keywords tag to your HTML, search engines like Google do not consider it when determining search rankings. Therefore, it is generally more beneficial to focus on creating high-quality content and implementing modern SEO practices that have a greater impact on search engine visibility.
Pros and Cons of Meta Keywords Tag
The Meta Keywords tag, despite its diminished relevance in modern SEO practices, still has certain pros and cons. Let’s examine them:
Pros of Meta Keywords Tag:
- Easy to implement: Adding the Meta Keywords tag to your HTML code is a straightforward process. It requires minimal technical knowledge and can be quickly implemented.
- Potential for increased visibility: While major search engines like Google no longer consider the Meta Keywords tag as a ranking factor, smaller or niche search engines may still take it into account. In such cases, including relevant keywords might help improve visibility on those specific search engines.
- Organization and clarity: By including a Meta Keywords tag, you can explicitly state the main topics or themes covered in your webpage. This can provide a clear indication to human readers and potentially assist with categorization and organization.
Cons of Meta Keywords Tag:
- Ignored by major search engines: The biggest drawback of the Meta Keywords tag is that leading search engines, including Google, explicitly state that they ignore it. This means it has no direct impact on search rankings on these platforms, rendering it ineffective for most SEO purposes.
- Keyword stuffing and spamming risks: In the past, website owners abused the Meta Keywords tag by stuffing it with excessive keywords or using irrelevant keywords to manipulate search results. This led to decreased search engine relevance and a decline in the tag’s significance. Nowadays, excessive keyword usage can even result in penalties or negative consequences for your website.
- Misalignment with modern SEO practices: Modern SEO practices emphasize high-quality content, user experience, backlinks, and other factors that have proven to be more influential in search engine rankings. The Meta Keywords tag does not align with these practices and is therefore considered outdated and unnecessary.
Given the cons outweighing the pros, it is generally recommended to focus on other SEO techniques that have a more significant impact on search engine visibility. These include creating quality content, optimizing page titles and headings, improving user experience, building strong backlinks, and engaging in social media marketing, among others.
FAQs of Meta Keywords Tag
1. What is the Meta Keywords tag?
Android : The Meta Keywords tag is an HTML attribute that was previously used to provide search engines with a list of keywords relevant to a webpage’s content. It was placed in the <head> section of an HTML document.
2. What was the purpose of the Meta Keywords tag?
Android : The Meta Keywords tag aimed to help search engines understand the main topics and themes of a webpage. Webmasters would include relevant keywords in the tag to potentially improve the page’s visibility in search engine results.
3. Are Meta Keywords still relevant for SEO?
Android : No, Meta Keywords are no longer considered a relevant factor for search engine optimization (SEO). Major search engines, like Google, have explicitly stated that they ignore the Meta Keywords tag when determining search rankings.
4. Should I include Meta Keywords in my HTML code?
Android : It is generally unnecessary to include Meta Keywords in your HTML code, as they have no direct impact on search engine rankings. Modern SEO practices focus on creating high-quality content and optimizing other factors, such as page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and user experience, which have a more significant impact on search engine visibility.
5. Are there any risks associated with using Meta Keywords?
Android : One risk associated with Meta Keywords is the potential for keyword stuffing and spamming. In the past, website owners would abuse the tag by stuffing it with excessive or irrelevant keywords, leading to penalties or a decline in search engine relevance. It is important to avoid such practices.
6. Can Meta Keywords still be useful for niche search engines?
Android : While major search engines ignore Meta Keywords, smaller or niche search engines may still consider them when determining search rankings. If you specifically target such search engines, including relevant keywords in the Meta Keywords tag might have a minor impact on visibility.
7. What are the alternatives to Meta Keywords for SEO?
Android : Instead of relying on Meta Keywords, focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that naturally incorporates keywords. Optimize other SEO factors, such as page titles, headings, meta descriptions, website structure, user experience, and building quality backlinks. These factors have a greater influence on search engine visibility.
Conclusion of Meta Keywords Tag
In conclusion, the Meta Keywords tag, once commonly used in HTML, has lost its significance in modern SEO practices. While it was previously intended to provide search engines with a list of keywords related to a webpage’s content, major search engines like Google now ignore this tag when determining search rankings.
The Meta Keywords tag has several drawbacks, including the risk of keyword stuffing and spamming, its misalignment with current SEO practices, and its lack of impact on search engine visibility. Additionally, the tag can be misleading and easily manipulated, leading to decreased search engine relevance.
Instead of relying on the Meta Keywords tag, it is advisable to focus on other essential SEO techniques, such as creating high-quality and relevant content, optimizing page titles, headings, and meta descriptions, improving user experience and website structure, building quality backlinks, and engaging in effective marketing strategies. These factors have a more significant impact on search engine rankings and overall online visibility.
You can also try Profile Creation Sites List and Directory Submission Site List for creating quality backlinks.
We have created a Technical SEO Checklist for SEO Professionals. You can check that also.
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