Should You Use Keyword Meta Tags?

Should you use keyword Meta Tags when optimizing your web pages?

That is an often a heatedly debated question, when search engine optimization strategies are being discussed.

How much weight Google, and the other search engines, place on the keyword meta tag, is something I've always wondered about.

Well, according to a video from Matt Cutts, Google's head of Webspam; Google rarely uses the keyword meta tag for their rankings.

Google occasionally uses a part of the meta description tag, usually the first 160 characters, for the description that you see in the search engine results.

The description meta tag has no bearing on Google's ranking of websites.

Some search engines such as Yahoo, and Ask, still use the keyword meta tag in their algorithms.

So, it's probably a good idea, instead of leaving the keyword tag empty, to continue using the keyword meta tag for search engines, other than Google.

If for no other reason, it provides a good insurance policy for the search engines that still factor the keyword meta tag into their algorithms.

The keyword meta tag is used by the Google search appliance, however it doesn't affect the organic results at google.com.

So, should you use keyword meta tags? It can't hurt, but it's entirely up to you.

Learn More About Using Tags and SEO Here.

Search Engine Ranking: Frequently Committed Errors

New web sites are often constructed with too much emphasis placed on aesthetics, and not enough attention paid to search engine ranking.

High search engine rankings are important due to the fact that it increases visitor traffic.

Web traffic is extremely important to a website, and must be given a great deal of attention.

The importance of this list of most frequently committed errors made by webmasters, should not be under estimated, if you want to achieve a good search engine ranking.

Inefficient Use Of Keywords:

Efficient use of keywords is essential for getting large amounts of web traffic.
Not only are keywords the reason the visitors search for your site; they are extremely useful for search engines, ranking your website.

Constant Repetition Of Keywords:

Using the same keyword or group of keywords over and over again is called "stocking" or "packing" and can result in the search engines leaving your page or your entire site.
Using keywords properly your website is almost an art form.

Stealing Icons From Other Websites:

All web designers know the importance of good links. Robbing icons from other websites is NOT a good idea, when you can't come up with a design of your own. If you can't come up with a unique idea by yourself; farm it out and have someone else design one for you.
Search engines these days are sophisticated enough to detect duplicate icons as well as duplicate content.

Using Keywords Not Associated With Your Website:

Always try to maintain websites that have protocol. Remove unconnected keywords and topics. Search engines can consider unrelated content and keywords as spam, and will eliminate the site from the listing.

Keyword Stuffing:

Stuffed keywords and multiple graphic descriptions on websites appear awkward to search engines as well as visitors. An excessive amount of both can be considered as spam and your site could be at risk.

Avoid Using Hidden Keywords:

Some clever webmasters, hide keywords in the background of their websites text pages, by making the font color, the same as the background of the page. Keywords should always be visible.

Avoid Free Web Hosting:

A consequence of web hosting is a potential increase on search engine rankings, however, search engines often treat them unfavorably. Using your site on your own domain will produce much more favorable results over time.

Search engine rankings are important. Don't make a mistake that could get your site banned by the search engines.

For more Free information on Search Engine Ranking and Optimization, CLICK HERE.