If you’re learning about SEO, then meta keywords may be something you come across a lot. However, there can be some confusion as to whether meta keywords are important for SEO in the current landscape.
So, if you have questions about meta keywords, what they are, and whether you should be using them, then keep reading, as we are going to break down everything you need to know about meta keywords.
What Are Meta Keywords?
Meta keywords are keywords that are found in the HTML code of your site. This means that they are not visible to viewers. They have historically been used to provide search engines with more information about your site without disrupting visitors’ experience.
An example of a meta keywords tag may look like this:
<meta name=”keywords” content=”SEO tips, keyword research, on-page SEO”/>
The Decline of Meta Keywords in SEO
While meta keywords have been used extensively for SEO in the past, they are now no longer relevant.
In 2009, Google released a statement explaining that meta keywords would now have no impact on content rankings. They made this decision due to content creators abusing the function.
Many content creators would engage in keyword stuffing, or overloading their tags with an enormous amount of keywords, often unrelated, in order to broaden their reach. However, as this was manipulating the relevance and usefulness of search results, Google made the move to make the practice ineffective.
Afterward, other search engines such as Yahoo and Bing dropped their support for meta keywords, too.
So, are meta keywords important for SEO?
Simply, no.
The Current SEO Landscape
In order to address issues such as keyword stuffing, misuse of meta keywords, and AI-created content, Google has introduced a number of measures that will allow high-value content to rank over creators who attempt to manipulate rankings.
Nowadays, search engines have shifted their focus toward user-centric content that uses natural language and has a more human feel. This means that the best way to get content ranking is to produce high-quality content that focuses on the user experience over anything else.
When creating content, make sure to remember the E-A-T approach: Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness.
Alongside prioritizing more user-friendly content, there has been a shift in focus toward technical SEO and Core Web Vitals. Making sure your website is functioning at top capacity means that search engines will treat your site more favorably.
Expert Opinions on if Meta Keywords Are Important For SEO
Don’t just take our word for it. Over the years, many different experts have weighed in on whether meta keywords are important for SEO.
Ever since their 2009 announcement, Google has stuck firm on their stance on meta keywords.
In 2022, John Mueller, Google’s Search Advocate, reiterated that Google still does not factor meta keywords into their SEO rankings.
Amongst the SEO community, there is a strong sense of support for the search engines’ anti-meta-keyword stances, too, with most agreeing that their devaluation allows truly valuable content to shine rather than talented content creators having to compete against spammy practices.
Why You Shouldn’t Focus on Meta Keywords Today
If you’re still unsure as to whether meta keywords are important for SEO, here are the top reasons why they are not a helpful practice
No Ranking Benefit:
Since the adjustments made by Google and other search engines, they have absolutely no impact on your rankings at all. This means that focusing on them is, quite simply, a waste of time.
Risk of Keyword Stuffing
Not only do meta keywords have no impact on your rankings, but due to their lack of visibility, the practice can end up with creators engaging in keyword stuffing. This practice of overusing irrelevant keywords can have a detrimental impact on your SEO and your user experience.
Potential Spam Risk:
Due to the pushback against poor practice in meta keyword usage, search engines now often flag sites that engage in them to be spammy. This means that not only will using meta keywords have no impact on your site’s ranking, but it can even lead to your site being penalized and harming your rankings more than helping them. So, if you’ve been engaging in the use of meta keywords, it might be time to undertake a site audit and remove them.
What to Focus On Instead of Meta Keywords
Instead of focusing on meta keywords, here are some of the best things you can include to help your SEO strategy.
- Title Tags: Including your primary keyword in your title tag immediately signals your content topic to search engines and searchers.
- Meta Descriptions: Using keywords in your meta description allows search engines to discern more information about the value of your content.
- Heading Tags: Organizing content with H1, H2, and H3 tags means that search engines will be able to understand the contents of your post more easily and assess its value for readers.
- Image Alt Text: Using image alt text can also help search engines understand the relevance of your content, as well as rank images from your page on image search tabs.
- Content Quality: Overall, focusing on creating high-quality content will mean that your site is considered to be of high value by search engines, allowing it to be prioritized in results.
Summing Up Meta Keyword Importance For SEO
As you now know, these days, meta keywords are not important for SEO. However, there are lots of other ways that you can get your content seen.
The best thing to do is to focus on proven SEO strategies that align with search engine guidelines and avoid practices that come across as spammy or misleading. As long as you focus on making high-quality content that your readers will love to read, then you will be well on your way to making content that ranks.
Why Should You Work With SEO Baguette?
Keeping up with current trends in SEO can feel really overwhelming, especially if you’re a small business faced with a time when everything is changing so rapidly.
At SEO Baguette, we’ve dedicated ourselves to understanding SEO best practices in the current tech landscape. We can help you create content to boost your rankings, undertake keyword research directly connected to your target audience, and help you come up with a plan that will help you take your website to new heights.
If you feel overwhelmed by SEO and aren’t sure where to go from here, a great place to start would be to take advantage of our free SEO audit. This way, we can audit your site, let you know what steps you need to take next, and offer the best possible solutions for your site.
By leaving the confusion of SEO to us, you can stop tying yourself in knots and finally focus on developing your site in a way that’s meaningful to you.
