9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

how many meta tags?

by sadsprite
8 replies
  • SEO
    • |
hi.
im wondering about how many meta tag keyword is optimal and how to do the best keyword research??

many thanks!
#meta #tags
  • Profile picture of the author BillLudwig
    The Keyword Meta Tag is totally and completely useless. The only value you will get in filling out the tag is that competing SEO's ( like us ) will love you for it because then we can just look at your source code to see what keywords your targeting.

    I'm sure there are some good WSOs and posts about doing keyword research here on the forums but I don't have any recommendations. I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction shortly.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3009553].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Will P
    Not that it matters these days but I personally use 1-3 keywords in the meta tags and let the search engines gather the rest.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3009610].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author orvn
    Originally Posted by BillLudwig View Post

    The Keyword Meta Tag is totally and completely useless. The only value you will get in filling out the tag is that competing SEO's ( like us ) will love you for it because then we can just look at your source code to see what keywords your targeting.

    I'm sure there are some good WSOs and posts about doing keyword research here on the forums but I don't have any recommendations. I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction shortly.

    He's right you know. Meta keywords are not only useless but actually slightly damaging in giving your competitors a glance at your completed keyword research.
    You may still want to keep a nice META description tag though.

    As for keyword research. You can use free keyword tools like those provided by:
    SEObook,
    Microsoft Adcenter Labs,
    Google Adwords Keyword Checker,
    SEO quake (recommend the firefox extension!)

    Purchasing Market Samurai is a very wise $100 investment.
    Signature
    Orun Bhuiyan[@orvn] [linkedin] See what I've been doing lately by visiting my marketing agency's site. SEOcial specializes in content marketing and integrated optimization. We create conversions for businesses by gracefully connecting the realms of design, development and marketing.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3009651].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author brp002
    It does matter. From my results Yahoo still does have impact with meta tags.... not sure with the merge with bing.

    but 5 - 6 is good!
    Signature

    If you want a link here please email me!

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3009666].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author orvn
      Originally Posted by brp002 View Post

      It does matter. From my results Yahoo still does have impact with meta tags.... not sure with the merge with bing.

      but 5 - 6 is good!
      I understand that you only mean to help, but this is not true.

      This meta element is, simply put, a relic of the past.
      What happened was that people started abusing it and "stuffing" a great many keywords into the element.

      As of 7 years ago, Yahoo Slurp & Inktomi also do not use the meta keywords tag at all.
      Google stopped using it over 10 years ago.
      None of the smaller crawlers use it either.

      At the end of the day, this tag just lets your competitors know which keywords you're targeting.
      Signature
      Orun Bhuiyan[@orvn] [linkedin] See what I've been doing lately by visiting my marketing agency's site. SEOcial specializes in content marketing and integrated optimization. We create conversions for businesses by gracefully connecting the realms of design, development and marketing.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3009724].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author jennypitts
        Originally Posted by orvn View Post

        I understand that you only mean to help, but this is not true.

        This meta element is, simply put, a relic of the past.
        What happened was that people started abusing it and "stuffing" a great many keywords into the element.

        As of 7 years ago, Yahoo Slurp & Inktomi also do not use the meta keywords tag at all.
        Google stopped using it over 10 years ago.
        None of the smaller crawlers use it either.


        At the end of the day, this tag just lets your competitors know which keywords you're targeting.

        I agree. Just as with everything else that was good for SEO purposes those who abuse of something like meta tags, only create havoc for the rest. Not to mention that you are indeed letting competitors know what your main keywords are and doing their work for them.

        Do they still work? Perhaps... But they are not longer the fundamental aspect of On Page SEO. I would simply say, GREAT informative content, with a good keyword and information balance. Along with some other SEO factors will help you place well in SERPS without overdoing or even worrying too much about META.
        Signature
        Traffic Exchange - Solo Ads - Contact Solo Ads
        Social Networking For Internet Marketers to Increase Traffic to Referral Program or Site.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3009749].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author orvn
          No worries though, it's really easy to make this mistake because this is the most prevalent SEO myth out there. A lot of old articles still perpetuate it. I don't like to admit it, but I fell victim to it myself once!

          Originally Posted by jennypitts View Post

          Do they still work? Perhaps... But they are not longer the fundamental aspect of On Page SEO.
          Honestly, I wouldn't even justify giving it credit with the leeway that the word "perhaps" provides.

          Official Google Webmaster Central Blog: Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking
          Signature
          Orun Bhuiyan[@orvn] [linkedin] See what I've been doing lately by visiting my marketing agency's site. SEOcial specializes in content marketing and integrated optimization. We create conversions for businesses by gracefully connecting the realms of design, development and marketing.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3009788].message }}

Trending Topics