While many of the more popular search engines, such as Google, claimed to-have abandoned the keywords meta tag, other’s, like Bing still do utilize these tags. Ultimately, the decision to use keyword meta tags on your site is up to you, but the general consensus is that when done properly, they will not hurt your site in any search engine.
Keyword Meta Tag Best Practices:
– Interested in placing a special emphasis on particular words? The keyword meta tag may be the answer! Placing major keywords toward the top of a page or in a header tag isn’t always the easiest task. Important words may not be presented until the center of the page. By utilizing the keywords meta tag, these words can be added to provide search engines with a notice of emphasis. Keep in mind… there are rules:
- Avoid placing irrelevant keywords within the tag. This practice will only serve in getting the site banned from the search engine.
- Avoid placing keywords twice within the tag. Many search engines consider this practice a form of spam, and will only serve to reduce your page rank.
- Avoid placing too many keywords on each page, industry standards recommend no more than 10-12 keywords per page.
– Want to include synonyms for particular keywords not found within the page content? Keyword meta tag to the rescue! Search engine users search a number of variations on different keywords. Depending on the site content, it can be difficult to cover each of these variations without making the search engines think your site is a pile of keyword spam
– Some choose to utilize the keyword meta tag to include keywords in various languages. Sites that use multiple languages but use only one for the default page can benefit from this practice by snagging traffic from users who speak different languages.
Bing
Yes… Bing does use the keyword meta tag. No… it will not help your search results on the site. Bing mainly uses it as a means to identify spammers who are trying to get visibility for high searched phrases that are not relevant to the site.
So Do I Use The Tag Or Not?!?!?
Sure! However, it’s important to keep in mind that you’ll be chancing Bing stamping your site as spam if you over-stuff your tag. If you’re more the “better safe than sorry” kind of programmer, the recommendation is predominately “no”. Google does not support the tag, and any additional traffic gained from ASR isn’t worth having your site branded in a negative light by Bing.
If you already use the tag on your page, there’s no need to panic. You may choose to remove it… though the general take is that sites will only be branded in a spam fashion in cases where additional signals are present.
Confused?
Don’t be! Contact an Eminent SEO representative today to keep your site ranking high and keyword optimized!
Hey there fantastic blog! Does running a blog similar to this take a lot of work?
I have very little understanding of programming however I had been hoping to start my
own blog soon. Anyways, should you have any suggestions or tips for new
blog owners please share. I understand this is off subject nevertheless I simply wanted
to ask. Many thanks!
Well this takes a lot of work yes but not as much as you think! With a blogging platform you need to stay open and active with your users and even answer any comment or spam bot questions that you let get through if you decide not to delete!