Search Engine Optimization Meta Tags - Which Tags Matter?

If you're wanting to learn about search engine optimization meta tags, I'll start by giving you a vital tip: don't worry at all about the HTML keywords meta tag. This is an element that has somehow been considered by many to still be crucial for SEO. The truth is that it was created in 1996, was abused heavily for two years, then abandoned by almost all the search engines by 1998. Google completely ignores it and always has. Yahoo and Ask.com still use this tag, but you won't get any "bonus" points for putting your keywords into it.

So what are the best ways to use meta tags in search engine optimization? The two main tags you want to use are the title tag and the description meta tag.

The Title Tag
This is the dominant on-site SEO element. Now having said this, this does NOT mean you should stuff all your major keywords into a title tag. To do SEO well, you want to make sure you optimize your title tag for one, maybe two keyword phrases. Not only this, but realize that this is what people will be clicking - it should read well. Which would you prefer to click on: "Dog Food Big Dog Food Little Dog Food Dog..." or "Dog Food For Champion Dogs"? Even if you can get your listing to the top, if it's not something people will click on as much, the point has been somewhat lost.

The Description Tag
This fits well with the title tag as both of these are the HTML elements that show on the search engine results pages. The description tag should contain your main keyword phrase, but should still be readable and interesting to visitors. Tell them why the page is exactly what they're looking for. Spamming this tag with all your keywords will only push people away from your search engine listing.

The Keywords Tag
If you MUST use the keywords meta tag, then use it carefully, and remember that many competing SEOs will look at this first to see what keywords you're targeting for your page. Put other keywords you couldn't fit naturally into your page content that are still relevant and part of your page's theme, and keep them limited. Even deciding to put no keywords meta tag on your page will not hurt the SEO for your page.

The basics of search engine optimization meta tags you should remember from this is that the title tag and the description tag are very important but should not be abused, and the keywords meta tag is highly overrated should not be a priority.

Eric_G.

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