It is not worth configuring meta keywords on the website for several reasons. Firstly, most internet search engines no longer use meta keywords to index web pages. Instead, search engine algorithms focus on a page's content, its quality, and other factors such as backlinks and loading times.
Secondly, configuring meta keywords can even harm your website. If you enter too many keywords or use keywords that are unrelated to your site's content, search engines may consider it spammy and lower your site's ranking in search results. Additionally, your competition will be able to easily determine what words you want to position for.
Therefore, instead of setting up meta keywords, focus on creating valuable content for your users and optimizing other SEO factors such as page title, meta description and backlinks. This will allow you to achieve better results in search engines and attract more traffic to your website.
Outdated SEO Practices
Nowadays, many SEO practices have changed and some have become completely outdated. One such practice is configuring meta keywords on the page.
Evolution of Search Engine Algorithms
Search engine algorithms like Google are constantly evolving and becoming more advanced. In the past, meta keywords were used by search engines to determine the topic of a page. However, as algorithms have developed, search engines have become more intelligent and no longer rely on meta keywords to determine the topic of a page.
Nowadays, search engine algorithms focus on analyzing the content of a website, its quality and links leading to it. Configuring meta keywords on the page no longer affects the page's positioning in search results.
Ignored by Google
Google has long stopped recognizing meta keywords as a factor influencing ranking. In 2009, Matt Cutts, then a Google engineer, explained that meta keywords were ignored by Google because they were easy to manipulate by spammers. Therefore, Google has decided to ignore meta keywords in its search algorithm.
SEO Tests and Research
Many SEO studies and tests confirm that meta keywords have no impact on search engine rankings. According to an analysis conducted by Search Engine Journal, meta keywords constitute only 0.51% of the factors influencing ranking, which means that they are practically irrelevant to the website's positioning.
To sum up, it is not worth wasting time on configuring meta keywords on your website. Instead, focus on other factors that influence SEO, such as content, backlinks, and website optimization for mobile devices.
Keyword Misuse
Configuring meta keywords on a website can lead to keyword abuse. Some webmasters use this technique to improve their website's position in search results, but it is against SEO principles. Repeating the same keywords on a page can cause search engines to interpret it as spam and lower the page's ranking in search results.
Better SEO Alternatives
Schema.org, Tags
Schema.org markup is a way to label elements on your website so that search engines better understand their meaning. This allows your website to appear more attractively in search results, increasing your chances of getting clicked. Schema.org markup is easy to implement and can be applied to any page.
Content Optimization
It is worth ensuring that the content on your website is unique, valuable and tailored to the needs of users. Well-optimized content can attract users' attention and increase the time spent on your website. It is also worth taking care of appropriate headings, graphics and internal and external links.
Building Links
Link building is the process of gaining links to your website. These links are an important ranking factor and influence the position of your website in search results. It is worth ensuring that the links are natural and come from valuable sources. This can be achieved by creating valuable content, participating in industry events and using social media.
By choosing better SEO alternatives, you can increase your website's visibility in search results, attract more users and increase their engagement.
Validity of Content and User
Search Intents
When users enter search queries into search engines, they have specific goals and expectations. They want to find information or solutions to problems. Therefore, for your website to be valuable to users, it must contain content that meets their needs. Meta keywords will not help you with this task.
Instead of focusing on meta keywords, focus on creating valuable content that answers user queries. They contain naturally occurring keywords that will help your website rank in search engines.
User Experience
Users expect websites to be easy to navigate and load quickly. Meta keywords do not affect the user experience and may even worsen it if your site is keyword overloaded.
Instead, focus on creating pages that are easy to navigate and load quickly. Use an appropriate heading hierarchy to make it easier for users to browse your content. Also make sure your website is responsive so that it is available on various devices.
Analytical Tools and Monitoring
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is an analytical tool that allows you to track traffic on your website. Thanks to it, you can learn information about which pages are most frequently visited, which keywords attract the most traffic, and many other valuable information.
With Google Analytics you can better understand what content is most interesting to your users. You can also track which marketing channels bring the most traffic to your website. Thanks to this, you can optimize your marketing strategy and increase traffic to your website.
Google Search Console
Google Search Console is another tool that allows you to monitor your website. Thanks to it, you can track which keywords attract the most traffic to your website, as well as what technical problems may affect its positioning in search results.
With Google Search Console you can also monitor whether your website complies with Google requirements. This tool allows you to check whether your website is optimized for mobility and loading speed, which affects its positioning in search results.
Frequently asked questions
Do meta tags with keywords affect search engine positioning?
No, meta tags with keywords have not influenced search engine positioning for many years. In the past, keywords in meta tags were very important to search engine algorithms, but over time they began to be abused by spammers, which resulted in the algorithms being modified. Currently, the algorithms of Google and other search engines are so advanced that they do not need keywords in meta tags to determine the topic of a page.
Why did Google change its approach to meta keyword tags?
Google changed its approach to meta keyword tags because many people overused this method of on-page optimization, which made search engine algorithms less effective. As a result, Google has chosen to ignore meta keyword tags in its algorithms.
What metadata elements are important for modern SEO algorithms?
Modern SEO algorithms focus on metadata elements other than meta tags with keywords. The most important metadata elements for SEO algorithms are:
- Page title (title tag).
- Page description (meta description).
- Headers (header tags).
- Page URL (URL).
- Photos on the page (alt tags).
Are there any negative effects of using meta tags with keywords?
There are no direct negative effects of using meta tags with keywords, but their use no longer affects the website's positioning. However, if we overuse meta tags with keywords, it may negatively affect users' impression of the quality of the website.
What SEO practices are recommended instead of using meta keywords?
Instead of using meta keywords, it is recommended to use other methods of optimizing your website for SEO, such as:
- Creating valuable content on the website.
- Optimizing the content in terms of keywords that are related to the topic of the website.
- Building links to the website from other valuable websites.
- Optimizing the website code to make it easier to index by search engine robots.
Adam Naworski
