Meta tags

[Quan]

Often time webmaster wonder if meta tags are really usefull in search engines. However most search engines that are out there uses it, google, yahoo, msn. Eventhough it doesn't take much effort to put it it, why are there many webmasters out there not including them? Are there any major search engines out there that don't uses meta tags?

[Rob Holmes]

The thing is Quan that even if they are not using them now they maybe in the future.

So it's still worth putting them in just in case things change in the future.

Rob

[mattk]

All search engines use metatags in some way. Google doesn't use them to improve your ranking, but it does use them to display the description for each page in the natural search results.

The reason Webmasters don't include them?

a) Ignorance and/or
b) Laziness

[Azam.net]

Most search engines have stopped using metatag keywords, but the description and title tag are still used.

Keep using 'em.

[mattk]

Most search engines have stopped using metatag keywords

Can you post some evidence of this please?

[Tin]

Despite what a lot of people say even Google still uses meta keywords (by uses I'm meaning actually indexes them therefore they have a roll/value but accepting that any roll/value could be potentially worth little), it's quite easy to conduct tests of this kind and check periodically whether algo changes include/exclude particular areas of code at any given time.

I'd be very interested too Matt to see actual evidence of this as the last time I did tests, keywords were factored in. :wink:

[Azam.net]

I spent hours every week on WebmasterWorld and the general consensus seems to be that Google etc. don't pay too much attention to the keyword metatag. This didn't used to be the case. Back in the old days, the biggies like Altavista and Yahoo used to pay emphasis to the keyword meta-tag. But then it became abused by webmasters and search engine marketers.

You can do a search in Google for something like "keyword tag redundant (http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=30&hl=en&safe=off&rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-28,GGLG:en&q=keyword+tag+redundant&spell=1).

Found sites such as this (http://www.prostores.com/ecommerce/engine.shtml) which refer to the issue: "The keywords tag is what the search engine will use to match a query to your site. Many search engines don't index sites based on the meta tag keywords, and instead use words that visitors can actually see on your site."

Also this site (http://www.pandia.com/optimization/SEO-metatags.html):

"Myth 2: "Have lots & lots of keywords."
I mentioned the correct use of keywords in my article on Building a search engine optimized Website.

Personally I avoid placing too much faith and dependence upon the ubiquitous Keyword tag. Yes it has merit and place but is also very likely to become near redundant before the year is out.

Google ignores this tag. If you consider the amount of spamdexing (stuffing of Keywords shamelessly into Keyword Tags) it's not hard to figure out that the search engines have to treat this tag with caution.

[In September also AltaVista abandoned the keyword meta tag. This means that Inktomi is the only major search engine supporting this tag. The Editor.]"

Still, I make an effort to create unique keyword meta-tags for every page, as it only takes five minutes and they don't do any harm.

[Azam.net]

I'd be very interested too Matt to see actual evidence of this as the last time I did tests, keywords were factored in. :wink:

BTW, could you please tell us a bit more about your investigation? Thanks :)

[mattk]

Most search engines have stopped using metatag keywords

I spent hours every week on WebmasterWorld and the general consensus seems to be that Google etc. don't pay too much attention to the keyword metatag.

Not quite the same thing then is it me old mucker?

Always have meta tags - both keywords and descriptions. Don't rely solely on meta tags to get your site to the top of Google however, your site is definitely at a disadvantage if you don't have them.

[Tin]

Right again Matt. :-)

Azam.com said
I spent hours every week on WebmasterWorld and the general consensus seems to be that Google etc. don't pay too much attention to the keyword metatag which is a bit different from what you stated earlier
Most search engines have stopped using metatag keywords

Like Matt, it was your sweeping statement that 'most search engines have stopped using metatag keywords' that pricked my ears up. Keywords are still a factor for helping engine robots to pigeon hole a page for relevant serps but through widespread abuse the tag has much, much less power that it did 5 years ago.
My observations over a number of years show that all metatags are factored in to some degree, some tags have more 'clout' than others and this clout also varies in depth and time due to algo changes but nevertheless, all count.
Similar things have happened with Title elements whereby the order of the words had more ranking effect than if they were presented in another way (same number of words but mixed up).
The Description has also undergone similar vagaries and another favourite that keeps coming in & out like a yo-yo is the Title tag connected to an image which can help rankings when it's deployed effectively. When this tag is abandoned by engines only a little down performance is noticed in rankings but is still useful to have in there.
Yahoo actually places far more emphasis than Google on the meta areas of pages in deeming it's ranking structure and along with MSN, getting these areas spot on can do a lot of good excluding other areas of a page.

As far as reading webmasterworld/seoforum/seoroundtable/ etc etc etc, there will as many arguments for any one opinion as there are for any other so the only way to be certain of what is actually factored in and what isn't, is to conduct your own tests. Sorry, I don't make my tests open source for obvious reasons.
As for the comment...

In September also AltaVista abandoned the keyword meta tag. This means that Inktomi is the only major search engine supporting this tag. The Editor.
it's only on 4 pages worldwide, is actually authored but is duplicated on the other 3 pages so may not be set in concrete just yet (author is Jono Craig dated July 2002) :wink:

Apologies for the long post but I too read a lot, just probably in different places :-)