Meta keywords are an HTML attribute that was once used to specify a list of keywords associated with a web page’s content. These keywords were intended to help search engines understand the topic of a page and improve its relevancy in search results.
However, due to widespread keyword spamming and manipulation, major search engines, including Google and Bing, no longer use meta keywords as a ranking factor in their algorithms.
Importance in SEO
While meta keywords were initially designed to help with search engine optimization, their significance in modern SEO practices has greatly diminished.
Major search engines like Google and Bing have confirmed that they do not use meta keywords for ranking purposes.
As a result, it’s generally considered unnecessary to include meta keywords in your website’s HTML code.
Instead, focus on other on-page elements, such as title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags, which still carry weight in search engine algorithms.
Examples of Meta Keywords
Here’s an example of an HTML code snippet containing meta keywords:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe | Tasty Treats</title>
<meta name="keywords" content="chocolate chip cookie recipe, cookie recipe, best cookie recipe, homemade cookies">
</head>
<body>
<!-- Page content goes here -->
</body>
</html>As mentioned earlier, including meta keywords like this is no longer considered beneficial for SEO and can be safely omitted from your web pages.