Are you still using meta keywords to optimise your website for search engines? If so, it’s time to bury that outdated SEO tactic. We can confidently say that meta keywords are dead and buried in SEO.
While meta keywords were once a popular tool for SEO professionals to increase website visibility in search engine results, Google stopped using them as a ranking factor in 2009 due to their abuse. Simply put, spammers’ misuse of meta keywords led to an oversaturation of irrelevant content in search results.
As a result, Google had to take action to improve the quality of its search results, and meta keywords were the first to go.
In this article, we’ll dive into the current state of meta keywords in SEO, why they’re considered obsolete, and provide alternatives to optimise your website without them.
Google’s Use of Meta Keywords
Oh, how funny that even after Google’s repeated confirmation that they don’t use meta keywords for ranking signals, some SEO professionals still waste time adding them to their websites.
In 2009, Google decided to stop using meta keywords as a ranking factor due to SEO professionals and marketers abusing this practice. This decision significantly impacted SEO practices, forcing professionals to focus on other ranking factors, such as quality content and relevant backlinks.
Despite Google’s clear stance on meta keywords, some websites continue to use them in hopes of improving their search engine visibility. However, this practice is ineffective and a waste of time and resources.
Google’s algorithm has evolved to prioritise quality user experience, meaning that websites with relevant and valuable content will rank higher regardless of the presence or absence of meta keywords.
Therefore, professionals should focus on creating high-quality content, optimising their website structure, and building relevant backlinks instead of wasting time on outdated and ineffective practices such as meta keywords.
Why Meta Keywords are Obsolete
We no longer need to worry about adding irrelevant tags to our website in hopes of boosting our search engine rankings. The history of meta keywords shows that they were once considered a ranking factor in SEO. However, their abuse by SEO professionals and marketers led Google to stop using them as a ranking signal in 2009.
Nowadays, meta keywords provide no SEO implications and are obsolete. Matt Cutts, the former head of the web spam team at Google, confirmed that Google doesn’t use meta keywords to determine ranking signals. Google advises that meta keywords aren’t worth your time.
Alternatives to Meta Keywords
Let’s explore some alternative strategies for improving our website’s search engine visibility. One effective alternative to meta keywords is to conduct keyword research and optimise our website’s content accordingly.
Keyword research involves identifying the terms and phrases people search for about our website’s topic. Incorporating these keywords into our website’s content can improve our chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages.
In addition to keyword research, on-page optimisation is another alternative to meta keywords. This involves optimising various elements of our website, such as title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and images.
By ensuring that these elements are optimised with relevant keywords, we can signal to search engines what our website is about and improve our search engine visibility. While meta keywords may have been a popular SEO tactic in the past, these alternative strategies are much more effective in today’s search landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can meta keywords negatively affect my website’s search engine visibility?
Excessive use of meta keywords can harm your website and should be avoided. Meta keyword usage trends show that they are obsolete in SEO.
Are there any benefits to using meta keywords even though Google doesn’t use them as a ranking factor?
While Google doesn’t use meta keywords as a ranking factor, other search engines may still use them for their ranking signals. However, you don’t need to worry about using meta keywords.
Should I remove existing meta keywords from my website?
Yes, you should remove existing meta keywords from your website. Alternative SEO strategies, such as optimising website content and acquiring new links, impact website performance more. Google ignores meta keywords. They have no value in enhancing search engine visibility.
Are there any other outdated SEO practices that I should avoid?
We must avoid outdated practices like keyword stuffing and link exchanges as SEO evolves. These tactics may have worked, but they’re now penalised by search engines. Instead, focus on creating quality content and building natural, relevant links.
How can I optimise my website without relying on meta keywords?
You can focus on web content optimisation and other SEO strategies to optimise our website without relying on meta keywords. This includes creating high-quality, relevant content, optimising keywords, improving website speed and user experience, and building quality backlinks.
