[Keywords in Metadata] – How do they help Search Engines?

Photo by Mikhail Nilov [Pexels]

Keywords in Metadata:

Keywords in metadata refer to the words and phrases that are used to describe the content of a webpage. This metadata is typically hidden from users and is only visible to search engines.

The most common type of metadata is the meta title and meta description, which appear in the head section of a webpage's HTML code.

The meta title and meta description are used by search engines to understand the content of the page and to determine how it should be ranked in search engine results pages (SERPs).

By including keywords in your metadata, you can help search engines understand the content of your page and improve its possibilities for ranking for those keywords.

However, it is important to avoid keyword stuffing and to use keywords naturally to avoid being penalized by search engines.

Should You Put Keywords in the Meta Description?:

Yes, it is generally a good idea to include keywords in your meta description. The meta description is a summary of a webpage that appears in search engine results pages (SERPs).

"It is meant to give users an idea of what the page is about and help them decide whether to click on the link to visit the page"

By including keywords in your meta description, you can make it more relevant to the search query and increase the chances that users will click on your page.

However, it is important to use keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing, which can negatively impact your search engine ranking.

It is also crucial to ensure that your meta description accurately reflects the content of your page and provides value to users.

How to Write Meta Descriptions for SEO?

To write meta descriptions for SEO, you should follow these steps [meta keyword best practices]:

Keep it concise: Meta descriptions should be no more than 160 characters long (as SEO experts say for better view in SERPs), so be sure to include only the most important information. But Google says, length doesn't matter though.

Image Content Source - via Search Engine Roundtable

Use keywords: Include relevant keywords in your meta description to help search engines understand the content of your page.

Make it compelling: Your meta description should be interesting and engaging to encourage users to click on your page.

Be unique: Avoid using the same meta description for multiple pages on your website. Each page should have its own unique meta description.

Avoid keyword stuffing: Overusing keywords in your meta description may hurt your search engine ranking, so be sure to use them naturally and avoid repeating them excessively.

It is also important to note that the meta description is not the search engine ranking factor directly, though search engines like Google can take advantage of it to make content better visible in SERPs.

"Factors, such as the relevance and quality of the content on the page and the number and quality of backlinks to the page, are most important"

As such, it is important to focus on creating high-quality content, which, at any cost shouldn't be overlooked.

Meta Keywords vs Meta Description:

Meta keywords and meta descriptions are both elements of a webpage's HTML that are important for search engine optimization (SEO). However, their roles and impacts on SEO have evolved over time.

Meta Keywords:

• Meta keywords are a type of meta tag that was historically used to provide search engines with a list of keywords that were relevant to the content of a webpage.

• In the past, search engines used meta keywords as one of the factors for ranking pages.

• However, due to abuse and manipulation, search engines like Google no longer consider meta keywords for ranking purposes.

Meta Description:

• A meta description is an HTML attribute that provides a summary of the content of a webpage. It is typically displayed below the page title in search engine results.

• While meta descriptions do not directly impact a page's ranking in search results, they play a crucial role in attracting users to click through to the webpage.

• A well-crafted meta description can significantly improve the click-through rate in search results.

Meta Keywords Best Practices:

Here are the most effective meta keywords best practices:

1. Relevance: If you choose to include meta keywords, ensure that they are highly relevant to the content of the webpage.

2. Conciseness: Keep the list of meta keywords concise and focused on the main topics of the page.

3. Avoid Overuse: Do not engage in keyword stuffing; use only a limited number of relevant keywords.

4. Use Long-Tail Keywords: Consider using long-tail keywords that are more specific and targeted to the content.

5. Prioritize Content: Instead of focusing solely on meta keywords, prioritize creating high-quality and relevant content on the webpage.

6. Consider User Intent: Align the choice of meta keywords with the intent of users searching for the content.

7. Regular Review: Periodically review and update meta keywords to ensure they reflect the current content of the webpage.

Are meta keywords important?:

No, meta keywords are no longer important for SEO.

Here's related information that might also be useful to you – Google’s Various Systems For Search Engine Ranking [Major Findings from New Google Guide]

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