Google recently released a video explaining that they don’t use or factor in keyword meta tags in the Google search engine optimization seo algorithm. Matt Cutts, a Google Software Engineer is featured in the 2 minute video and explains that Google places no relevance on this technique for search engine optimization.
Cutts did explain that the Google Search Appliance does use the keyword meta data to help filter search appliance queries; however the keyword meta data has absolute no bearing on search engine rankings in the Google search platform.
The meta description tag and content are weighed and are very useful. Google uses this and will often use it as the snippet of information that is returned in the SERP, Search Engine Results Page summarizing the content of the website that Google returns.
Personally, I would hold off on abandoning the keyword meta tags because it doesn’t mean they aren’t weighed by Yahoo, bing or other search providers. I am a big believer that if your keyword meta tags strongly resemble the quality content on your page that it will only enhance your seo efforts and rankings while conversely stuffing keywords in your meta data that don’t resemble your web site content will irreversibly harm your seo rankings and strategy, so always practice white hat seo tactics and build quality content that is valuable to end users.
You can download the Google Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide for how to get started.
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