About SEO Meta Tags

I know that Google doesn't look at meta tags anymore but I'd still like an answer to my question.

If I have my first meta tag as "ice cream", do I still need to include "ice cream" in my other tags?

Example:
Meta tags: ice cream, blue berry ice cream, vanilla ice cream

Or, will this do the same thing?

Meta tags: ice cream, blue berry, vanilla

Thanks in advance.

i don't think that it's necessary to add "ice cream" as each one of your tags. although, in reality...it's not like meta tags or other tags are going to do you much good anyways.

Do it the first way. Meta keywords should be the keywords users search for. Use the exact keywords that are generally searched, whether they contain one common word or not.
Add keywords are still needed because although Google ignores them, there are some search engines that use them. And there's no harm in using them, so use them lol

jlei523 said:

Meta tags: ice cream, blue berry ice cream, vanilla ice cream

Or, will this do the same thing?

Meta tags: ice cream, blue berry, vanilla

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

Use the kw phases that you optimize that particular page for.

Meta keywords are a complete waste of time.

Take those 5 minutes and spend them optimizing your meta title and meta description, H1, image title/alt, bolded phrases, 3% keyword saturation and internal linking link anchors.

n2zen said:

Meta keywords are a complete waste of time.

Take those 5 minutes

Click to expand...

G don't use them at the moment. But you don't know how the algorithmic will look like in the future or how other search engine are build up.

It takes 2-3 sec to make a few kw so I can't see any argument not to do, while you already are building your site.

My preferred method, which works well, is to view a key "phrase" as multiples of keywords or other phrases.

For instance, if I optimise a page for the phrase "horse racing jobs usa" I will have it in the URL, <title>, <description>, <keywords> and <h1>, <h2> and text for that page.

the URL would be ...com/horse-racing-jobs-usa.html

The beauty if this approach is that I have optimised the page for the EXACT phrase "horse racing jobs usa" but I have also inadvertantly (on purpose) optimised the site for the additional [BROAD] search keywords below:

- horse
- racing
- jobs
- usa
- horse racing
- horse racing jobs
- racing jobs
- racing jobs usa
- jobs usa

... and possibly other random combinations.

When conducting the keyword research I always start by asking myself, "what would I search for?"


On a separate note, Google doesn't (apparently) use the <keywords> meta-tag but the others do, so it's well worth using it properly. What Google DOES use, is the <description> meta, often as the site description displayed in search results and it puts reasonable significance on the early placement of the keyword/phrase in that description.

So, in answer to your question, concentrate on LONG-TAIL phrases, not the general 1-2 word keywords.

The best option is something like;

<meta name="keywords" content="best blueberry ice cream,buy blueberry ice cream,blueberry ice cream,how to make blueberry ice cream,blueberry ice cream recipes"

That's how I roll...!!

webfusjon said:

What Google DOES use, is the <description> meta, often as the site description displayed in search results and it puts reasonable significance on the early placement of the keyword/phrase in that description.

Click to expand...

Mr. G haven't used meta description as a ranking parameter for years.
http://www.seomoz.org/learn-seo/meta-description

The meta description tag only purpose is to make a teaser that will increase your CTR.

yes they do

they look at everything

but, it isn't a major thing, but it can push you over the rest

but, if you know what you're doing, you can park a new domain with a blank page on page 1 of google

but for major terms, your meta better be right, or you will be ignored

domainlords said:

yes they do

Click to expand...

Source?