META Tags? Still Important?

i have been creating a number of sites just using title pages and i never used meta tags such as keywords and description. i now realised that someone advised that many pages goes into similar ones shown by google.

so, do i need to use meta tags? is not using meta tags hurt my se rankings?

 

I'd recommend it, it certainly can't hurt. Use relevant, clear, and simple tags that relate to content.

 

Some engines like Google will ignore the keyword tag but description tags are still important and should be used.

I would still use the keyword tags for the engines that still place weight on them.

So in simple terms yes still use your tags.

 

I always believed that any type of clear descriptive tag will add more value to your site. All it can do is help.

 

My take on meta info is pretty simple.

I take a few minutes and write my 3-6 keywords into meta keywords - not too many so it looks spammy. I then spend a few minutes and write 1-3 sentences that describe what my page is about and use it for the meta description.

Why? well google places almost no relevance on the meta info, but Google and Yahoo uses the meta description in the Serps pages and is the 1-3 sentences someone reads when they do a search.

I say, once you are featured in the SERPS don't waste the chance of missing out on a click from the serps pages because you have not bothered to use this space wisely. If you don't have a meta description, then you had better have your content start immediately below the body tags in your site.

So, in my opinion, it is worth taking at least 5 minutes to make sure the meta keywords and description are accurate (and mostly unique) for each page.

 

I dont use them aymore.

 

Well mircosoft uses them.. http://www.microsoft.com/Money/default.mspx

See the seperation with a ; haven't seen that before. They used 315 words in that keyword description tag

 

I always use them. Unless you stuff your meta tags then they don't hurt. Anything that doesn't hurt can help. I'm sure they've helped some of my sites to rank well for very niche phrases on their own.

 

I would use them because they might still hold some importance, anyway, using the won't hurt as long as you don't spam the tags.

 

As RRWH excellently noticed, meta description is used in the SERPs site description and you need to use this opportunity to attract more visitors to your website.

You can use your main keyword phrase there as well as some call to action to grasp the attention of your potential customers.

 

And also remember to keep them unique to each page and that they reflect the content of said page.

 

I dont use them aymore and most dont i dont think there is any need for them any more

 

I still use them they can't do any harm..

 

Agreed. Although Google doesn't use META keywords it doesn't mean you shouldn't include them. Google may be top dog but it's not the only way people search.

Plus, why not utilize relevant space and increase your control over what's viewed in the SERPS?

 

Google always shows my Meta description, so obviously they use it.

 

Definitely use them!

 

i would definitely recommend them. they are like your websites "face".anyone can have a look at it and find out what you are.

 

I'd suggest that most sites DO have meta tags and there is a definite need for them. I recently changed TITLE, KEYWORDS and DESCRIPTION on one of my sites only to see each page lifted in the rankings on the Big 3 in the space of two weeks.

On the basis of that my suggestion is to include all three tags on your site and like some users here have suggested, keep the content strictly relevant.

 

Meta tags work at different levels:

Firstly from an SEO standpoint the "Title" tag is used by all 3 engines.
Secondly, the tags work as a copy brief to keep your site in alignment. This aspect is important for Yahoo.
Thirdly the "Description" tag is often used as a snippet in the SERPs. Used wisely it can improve CTR of organic impressions.