What is the importance of meta tags?

Hi dp members,

I have started a new site, and everyone adviced me to add meta tags to my site, but I just want to know what is the importance of meta tags?

please help me out in this

Thanks in advance

 

Google ignores description and keywords for SERPs.

They may quote the description if and only if they feel it
is the truth and worth it. Many times they don't.

If you are shooting for google, meta tags like the above are
pretty much useless. But, you will get many people who just
don't believe google or think that adding meta tags like that
just make them feel better. They are too ripe for manipulating,
so I doubt if bing gives much credence to those as well.

You may wish to use the robots or googlebot meta. Google it.
You'll find what to do.

Stephen C

 

The above is correct. Google like most search engines do NOT use the meta keywords and meta description elements in their ranking algorithm.

The above is actually incorrect. Google doesn't have a "truth" meter that they can use to test your meta description. There is actually a method behind the madness in how Google choses search result snippets for the SERPs. It has nothing to do with whether their algorithm for building the search results feels about the "truthfulness" or "worthiness" of the description.

Again, I would absolutely disagree with the blanket statement that meta "tags" are useless at Google. While I agree that the meta keywords element is pretty much worthless at Google (still used at some less sophisticated engines like Yahoo! so I still include them), optimizing meta description tags for every page on your site should be a crucial part of your on-site SEO strategy.

Google doesn't consider the meta description in their ranking algorithm, but this does not mean it's useless. On the contrary, the meta description is VERY important at Google. Optimizing your meta description will increase the number of times it is shown in the SERPS. And when it's shown as your Google snippet in the SERPs, having a well written description with a call to action can drastically increase your click-thru-rates twofold, threefold, fourfold, or more.

There is absolutely no reason to use the meta robots and meta googlebot elements UNLESS you want to prevent Google indexing the page or want all of the outbound links on the page nofollowed or you want to prevent archive.org from archiving your site. By default, it is assumed INDEX, FOLLOW so the page is by default indexable and all outbound links on the page are by default followed.

 

so that you can have a proper representation of you websites title, description when it is display to SERP's

 

These days? They are used for other, smaller search engines mainly. I believe that Google still notices the description tag, which is always good to optimize, you need to remember you don't want people just to see your link on the first page of Google, you need to get them to want to click onto your website.

 

Meta tags are just easy to add. Even if google ignores them some search engines don't. And really, how long does it take to add a meta descrip and keyword to your header? Maybe 10-15 minutes, but its all too easy with some of the free tools out there. Of course, the title is most important.

 

Canonical we are going to have to agree to diagree on your comment about description tags as Google do not ignore it - they may do it dpends on the quality. Please provide exact undeniable proof if you can prove otherwise buddy? And I can tell you now as you can already guess I have my evidence to the contrary ready to debate this!!

Also @OP your title tag is imho the A1 most important tag of each and every page on any website.

Have not read the rest above - heck it's late! As Arnie say's "I'll be back"!

 

thanks for your suggestion friends, I got a clear view of importance of the meta tags

 

In Google search result you found 3 field in each and every search

1 title
2 Description
3 URL of website

if don't put mata tags so how can you got result in google

 

Meta Tags are the information inserted in the <head> area of the HTML code of your web pages, where apart from the Title Tag, other information inserted is not visible to the person surfing your web page but is intended for the search engine crawlers. Meta Tags are included so that the search engines are able to list your site in their indexes more accurately.

 

I don't think meta tags are that important anymore.

 

So many people chiming in do not truly understand what meta tags are and how they work.

This will help:

http://searchenginewatch.com/2167931

And Google while the largest is not the only player in the game. Google will not penalize you for properly using meta tags.

 

Check this to find more information
http://www.searchenginejournal.com/the-importance-of-keywords-meta-tag-in-seo/6014/

 

I try ti include main keyword and another one or two in meta description, written in a fashion that is readable to human and the same time optimized for search engines. Then I include 3-5 keywords int he meta keywords, this s for yahoo and bing search engines mainly, as Google does not take into account keywords.

 

Hi Buddy!!!

The Google crawled our site.. then indexed by meta tags wise ..using query list... am i right..reply me asap. meet again.

 

Its website title which is most important

 

People always seem to confuse the issue.
Note, I did not say google ignores meta tags.
Read carefully.

I said, google ignores the meta tags keywords and description for
determining SERPS. That's it! And to someone above, title is NOT
a meta tag.

So let me be clear. In fact, let's let google be clear. Here is the
straight quotes from google:

"Q: Does Google ever use the "keywords" meta tag in its web search ranking?
A: In a word, no. Google does sell a Google Search Appliance, and that product has the ability to match meta tags, which could include the keywords meta tag. But that's an enterprise search appliance that is completely separate from our main web search. Our web search (the well-known search at Google.com that hundreds of millions of people use each day) disregards keyword metatags completely. They simply don't have any effect in our search ranking at present."

But see, people will read that and say, "I don't believe it." So, we
go around in circles.

Here is a quote on the meta description:
"Why does Google care about meta descriptions?
We want snippets to accurately represent the web result. We frequently prefer to display meta descriptions of pages (when available) because it gives users a clear idea of the URL's content. This directs them to good results faster and reduces the click-and-backtrack behavior that frustrates visitors and inflates web traffic metrics. Keep in mind that meta descriptions comprised of long strings of keywords don't achieve this goal and are less likely to be displayed in place of a regular, non-meta description, snippet. And it's worth noting that while accurate meta descriptions can improve clickthrough, they won't affect your ranking within search results."

PLEASE note the sentences in bold!

But I know. Again, people will say, "I don't believe it."

Well, go for it.

I never said don't use meta tags. Just those two are not worth much
as far as google is concerned. But, rock on people!

Stephen C

 

@stephenc Google does not ignore the description meta tag dude I can prove it!

It ignores rubbish desc meta tags and takes from elewhere!

Fairplay you can say the title is not a meta tag per se I will give you that but as it's in the header - just in case others might get confused I tend to include it and refer to it as one.

I didn't read any further than that as you are all wrong on the description meta if you think it gets ignored

Proof >

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&q=kn...&aq=&oq=knightsbridge+seo&fp=4e2b16d837d0816d

Description not being ignored!!!!

Your evidence to the contrary please?

 

Sheeeesh! Why do I keep repeating myself?

Note: I never said google ignores meta tags!

I said, google does not give a hoot for SERP purposes
your meta description or meta keywords! That's it!!

Google does not use either for determining your ranking.
AND....if, if, if, they don't use it for that purpose, it is not
anything to worry about.

Isn't that what people want? High SERPs?

Google will fully decide not to use your description. In fact, you
seem to be arguing with yourself because even you say they ignore
a garbage description meta tag. EXACTLY!!!!!

Here is yet another quote on the description meta tag.
I only hope people read it:

"We use a number of different sources for this information, including descriptive information in the META tag for each page. Where this information isn't available, we may use publicly available information from DMOZ. While accurate meta descriptions can improve clickthrough, they won't impact your ranking within search results. We frequently prefer to display meta descriptions of pages (when available) because it gives users a clear idea of the URL's content. This directs them to good results faster and reduces the click-and-backtrack behavior that frustrates visitors and inflates web traffic metrics."

So let's recap. The description meta tag MAY be used by google, unless
it's crap. BUT, even if they use it, it does not affect your SERP!

Let me repeat. I never said google ignores meta tags. They recognize
a lot of them, actually. But the two aforementioned are quite useless
for SERPs. And without a high SERP, the rest is irrelevant.

That is why many, many BIG sites don't even bother with either of those
2 tags.

But, again, I know, people will say, "I know better than google."
If that's true, then I'll see you on bing! Well, I won't, cuz I'm like
most of the world. I don't use it.

Stephen C

 

Well, I guess the search engines look for the meta tags, which if I typed 'games' in google, and my meta tag is 'games' it will show up?