Meta Keywords Tag

I have recently been asked this Question:

Are meta keywords are really worth including?

It is our recommendation that it is not necessary, because the vast majority of search engines, Google included, don’t use them. Instead they prefer to spider the actual pages.
Some researchers actually consider meta keywords to be actually be detrimental to a site.

Most authorities on the subject agree that they are now redundant for Search Optimisation. In particular, this is a good and informative article from a very credible source:

http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=2165061

But here are a couple more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_el...ademic_studies
http://www.searchengineguide.com/ric...keywords-a.php

We have included meta descriptions and also used considered page titles, but we’re struggling to see why we’d want to include meta keywords in 2008.

Your thoughts would me most appreciated..

Thanks in advance,
T
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I don't think meta keywords are helpful in getting better rankings, but they don't hurt. I often add them for my own reference, so I remember what keywords each page is targeted to.

 

Hey thanks,

But do you think that they can actually penalize the websites in the SERPS?

 

I think it still matters how many you put in there. I don't think you get hurt in the serps if you don't add keywords but I think they help, maybe not a lot but still a little.

 

they can be penalize if? what exactly are you referring to?

 

I think they can, if you will over use it. Or you will use keywords that are not related. This can hurt your SERPs probably.

That's my opinion.