Do they matter? I thought Google had abandoned valuing these basic SEO functions long ago...what is the truth about Titles, Tags, and Descriptions and how they effect rankings? Thanks all
Here's my take on it and by no means am I an expert although, I do have a good amount of experience: "They" say that Google uses page titles only. In fact this is a very important part of SE rankings. Although most everyone says that Google does not use meta descriptions for ranking here's a thought; the meta descriptions are often used in the page results. If an inadequate description is provided from the page (spam and etc) they use ODP and other descriptions for the site. This seems like a lot of trouble for obtaining "meaningless information". Other search engines appear to rely on meta tags (descriptions, abstracts & etc) for ranking. So I do use them. Besides who knows when a different ranking algorithm will be used, placing emphasis on meta tags.
The <title> tag is still one of the most valuable pieces of real estate on a page when it comes to rankings. The best approach has varied over time, but don't overstuff it. The <meta> description tag does not affect rankings - directly. However, it has been used by Google in the past as a signal of quality when it came to sending pages into the Supplemental Index. That is, having many pages share the same <meta> description increased the likelihood of their being send into the Supplemental Index. Since the fate of the Supplemental Index is pretty murky these days, its not such a big deal. But since the <meta> description is frequently used by Google to generate the snippet used in the search results, having a well-written description can certainly help to attract more clicks by users - you remember users, don't you? The other <meta> tags, including the keywords <meta> tag are ignored.
Lets take a look at this for one second, Google still uses the title and description tags to display your sites information in search results, so regardless if they do or don't provide an SEO value you would still want to use them. The snippets that Google uses are horrible, your better off making a "relevant" and "accurate" title and description to not only get the "unknown" SEO value from them, but to entice searchers to want to click your listing in search results.
As an example, if you type in 'Jelena Jankovic' (World #4 Tennis player) 9 out of 10 results on first page have it in the 'title'. With Number#1, #6, #7,#8 Google highlights it in the 'keywords', number #4 in 'description'.
Have to agree with everyone here about the <title> tag. I cannot emphasis just how important this meta tag is. Use it properly, and you can achieve some good positions in the SERPs if your content is good enough. Use this tag poorly, and you are literally condeming your site to the scrap heap. If you site has a small number of pages, its also advisable using the keywords and description tags as well. Make sure that these are unique for each page, and not the same. Also, make sure your <title> tags are also unique for each page. Repeating them same tags over and over again won't do you any good. Alex
I'm sorry to quote you on this, but your the last post in the thread. The title tag is NOT a meta tag or a meta element, I don't know why people keep on insisting it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_element http://www.w3.org/TR/html401/struct/global.html#h-7.4.2
Thanks for point that out. I have always called it a meta tag for ages, just because I always group the title tag, and keywords and description tags together all time in my head. I will now go and stand in a corner for a few hours and repeat 34,322 times "The title tag isn't a Meta Tag ... The title tage isn't a Meta Tag" Alex
This is for sure that title tag is important for rankings in SERPs. Regarding the description & keywords tags, I would suggest to have atleast description tag if not keyword meta tag. This is becoz, in SERPs, google either show ODP description or a text snippet(only when description & title tag doesn't have the keywords) or description tag. When I search in Google, I read the snippet & then click on the link. So i assume that the text snippet helps the user to decide to click on the results. So the text snippet should be attractive enough to catch the user attention & pull it to your website. Even if google uses or not description meta tag, many other search engines do use. So write unique title & description meta tag for every web page of your website. And these tags will never harm your website unless you spam it.
everything related to onpage and offpage optimisation has some kind of effect on PR and ranking. but it depends on how much weight is put in any particular things or criteria. the weight could vary from time to time. that is what so special about algorithm. you can tweak whenever you want with less effort.
title tags are one of the most important factors.. backlinks are still the most important though and quality content. META tags dont do crap anymore..
Let me tell you first, With out Title it's very hard to get rankings. Description will summarize your website information 2 and Half line. For Keyword SEO Expert Connie's comment: Keyword is not much more important, but it's not least too, Because currently it's not in used but who knows in future Google may think it as the most important tag. So you should better to use all these tags.