Meta keywords were once an important part of SEO. Website owners would add a list of keywords in their website’s code to tell search engines what their page was about. It was a way to improve rankings and help search engines understand the content better.
But times have changed. Today, major search engines like Google no longer use meta keywords to rank pages. In fact, overusing them can even do more harm than good.
What Are Meta Keywords?
Meta keywords are words or phrases added to the code of a web page. These keywords help describe what the page is about. They are placed in the HTML “meta” section and are not visible to regular visitors — only search engines can see them.
Here’s a basic example of how a meta keyword tag looks in code:
<meta name=”keywords” content=”digital marketing, SEO tips, content strategy”>
In the early days of SEO, website owners used this tag to tell search engines what topics their content covered. The idea was to help search engines show the right pages for the right search terms.
The Original Purpose of Meta Keywords
The main goal of meta keywords was to improve search engine understanding. Before search engines became smart, they needed extra help to figure out what a page was about. So, by adding a list of related keywords, website owners could boost their chances of appearing in search results.
For example, if your page was about “SEO tools,” you might include meta keywords like “keyword research,” “Google ranking,” or “on-page SEO.” Search engines would read these and match your content to similar search queries.
Back then, meta keywords were a quick way to improve visibility. But over time, people started misusing them, stuffing too many keywords or using unrelated terms just to get more traffic. Because of this, most major search engines, including Google, stopped using meta keywords to rank pages.
Why Meta Keywords Are No Longer Important?
Meta keywords used to help websites rank better in search engines. But today, they are no longer useful for SEO. The main reason is that many people started abusing meta keywords — by adding too many or using unrelated words just to trick search engines.
Because of this, major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo stopped using meta keywords as a ranking factor. In fact, Google has not used meta keywords for SEO since 2009. That means adding them to your website will not improve your rankings.
Search engines today are much smarter. They understand the actual content of your page — your headings, paragraphs, image tags, and more. They focus on quality, relevance, and user experience — not on hidden keyword tags in your website code.
Are Meta Keywords Still Used for Anything?
Even though meta keywords are not useful for Google SEO, they may still have small uses in some cases. For example:
- Some internal search engines (like on old CMS or websites) might still read meta keywords to help users find content.
- Certain plugins or tools may allow you to add meta keywords for organizational purposes.
However, these are rare situations. In most cases, adding meta keywords doesn’t help and in some cases, it could even hurt your SEO if you overuse them or repeat the same words too many times.
So, instead of spending time on meta keywords, it’s better to focus on things that matter like writing good content, using the right headings, and improving the user experience on your website.
What to Focus on?
Since meta keywords are no longer useful for SEO, it’s better to focus on things that actually help your website rank in search results today. Here are some important things to work on:
1. Meta Title and Meta Description
These are the parts people see in search results. A good meta title includes your main keyword and tells users what the page is about. The meta description gives a short summary and encourages people to click your link.
2. Use Keywords Naturally in Your Content
Instead of hiding keywords in the code, add them where they make sense — in your headings, first paragraph, and throughout the content. Make sure your writing is clear and easy to read.
3. Write Helpful and Original Content
Search engines like high-quality content that answers real questions. Try to write blog posts, guides, or pages that solve a problem or teach something useful.
4. Improve Page Structure
Use headings (H1, H2, H3) to organize your content. Add bullet points or numbered lists where needed. This makes your page easier to read — for both people and search engines.
5. Make Your Site User-Friendly
Google cares about user experience. Your website should load fast, work well on mobile, and be easy to navigate.
Conclusion
Meta keywords were once useful for SEO, but times have changed. Today, Google and most other search engines do not use meta keywords to rank your website. In fact, using them too much can even harm your site.
Instead of spending time on meta keywords, focus on what really matters, like writing clear and helpful content, using the right keywords naturally, improving your meta titles and descriptions, and making your website fast and user-friendly.
Search engines now care more about quality, user experience, and real value. So, if you want to grow your traffic and visibility, follow the best SEO practices that work today.
