The Meta Tag Keywords Attribute

The use of meta tags can play an important role in the search engine optimization of your website. When choosing words to place in the meta tag keywords attribute, you must choose keywords that correctly reflect the content of the web page. If a word appears in your meta tags that does not appear in your main body content, then your web page will more than likely receive a spam penalty from the search engines. In the worst case, it could possibly get your website permanently removed from the search engine databases.

 

When selecting keywords and keyword phrases for the meta tag attribute, you should pay attention to the following variations:

 

1. Singular vs. plural

When building your keywords list, position the version of the keyword that your site visitors use the most at the beginning of your keyword list.

 

2. Uppercase vs. lowercase

Most search engines do not use case sensitivity as an element of their algorithms. Therefore, using all versions, such as all uppercase, all lowercase and initial capitalization of keywords and keyword phrases is a waste of time. This can also result in a spam penalty for keyword stacking.

 

3. Commas vs. no commas

It makes no difference to the search engines that use the meta tag keywords attribute whether or not you use commas or spaces to separate your keywords and keyword phrases. If it is easier for you to view your keyword phrases with commas, then use them. Using commas will not affect your web page's relevancy.

 

4. Misspelled keywords

As some keywords are commonly misspelled, you may like to include a misspelled keyword in your meta tags. But remember that if that misspelled word does not appear in your main body text, this approach is a waste of time. Search engines use both keyword frequency and keyword placement in their algorithms. If you are putting a misspelled keyword in only one place (i.e. your meta-tag keywords attribute), it is not assisting your web page's relevancy as the keyword concentration for that one word is practically nothing.