The keyword meta tag is good to put the keywords you are targeting into. This makes it easier for search engines to know exactly what types of keywords you are targeting. However the value of the keyword meta tag really varies among search engines. It also depends upon the value that a search engine gives to the keyword meta tag.

An example of the keyword meta tag:
<meta name=”keywords” content=”web tips, seo, web design, graphic design, email marketing” />

What is the keyword meta tag and why is it important? The simple answer is, this is what tells the search engines what this particular web page is about. The complex answer? The search algorithm has changed because of abuse of the meta keywords tag. The keyword tag still has its uses, they just have changed over the past few years.

Why is excessive keywording bad? If you use too many keywords in the keyword tag, Google and other search engines will not only disregard the keywords, but disregard the entire page as spam. When your pages start getting dropped from search results, how long do you think the rest of your site will stay ranked? All SEO consultants and experts will agree that the keyword meta tag tool if used correctly gives your website a great edge over others.  There was a time when the keyword meta tag really mattered when it came to search engines ranking a website. Today however the impact is not as much to say the least. Today a larger emphasis is not paid on these tags because every one is using them and its impossible to rank every website in the top ten that uses the keyword ‘web design’ or ‘SEO services’.

When webmasters began overusing these tags it is at that point where all the trouble started. Search today place little or no importance on these tags and those websites that use keywords excessively or abuse it might find the search engines that do use the keyword meta tags to rank websites ignoring your website.  Search engines such as Google or Yahoo! will simply ignore your keyword altogether rendering your effort to include the keyword meta tag all but useless.

When using the keyword meta tag is pays to follow guidelines. Proper usage of keyword meta tag will work in your favor by helping your website rank better by making it search engine friendly.