I thought META KEYWORDS tag was dead?

[vmialik]

http://www.wpkube.com/wordpress-seo-plugin/ this article just came out as a one of the many guides to Yoast's Wordpress SEO.  I am surprised it mentioned:

• Use meta keywords tag: Google reportedly doesn’t use the keywords that your enter for your posts but as Google isn’t the only show in town, you might want to check this box.Recommendation: check

1. I stopped using meta keywords tag because Google doesn't use it any more, plus if you are in a competitive field by using keywords you are giving free keyword research to your competitors? Does any one still use meta keywords here? If so why?

2. Google doesn't use keyword tags, has anyone experienced a dis-benefit to meta-keywords tag from Google ie. dropped rankings etc.?

[RobertFisher]

Vadim

As to using it there is no negative effect re Google. The reason most do not use it is that since Google does not, why would you put the keywords in and make it easy on those who want to know what you are targeting?

We prefer to make our client's competitors do their own work and break a sweat. (Also, if I am honest, one of the first things I look at to judge an SEO on is whether or not they have 50 keywords per page with meta tags.)

Hope that helps,

best

[EGOL]

We prefer to make our client's competitors do their own work and break a sweat.

I fill that tag with BS.  That'll fix those lazy weasels.

No, honestly... I still use meta keywords.

When I write an article I write the title tag first....  "Begin with the end in mind."    Then I write the meta keywords.  Makes me think about where I am going.

Anybody who is lazy enough to harvest that info is lazier than smart.  Not a threat.   And, I believe in the theory that imitators come in second.

.....  and....   I bet Google is using meta keywords and counting those nofollow links  it's their "reverse psychology" algo to screw SEOs.  (Of course they are not counting blog and forum spam and sitewides... but nofollow links that appear to be editorially given - such as wikipedia citations - are counted at 5x the normal rate)

[AWCthreads]

**Anybody who is lazy enough to harvest that info is lazier than smart.  Not a threat.   And, I believe in the theory that imitators come in second. **

Bravo.  A competitor is gonna look at those 5-20 meta keywords and do what?

[RobertFisher]

Well........ if you are ranking well, they are going to try to use what you are using. Again, they are lazy and they are certainly not smart so kudos to EGOL.

[RobertFisher]

I am going to start putting the wrong keywords in. So on a physician site for lipo, my keywords will be: Saw 2, barbequed ribs, Halloween 3, Dexter, cannibals, etc.

Can't wait to see that competitor rank now!

Thanks EGOL!

[AWCthreads]

Uh?

[EGOL]

barbequed ribs

OMG!   Oh, I am laughing so hard I will have to wash my glasses.

[RobertFisher]

Actually, I laughed my a__ off when I wrote it.

[SEOSHARK]

Funny thread!

how would you respond to this?

Customer "Q#1" why didn't you write keyword tags for my website.....? " give proper answer"

Q#2... If Google does not care about my keyword tags than why is it listed here "cache:domain. com" ?

[SEOSHARK]

UPDATE: wordpress all in one seo pro has the same thing keyword siggestion.......

[Ron_McCabe]

I put key words in as it cannot hurt.  If it gets a few more leads per year why not :).  As far as the previous string goes I think these comments are truly silly as there are many good tools to figure out the key words you are targeting without the meta key words. So if "why not" is a good enough justification then you should do it.

[CleverPhD]

The keyword meta tag is alive and well, they just call it the meta title nowadays

[vmialik]

one of the first things I look at to judge an SEO on is whether or not they have 50 keywords per page with meta tags.

--Yup that's one of the things I look at as well

[vmialik]

@Ron and others,

I am just looking for some evidence from those that use keywords to see if they help. Example maybe someone has found that some search new search engine, like duckduckgo, topsy, etc that uses meta keywords for example and they see keywords helping them get traffic from those places.  Otherwise why not is not a good enough reason for me, as its extra work to add keywords without benefit, plus it looks SEO 1.0 (think html tables, static pages) vs SEO 2.0 to me.

Thanks for adding bit of FUN to this thread BTW

[vmialik]

They don't call you clever for no reason

[SEOSHARK]

I have seen no drop in placement with my projects that have no kw tags on Google, Bing or yahoo.

[vmialik]

Thanks for your input Tom, that sounds right.  Now just curious, has anyone experienced a benefit?

[stevecounsell]

I read somewhere that BING use the keyword tag as a spamming signal. Anyone else see that?

EDIT: Read that here:

http://www.semrush.com/blog/tips/the-myths-behind-meta-keywords/

[KeriMorgret]

I'm working from home today and trying not to wake up my husband because I'm laughing so hard. Time to move downstairs before I read any more replies!