March 24, 2025
There was a time when websites could stuff a hidden tag with keywords and see results. That tag was called the meta keywords tag, and it used to help search engines understand what a page was about.
But that was a long time ago.
Today, Google has made it clear: they completely ignore the meta keywords tag when ranking pages. In fact, including it can even raise red flags if it looks spammy.
Let’s break down what the meta keywords tag is, why it no longer matters, and what you should focus on instead.
What Is the Meta Keywords Tag?
The meta keywords tag is a piece of code that sits in the HTML of a webpage. It’s not visible to users, only to search engines.
It looks like this:
<meta name="keywords" content="digital marketing, SEO, web design">
Back in the early 2000s, search engines used it to figure out what a page was about. But it didn’t take long for people to abuse it by cramming in dozens (even hundreds) of keywords—many of them not even related to the content.
Why Google Stopped Using It
Google officially announced years ago that it does not use the meta keywords tag in its ranking systems. This is still true today.
In their SEO Starter Guide, Google lists meta keywords as something you shouldn’t spend time on. It’s outdated, unnecessary, and won’t help you rank higher.
What’s more, some SEO experts believe including it could make your site look spammy—especially if it’s overused or doesn’t match the page content.
What Meta Tags Still Matter?
Not all meta tags are useless. In fact, some are still very important for SEO and user experience:
Meta title: This is the blue clickable headline that shows up in search results. It should be clear, accurate, and include your target keyword.
Meta description: This shows under your title in search results. While it doesn’t directly impact rankings, a good description can improve click-through rates.
These tags help real people decide whether to click on your link. They’re worth your time and attention.
What Should You Focus on Instead?
Rather than spending time on old tricks like meta keywords, put your energy into what actually works.
For example:
-
Use your keywords naturally in the page title, headings, and body content
-
Write for humans, not for bots—keyword stuffing is still a common mistake that can hurt your rankings
-
Focus on clear structure and good writing—SEO today is more about content quality and user experience than outdated tags
Google’s algorithm is smart enough to understand what your page is about—you don’t need to feed it a list of keywords.
What About Other Search Engines?
Some smaller or older search engines might still look at meta keywords, but if you're focusing on Google—and you should be, given its market share—there’s no need to use them.
In short: meta keywords are a thing of the past. You can skip them entirely.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Waste Time on Meta Keywords
If you’re still using the meta keywords tag, it’s time to let it go. It’s not helping your SEO, and it could even raise a red flag.
Instead, focus on real SEO strategies that work in 2025: helpful content, fast-loading pages, mobile-friendly design, and clean site structure.
Google’s own SEO Starter Guide confirms this—and we’ve built a full blog collection to help you sort fact from fiction.
Let's talk about your 2025 business goals
From design to PPC and everything in between, our experts will set you up for success.
