In the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization (SEO), some practices fade away while others remain crucial.
One element that has fallen out of favor is the keyword meta tag. You may have heard of it, or even seen it lurking in your website’s code, but what exactly are meta keywords?
And more importantly, do you still need them?
Let’s find out.
In This Article
What Are Meta Keywords?
Meta keywords are a type of meta tag that website owners use to provide search engines with relevant keywords for a web page. They reside within the <head> section of a web page’s HTML and act as “hints” about the content.
Essentially, they were a list of terms you thought people would search for to find your page.
Here’s an example:
If I were to add meta keywords to this blog post, some tags might include:
- meta keywords
- meta tag keywords
- seo meta keywords
And this is what it would look like in HTML:
<meta name="keywords" content="meta keywords, meta tag keywords, seo meta keywords">Do You Still Need Meta Keywords?
The short answer is a resounding no.
Meta keywords, which were once intended to give search engines clues about a webpage’s content, are no longer a ranking factor in 2025.
In fact, major search engines like Google have publicly stated they ignore them.
Google announced in 2009 that they no longer use meta keywords to rank web pages. You can read their announcement here: Google does not use the keywords meta tag.
Because of this, you do not need to include them unless…
The Argument for Meta Keywords
In the early days of the web, meta keywords did play a role.
Website owners would stuff these tags with a list of relevant keywords they wanted their pages to rank for.
However, this practice quickly became abused, with many sites engaging in keyword stuffing, leading to irrelevant and often low-quality search results.
As search engine algorithms became more sophisticated, they learned to rely on more reliable signals, like search intent, to determine relevance.
Now, here’s where website owners get confused today:
Even though Google no longer uses meta keywords to rank websites, Russian search engine, Yandex, does.
At least, that’s what they say in their indexing documentation.
Because of this, some Russian website owners still optimize for meta tag keywords.
And as the search engine with the third-highest market share, it makes sense for those site owners to do so.
That’s why you may still want to include meta keywords if you have a Russian site.
How to Enable and Add Meta Keywords
Ok, so you’ve decided you want to use keyword meta tags on your website.
No problem — it’s pretty simple.
You’ll need to add a meta tag to the <head> section of your website’s HTML. The tag looks something like this:
<meta name="keywords" content="keyword1, keyword2, keyword3, etc.">You would replace “keyword1, keyword2, keyword3, etc.” with the keywords you think are relevant to your page.
Not sure which keywords to use?
LowFruits is the best keyword research tool for small business owners.
It makes identifying low-competition keywords easy, so you have the best chance of ranking high in SERPs.
Let’s look at 2 LowFruits tools that you can use to identify meta keywords:
1. KWFinder is a beginner-friendly keyword research tool. It uses low keyword difficulties and Weak Spots (domains with low authority) to help you find easy ranking opportunities. To use it, just run a search for the main keyword you’re interested in, and the tool will generate a report for you.
2. The Clustering tool groups related keywords so you can identify multiple keywords with the same search intent. Using related keywords is a great way to come up with additional keyword meta tags for a single web page.
Both tools are intuitive and user-friendly, making it fast and easy to come up with meta keyword ideas.
A Note for WordPress Users
Have a WordPress site?
Even though you don’t need to use meta keywords, certain SEO plugins will give you the option.
Take All in One SEO (AIOSEO), for example.
Its default setting has meta keywords turned off, but you can turn them on.
To do so, navigate to AIOSEO > Search Appearance > Advanced.
Then, toggle the Use Meta Keywords option to Yes.
Click Save Changes.
Now, the next time you’re working in the WordPress editor, you’ll have the option to add meta keywords to your content.
For more information, you can access AIOSEO documents here:
Meta Tag Keyword FAQs
What are meta keywords?
Meta keywords are a type of meta tag that website owners can use to provide search engines with keywords they believe are relevant to a web page. They live in the HTML code and are not visible to site visitors.
Are meta keywords still important for SEO?
No, meta keywords are no longer a ranking factor for major search engines. In 2009, Google announced that its search engine algorithm does not use meta keywords for rankings. With that said, some website owners still include them since Russian search engine, Yandex, still takes them into account.
Do any search engines still use meta keywords?
Russian search engine, Yandex, still looks at keyword meta tags. Because of this, some Russian website owners choose to include meta keywords in their content.
In what scenario should I use meta keywords?
In most scenarios, you do not need to actively focus on meta keywords for SEO. Your time is much better spent on other activities, like creating high-quality content, optimizing title tags, and building backlinks. If your CMS forces you to put something in the meta keywords field, you can include a few relevant terms, but don’t expect them to have any real impact on your rankings.
Final Thoughts
Meta keywords are a relic of the past.
While they were once a part of the SEO landscape, they’ve become obsolete by the advancements in search engine algorithms.
Instead of wasting time on meta keywords, concentrate your efforts on proven SEO strategies that actually move the needle.
Focus on creating valuable content, optimizing your website’s structure, and building a strong online presence.
These are the strategies that will truly make a difference in your search rankings.
Here are some resources to get you started:
- 15 SEO Best Practices That Really Work (& How To Do Them)
- Beginner’s Guide to Content Optimization
- How to Optimize Images for SEO
- Top 10 Quick Easy SEO Wins [Less Than 30 Min Per Task]
