SEO Meta Tags: How To Make It Work and Work Right

Not a lot of people use this method of search engine optimisation nowadays.  Many do not realize the value of putting in meta tags for their business website.  Now for those who are aware of the importance of the importance of meta tags should also be well aware on how to use it properly and the rules of using such.

Here are some of the things that you should remember when using meta tags:

Keep it short and simple (or stupid for some).  Search engines have the tendency to take note of sites that place too much faith on the ever-present meta tag.  That is why most of them would treat such websites with caution.  Keep the number of repeated meta tags to a maximum of three.

Title tags are perhaps one of the most important factors in meta tags most especially when used correctly.  Same as writing your content, you have to write your title tag for your audience or users first and search engines come only second.  It is important to consider the favour of search engines when it comes to this but you also have to consider if the title tag motivates your audience to click through it.  If not then you might want to optimize it well.  It can help if you think about site branding and navigation issues to help you create your title tag.

If you copy your competitor’s tag, it does not follow that you will do well with your own website.  You have to remember that it is not the number of tags that count; it is the understanding of meta tags and the intricacies that come with it in relation to search engine optimization.  It is highly recommended that you use a minimal set of meta tags namely the title, description, and keywords.

Repeating of tags is not necessary.  It may have been the fad before, but it certainly is not today.  You gain nothing from doing this.

You have to keep in mind that your meta tags should be within the borders of your webpage’s theme.  Otherwise, you are just putting in a lot of non-sense into your web pages.  Search engines also treat such sites with caution since the content does not actually jive with the meta tags present.  Thus lowering your rankings.

Description tags are still important and search engines such as Google place value in it, even considering it as a factor for your search engine rankings.  If your description tags are so compelling that it basically gives your audience the run-down of your sites unique content or business, then this will get you more click-through and more audience.

The Essentials:

* Title tag must contain 5 - 10 words including the company name and relevant keywords.

* Description tag: must contain 15 – 20 words which includes concise summary of the page and strategic keywords.

* Keyword tag is placed at the top of your pages and should contain 10 – 20 keywords per page.

*  Meta keyword tags should be used according to relevancy per page.  Meta keyword phrases should not exceed 744 characters.