There is an ugly myth circulating on the internet that meta tags are no longer useful. This is simply not true. Meta Tags are still a relevant component of effective on-page search engine optimization to improve search engine rankings.

If used correctly they can help to improve search engine placement. However, if used incorrectly they can and will have a negative effect on your SEO and search engine rankings. The following Meta Optimization Tips can serve as a guideline in Meta Tag Optimization.

1) Always use the Description meta tag.

2) The Description meta tag should not exceed 24 words

3) It should appear immediately after the title tag

4) It should contain keywords and phrases that you want search engine rankings for.

5) No Keyword or phrase should appear in the description meta tag more than twice.

6) Each Description tag needs to be unique for the content of that specific page.

7) It should accurately describe the content of the site and the respective page.

The Keyword Meta tag can still be used to your advantage. Some search engines (Yahoo) still uses this.

9) The keyword tag should not exceed 30 words.

10) Do not repeat any keyword or phrase more than twice.

11) Each Keyword tag should Very accurately reflect the content of the page. (do not use a term not appearing on that page).

The keywords you choose should be researched and chosen carefully and reflect the content of the site. They should also be consistent throughout the title, description and keyword tags. A final word of advice with the description meta … This should be carefully thought out to include not only keywords but should also sell your website because in some major search engines it still the first impression a potential visitor will get when determining if they want to visit your website.

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