‘Keywords’ metatag not used for Google ranking

The nice man Matt Cutts at Google HQ has confirmed today that, as most SEO experts have hopefully already gathered over the last few years, the ‘keywords’ metatag isn’t used for core web search ranking. Check out the video below for more information.

So, what does this mean for web developers?

Actually, nothing new at all. As a developer, you can keep doing whatever you currently do.

Ignore any SEO companies telling you adding keyword metatags will ‘reinforce’ the keywords you’ve optimised for on your site – it’s nonsense. If Google aren’t interested in the keywords metatag and are happy to tell the world about it, it’s also safe to assume the others feel similarly.

It does serve as a good reminder, however, that the old-fashioned simple SEO refinements have gone out of the window, grown legs and wandered off. ‘New’-style SEO is upon us, and Google is cleverer than we think. SEO is now a steady balance between on-page keyword density and optimisation, good off-site link building and a healthy dose of brand-term searches and ‘buzz’.

Afterthought: What’s also interesting to note is that Google doesn’t use this because people have spammed the ‘keyword’ metatag in the past.

SEO is essentially fooling Google into thinking your site is more interesting and relevant than it really is. It’s that simple. And Google, to improve their search rankings, need to prevent this. Hence the shift into more socially generated positions. I will talk more on this soon!

Leave your comment below. Go wild! Just curb the naughty words.