Opinions are divided when it comes to meta tags. Some consider them an essential part of their SEO strategy while others see them as a waste of time. So, what’s the truth?
What Are Meta Tags?
Meta tags are snippets of information that appear in a page’s code and describe its content. They help search engines understand if a certain page is relevant to the users’ needs and whether they should display it.
Let’s take a look at the types of meta tags and the role they play in optimizing your content.
Meta Keywords
Meta keywords are a specific kind of meta tag found in the HTML code of a web page and help tell search engines what the page is all about.
Be careful, though: as of 2009, Google announced that it would stop using keyword meta tags in search ranking, so including them in your code would be useless. Instead of trying to cheat your way to the top of search engine results through outdated tactics, focus on delivering value to your audience through quality content and a seamless user experience.
Title Tag
The title tag describes the title of your web pages and tells potential customers if the content on your website is relevant to their needs. They are one of the most important on-page SEO elements as they influence both the search engines and your audience.
Meta Description
The meta description is a short snippet of information that summarizes the content of a page. While they don’t influence ranking, a well-written meta description can persuade prospects to click on the page. Be sure to provide as much information as possible in 320 characters and prompt your audience to read the rest of the content.
Meta Robots
Meta robots tell the search engines what to do with a page. It has two functions:
- Index/Noindex: This directive tells Google whether to show your page in search results.
- Follow/Nofollow – This directive tells Google whether the links on a certain page should be followed or not.
Conclusion
Meta tags are a difficult topic, but they should have a place in your SEO strategy. If you don’t know how to include them in your strategy and reap their benefits, let the experts at D6 Interactive, a Dallas SEO company, take care of this task for you. We know what it takes to boost a website’s ranking and how to effectively market your business online.
Sources:
https://www.wordstream.com/meta-tags
https://seo-hacker.com/what-are-meta-tags-and-why-are-they-important/
