Do Meta Keywords Still Matter? The Truth About Meta Keywords (And Why I Usually Use Zero)
I still see it happen almost every week. A marketing manager opens up their WordPress SEO plugin or their Shopify settings, spots a blank field labeled "Meta Keywords," and freezes. The instinct is almost universal: "If the field is there, I should probably fill it out, right? I don’t want to miss an opportunity to rank."
It’s a fair assumption. In almost every other part of life, filling out forms completely is the responsible thing to do. But in SEO, this specific field is a trap. It triggers a distinctive kind of anxiety—the fear that by leaving it blank, you are leaving traffic on the table. I’ve been there, and I’ve walked dozens of clients through the exact same hesitation.
Here is the reality I share with them, and it’s the answer I’m going to share with you: You can safely ignore meta keywords. In fact, spending time on them in 2026 is worse than neutral—it’s a distraction from the work that actually drives revenue. In this article, I’ll explain exactly why major search engines stopped caring, the hidden risks of using them anyway (yes, there are risks), and the modern workflow I use instead to get results.
The Quick Answer for Skimmers
Do meta keywords still matter? No. Google has officially ignored the meta keywords tag for ranking purposes since 2009. Bing has stated that the tag is not a ranking signal and may even treat keyword stuffing within it as a spam signal. For 99% of websites, the correct number of meta keywords to use is zero. The only exceptions are specific internal site search engines or very old legacy systems that you explicitly know rely on them.
What Meta Keywords Are (And How They Became an SEO Myth)
To understand why this tag is obsolete, you have to look at what it was designed to do. In the early days of the web—think mid-90s AltaVista and Infoseek—search engines weren’t smart enough to read a page like a human does. They couldn’t understand context, sentiment, or comprehensive topical authority.
So, they relied on developers to be honest. The meta keywords tag was essentially a digital honor system. It was a way for a webmaster to say, "Hey, this page is about vintage cars, classic autos, and muscle cars." Ideally, the search engine would read that list and rank the page accordingly.
I like to think of it like a suggestion box in a busy office. At first, management reads every suggestion. But eventually, people realize they can stuff the box with 500 requests for "free pizza" daily. The suggestion box gets so full of noise that management stops reading it entirely. That is exactly what happened to meta keywords.
Webmasters realized they could stuff the tag with hundreds of irrelevant terms—"free mp3s," "Britney Spears," "make money online"—to trick search engines into sending them traffic. The signal became so noisy and manipulated that it became useless. By 2009, Google officially announced what many already suspected: they had stopped looking at the tag altogether.
Where the Meta Keywords Tag Appears in a Page
If you aren’t sure if your site is currently using them, you can check easily. You don’t need a fancy tool; you just need your browser. Right-click on your page, select View Page Source, and look for a line of code in the <head> section that looks like this:
<meta name="keywords" content="seo, marketing, business growth, tips">It is invisible to the user browsing the page, but it is fully visible to crawlers—and, as we’ll discuss later, to your competitors.
Why Meta Keywords Fell Out of Use
The fall of meta keywords wasn’t an accident; it was a necessary evolution of search technology. Search engines moved from matching strings (does this specific word appear in the code?) to understanding things (does this content satisfy the user’s intent?).
When Google deprecates a signal, they usually do it because that signal no longer correlates with quality. Keyword stuffing in meta tags became the hallmark of low-quality, spammy sites. If you were spending time typing 50 variations of a keyword into a hidden field, you probably weren’t spending time writing a helpful article. Today, algorithms analyze the visible text, the structure, the user behavior, and the links—signals that are much harder to fake than a simple line of HTML.
Do Meta Keywords Still Matter in 2026? What Google, Bing, and Others Actually Do
This is where I often see confusion. People think, "Well, even if Google ignores it, maybe Bing or Yahoo uses it? I should keep it just in case." It sounds like a safe bet, but the data suggests otherwise. I treat this conversation like I’m advising a client on where to invest their budget: you don’t invest in channels that have declared bankruptcy.
Let’s break down the official stances of the major players.
Google is the easiest: For them, it is a hard no. They have been explicit about this for over 15 years. It does not help you rank, period.
Bing is where it gets nuanced, but not in a good way. In 2014, Duane Forrester from Bing stated that while the meta keyword tag was "dead in terms of SEO value," it could still be used as a spam signal. Meaning, if you use it incorrectly (stuffing it with irrelevant terms), it could actually hurt you. It’s a signal with zero upside and potential downside.
Quick Comparison Table: Search Engine Stance on Meta Keywords
| Search Engine | Uses for Ranking? | Potential Risk? | My Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| No (Ignored) | None (Just ignored) | Leave blank | |
| Bing | No | Yes (Spam signal if abused) | Leave blank |
| Yahoo | No | None | Leave blank |
| Baidu | Minimal / Negligible | None | Generally ignore |
| Yandex | Unlikely | None | Focus on content instead |
My interpretation for you is simple: If you are running a business website targeting English-speaking markets (US, UK, Canada, Australia), there is no strategic reason to use this tag. Even if a platform technically reads it, the impact is so infinitesimal compared to a good H1 or a strong backlink that it is not worth the keystrokes.
Why “Zero Meta Keywords” Is Usually the Right Number (Benefits + Real Risks)
When I audit a site and see a robust list of meta keywords, it tells me something about the marketing team before I even speak to them: they are likely operating on outdated advice. But beyond just being "old school," there are practical reasons why I advise removing them entirely.
The Competitor-Intelligence Problem: Your Keyword List Is Public
This is the risk most people overlook. I use this tactic myself when analyzing a competitor’s site. If I want to know exactly what a competitor is trying to rank for—specifically which product categories or local service areas they are prioritizing—I view their page source.
If they have filled out their meta keywords, they are handing me their strategy on a silver platter. For example, if I see content="emergency dentist austin, 24 hour dental, cheap tooth extraction", I know exactly which bottom-of-funnel terms they value. It’s not that I couldn’t figure this out with other tools, but why make it easy for your competition? Why broadcast your target keyword list in the source code when you get no ranking benefit in return? It’s all risk, no reward.
Can Using Meta Keywords Hurt My SEO?
For Google, it’s mostly harmless (just useless). But for Bing, as mentioned earlier, it can be a negative ranking signal. If you have an intern or an automated plugin generating hundreds of tags per page, search engines may view your site as low-quality or spammy.
Common "Spammy" Patterns to Avoid:
- Repeating the same word 10 times (e.g., "hotel, cheap hotel, luxury hotel, best hotel").
- Including competitors’ brand names.
- Using words that don’t appear in the visible text of the page.
In most cases, the risk isn’t that your site disappears from search; the risk is that you trigger a "low quality" filter that holds you back from page one. Why take the chance?
What I Focus on Instead of Meta Keywords: A Practical On-Page SEO Workflow That Works
If we aren’t filling out the keywords tag, what are we doing? This is the fun part. We get to take that energy and direct it toward signals that actually move the needle. When I need to scale briefs consistently, I use a SEO content generator to handle the structural heavy lifting, but the core strategy always follows a specific human-led workflow.
Here is the exact on-page checklist I use to ensure a page ranks in 2026. This replaces the "spray and pray" approach of meta tags with an intent-focused strategy.
Step-by-Step Workflow (Modern Replacement for Meta Keywords)
- Clarify User Intent: Before writing, ask: Is the user here to buy, to learn, or to go somewhere specific? Match the page type to this need.
- Choose Primary Topic + Supporting Terms: Instead of a hidden list, pick one primary keyword and 3-5 supporting semantic terms that you will actually use in the content.
- Draft a Page Outline: Structure your content logically. If you skip this, no amount of keywords will save you.
- Write a "Front-Loaded" Title Tag: Put your main keyword near the start of the title tag. This is a massive ranking factor.
- Match the H1 to the Promise: Your main visible heading (H1) should confirm to the user they are in the right place.
- Use H2s to Cover Sub-Questions: Break your content into sections that answer specific user queries (People Also Ask).
- Add Internal Links: Link to 3-5 relevant pages on your site. This passes authority better than any meta tag ever could.
- Write a Meta Description for Clicks: It doesn’t help rankings directly, but a persuasive description improves Click-Through Rate (CTR).
- Add Structured Data (Schema): Give search engines explicit context (e.g., Article, Product, or FAQ schema). This is the "modern" meta tag.
- QA for Clarity: Read it aloud. If it sounds robotic, rewrite it.
Table: “Old Meta Keywords Mindset” vs “Modern SEO Signals”
| Old Habit (Meta Keywords) | Modern Replacement |
|---|---|
| Listing “cheap laptops” in a hidden tag | Creating a dedicated section with an H2: “Best Affordable Laptops of 2026” |
| Stuffing variations like “best coffee, coffee best” | Writing natural sentences that cover the topic comprehensively |
| Trying to rank for irrelevant terms | Creating new, specific pages for different user intents |
| Hoping engines “figure it out” | Using Schema Markup to explicitly tell Google “This is a Product” |
| Copy-pasting tags across every page | Writing unique Title Tags and Meta Descriptions for every URL |
Example Template: A Simple Brief That Replaces Meta Keywords
When I’m training a new writer, I don’t give them a list of keywords to stuff. I give them a brief that forces them to cover the topic deeply. You can draft first-pass structures faster with an AI article generator, provided you always apply human review to ensure accuracy and brand voice.
The "No-Meta-Keywords" Content Brief:
- Target Audience: (e.g., Small business owners in Chicago)
- Primary Intent: (e.g., Compare pricing for accounting software)
- Primary Keyword: "accounting software for small business"
- Secondary Terms to Include Naturally: "invoicing features," "tax preparation," "cloud-based"
- Required H2s:
- Why move to cloud accounting?
- Top 3 software options compared
- Pricing breakdown
How to Handle Meta Keywords on a Site That Already Has Them (Cleanup + Migration Plan)
This is a common scenario: You inherit a site that has been around for 10 years. It has thousands of pages, and every single one of them has a meta keywords tag filled with garbage. Do you delete them? Do you leave them?
I know the fear—touching legacy code feels risky. "What if this load-bearing pile of spaghetti code breaks something?"
Rest assured: Removing meta keywords is usually a safe change. Because Google ignores them, deleting them won’t tank your rankings. It’s like removing a sticker from the bumper of your car; the engine runs exactly the same.
Checklist: Safely Removing the Meta Keywords Tag
- Locate the Source: Determine where the tag is coming from. Is it hardcoded in your
header.php(WordPress) ortheme.liquid(Shopify)? Or is it a setting in an old SEO plugin? - Check for Internal Dependencies: Ask your developer: "Does our internal site search feature use the meta keywords tag?" This is the only valid reason to keep them (see below).
- Backup Your Theme: Always create a backup before editing code.
- Remove the Code or Clear the Field: If it’s a plugin setting, simply toggle "Meta Keywords" to OFF. If it’s code, remove the line outputting the tag.
- Verify in Source: Clear your cache, go to your homepage, view source, and search for "keywords". The tag should be gone.
- Document the Change: I note the date and the specific pages changed so I’m not guessing later if traffic fluctuates (though it shouldn’t).
When Meta Keywords Might Still Be Used (Rare, Non-Google Cases)
I mentioned there are exceptions. In my career, I have seen exactly two valid use cases for keeping this tag:
- Internal Site Search: Some older internal search appliances (like Solr or older Elasticsearch configurations) might be configured to look at the meta keywords tag to weight results. If your site’s search bar relies on this, do not delete the tags until you update the search logic.
- Strictly Controlled Legacy CMS: Occasionally, a proprietary enterprise CMS might require the field to be populated to publish a page. In this case, just put one relevant word and move on.
If you don’t fall into these buckets (and most businesses don’t), get rid of them.
Common Mistakes I Still See With Meta Keywords (And What to Do Instead)
Old habits die hard. Even when people know they shouldn’t use meta keywords, I see them making these mistakes "just to be safe." Here is why these habits are problematic and how to fix them.
Mistake-to-Fix List (5–8 Items)
- Mistake: Copy-Pasting the Same List Everywhere.
Why it’s bad: It creates duplicate metadata across your site and signals low effort to search engines.
Fix: Focus on unique Title Tags for every page. If you can’t write unique meta data, the page probably shouldn’t exist. - Mistake: Including Misspellings on Purpose.
Why it’s bad: Google is smart enough to correct spelling now. You don’t need to tell it that "accomodation" means "accommodation."
Fix: Use natural, correctly spelled language in your body copy. - Mistake: Listing Competitor Names.
Why it’s bad: It looks spammy and can theoretically invite trademark issues in extreme cases, but mostly it just doesn’t work.
Fix: Write a comparison article (e.g., "Us vs. Competitor") where you discuss the differences openly in the text. - Mistake: Using Generic Terms like "Services" or "Products".
Why it’s bad: These terms are too broad to drive qualified traffic.
Fix: Optimize for specific long-tail keywords in your H1 and opening paragraphs. - Mistake: Spending Time Updating Them.
Why it’s bad: It is a massive opportunity cost. Every hour spent on meta tags is an hour not spent on content or link building.
Fix: Spend that hour refreshing old content with new stats and better images.
FAQs + Conclusion: Do Meta Keywords Still Matter, and What Should I Do Next?
FAQ: Do meta keywords still matter for SEO?
No. For Google, they have zero impact on rankings. For Bing, they are ignored unless abused. Modern SEO focuses on visible content and technical health, not hidden tags.
FAQ: Can using meta keywords hurt my SEO?
Potentially, yes. While Google ignores them, Bing may view excessive keyword stuffing in the meta tag as a spam signal. It also clutters your code and exposes your keyword strategy to competitors viewing your source code.
FAQ: Why did meta keywords fall out of use?
Because they were abused. Webmasters stuffed them with irrelevant terms to trick search engines. Search engines evolved to analyze the actual content on the page, making the self-reported meta tag obsolete.
FAQ: Are there any valid use cases today?
The only valid use cases are for internal site search systems that rely on the tag, or very specific competitor research workflows. For general SEO ranking, there are no valid use cases.
Conclusion: My 3 Takeaways + Next Actions
If you have been stressing about that blank field in your CMS, take a deep breath. You can officially let it go. Here is the bottom line:
- Ignore the field: Google hasn’t cared since 2009.
- Don’t expose your strategy: Filling it out just helps your competitors copy you.
- Focus on what users see: Spend your energy on Titles, Headings, and great answers.
Your Action Plan for This Week:
- Audit your site (30 mins): Check your source code. Do you have legacy meta keywords?
- Disable the feature: Go into your plugin settings or theme and turn off the output.
- Rewrite 5 Title Tags: Take the time you saved and rewrite the Title Tags for your top 5 pages to be more click-worthy. That will actually get you more traffic.
