Meta Tag - You are it! How To Use Meta Tags Effectively

Author: Jason Cox

| Posted: 10-07-2007 | Comments: 0 | Views: 20 | Rating: (52)

(?)

There are a number of online urban legends that suggest Meta tags and the use of them are dead and no longer necessary to build effective web pages. Many people believe that search engines are too smart to look for Meta tags. This, however, is completely untrue.

Search engines have gotten smarter, but Meta tags are as important as ever. Search engines now compare the words in the title, the keywords, and the description of the article to help users find the best possible search engine results. Meta tags are vital to good search engine results.

For those new to the term, Meta tags are parts of HTML coding on websites that are used by search engines, like Google, Yahoo, and MSN, to index a website. Most Meta-tags are put in the header code of a website.

There are a number of different possible Meta tags including the abstract Meta tag, the author Meta tag, the copyright Meta tag, the description Meta tag, the distribution Meta tag, the expires Meta tag, the keyword Meta tag, the language Meta tag, the refresh Meta tag, the revisit Meta tag, and the robots Meta tag.

The most important and most popular Meta tags are the title, description, and keywords Meta tags. Different search engines offer different rules about how the Meta tags are used formatted, and how many characters they are allowed to contain.

Most search engines will use varying combinations of your Meta tags, so it is important to be patient with the entire process. The title tag should be both the name of your company and some keywords. Some search engines make use of the title as the link for your own website. That means if you do not include a title, customers will not see one. They might see something like :no title.: Few people would click on a site without a title. Having keywords with your title will help to improve your search engine rankings.

Since research shows that most people only deal with the first ten results any search engine sends them, having a better ranking can only be good for your business. It is also important to remember that many places list sites in alphabetical order. Typically these sites give symbols preference over letters. That means that, :#1 Dog Information and Product Site: would come before, :The Best Dog Site on the Internet:.

There are many things to consider with Meta tags though, and there are many things to learn, so do not take a piece of information like that and focus only on it.

The description Meta tag is a good place to repeat the keywords you have used in your title Meta tag and add a few key phrases while you are at it. You not only want something that will catch the attention of a search engine, but you also need something that will be understandable for human eyes.

Some search engines will use this Meta tag to describe your site to searchers, but if your tag is just garbage to catch the search engine eye, chances are good that users may not be inclined to click on a poor description.

In order to benefit the most from your Meta tag usage, follow these tips. First, use various internet keyword tools to find the best keywords for your website. Many different sites offer a keyword tool, and some of them are business oriented for pay per click advertising, but many of them are free. It is important to note, though, that these tools can be inaccurate, so you should pay careful attention and be sure that you use more than one tool to help you find the right keywords to include in your Meta tags.

Second, be sure to submit manually to the entire available major search engines. Some companies have created software to help you do this quickly and more efficiently, and if technology is not really your cup of tea, this may help you out.

Finally, be sure that both your content and all of your pages make use of the keywords you have included in your Meta tags. Remember that search engines are smarter than they used to be. If you have put keywords in your Meta tags that do not reflect your site content, your ranking is unlikely to be as high, and customers can be just as unlikely to click on your site.

Effective use of Meta tags can really improve your website traffic. This can only mean good things are in store for you and your business.

Rate this Article:

Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Tags: Business, Keywords, Website, Search Engines, Meta Tags

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/seo-articles/meta-tag-you-are-it-how-to-use-meta-tags-effectively-178940.html

Print article

Send to friend

Publish this Article

Author feedback

About the Author:

For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website creativedigitalmedia.com

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Add new Comment

Get Keywords in Search Engines
By: Ronald W. Firquain | 07/09/2007 | Marketing

Blogging for Profit
By: Chris Haycock | 08/04/2008 | Internet
Internet Related Articles

How to Reach Qualified Prospects Through your Website
By: Sebastian | 22/07/2007 | Online Promotion
Online promotion related articles for use on your website. Internet marketing experts adive on getting the most out of your online promotion web site.

Keywords, Tags
By: Sharon Elrod | 28/07/2007 | Internet
Internet Related Articles

Increasing your Search Engine Rankings
By: Chris Spencer | 08/12/2006 | SEO

What Is a Blog? Can a Blog Be Powerful and Increase Web Traffic?
By: Tove Kou | 20/03/2007 | Home Business

Web Site Basics
By: Sandra Prior | 19/05/2008 | Web Design

What Do Successful Marketers Have That You May Not? Traffic!
By: Joe Rispoli | 01/05/2007 | SEM

Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

Hi, i got fired 41 day's ago been looking with no ...
By: Glenn J | 03-10-2008
Hi, i got fired 41 day's ago been looking with no luck, I am auto mechanic 50 years old.Would like to start a business from home or open my own garage.Any advice on funding my own service shop or a legal business from hom

I?m in the marketing profession and finding ...
By: universalgal | 03-10-2008
I?m in the marketing profession and finding contact details of decision-makers in target companies is a constant challenge for me. Is there a possible solution?

How important is it to properly manage data in any ...
By: Sandra | 02-10-2008
How important is it to properly manage data in any organization?

Serving my husband divorce papers
By: SJ | 30-09-2008
I am serving my husband with divorce papers. I wanted to know if he can be served at his place of employment or will he be served at his current residence?

Ltd what does this mean? for example when it ...
By: muchluv7 | 30-09-2008
Ltd what does this mean? for example when it follows the name of a company ie Lucasfilms Ltd

22 east jackson street, Philadelphia, PA, What is ...
By: stephanie | 30-09-2008
22 east jackson street, Philadelphia, PA, What is the name of the company

Q&A Powered by:

Latest SEO Articles

Directory Submission Benefits
By: Rahul Rungta | 11/10/2008
Directory submission and article submission service includes manual submission of websites in various free web directories and article directories. Provides website list and post submission reports.

Why Site Structure Matters in Search Engine Optimization (seo)
By: Scot Crone | 11/10/2008
Scot Crone is owner of Micrositez SEO UK providing link building, internet marketing, website promotion and seo packages to clients across the UK and worldwide.

The Value of Web Stats in SEO
By: Anantait | 11/10/2008
Web marketing gurus have never failed to remind web marketers to look at web statistics. Why does statistics matter that much? What can web marketers get from looking and analysing web stats?

How to Create Search Engine Traffic
By: Aakash Shah | 11/10/2008
You can increase the traffic on your website in many ways. For most of these methods, you have to spend a lot of money and time to reach your target clients and tell them about your products and services. That is why you should use search engines to increase traffic on your website. This is a much quicker and cheaper way of generating traffic.

The Best Way to Get Quality Traffic
By: Richard Lang | 11/10/2008
Home based internet business internet marketers realize the importance of quality traffic and are thus always on the lookout for the best way to get quality traffic. The more quality the traffic that can be generated the more profitable an internet business is likely to be.

Utilizing Social Media Optimization For Your Website
By: Scott White | 10/10/2008
Involving your website into such social media websites such as youtube, can greatly increase your visibility on the internet, which can increase you search engine rankings.

More Web Traffic Through Higher Search Engine Indexing
By: Kay Brown | 10/10/2008
If you are looking for ways to increase your search engine placement, you are not alone, as many people are looking to improve their objectives, whether it just be more visitors or greater profit through targeted traffic increases that can come with higher search engine ranking.

Let the Search Engine Optimization Experts in Maui Hawaii Take Your Website to the Top Rank
By: Paul Fitzgerald | 09/10/2008
Why exactly is Search Engine Optimization important? Typically, people have short attention span and have little patience.

More from Jason Cox

Tips To Pretty Up Your iPod
By: Jason Cox | 06/08/2007 | Electronics
You don`t want your iPod to look like everyone else on the block. You`ve got to be able to differentiate your personal style from someone else`s. Give your iPod a personality. All iPods look the same until their owners pretty them up. There are many ways to jazz up your little buddy and they don`t require spending lots of cash either.

Three Ways To Advance Your Search Engine Rankings
By: Jason Cox | 03/08/2007 | SEO
Search engine ranking gives internet users a way to determine if the page returned from the search they performed is of any value to them. The higher your search engine ranking, the more likely potential customers are to click on it.

The Benefits Of Hiring A Weight Loss Coach
By: Jason Cox | 02/08/2007 | Fitness
Some of the benefits of hiring a weight loss coach are that that person can help plan your meals and help you create an effective exercise program. You could also hire a fitness trainer to help you with your figure. These types of trainers/coaches can really help you.

Three Reasons Why A Good Looking Website Will Increase Traffic
By: Jason Cox | 01/08/2007 | Online Promotion
If you really want to increase traffic on your website, you may want to step back and take a look at the site from a visitors point of view. A good looking website increases its traffic naturally because those who visit it will likely come back and tell their friends about it as well.

Ten Tips To Sticking To Your Diet And Exercise Program During The Holidays
By: Jason Cox | 01/08/2007 | Fitness
Many people go through the holidays, especially around Christmas time, forgetting that they were even on a diet. Before most people know it they may have gained several pounds by New Year`s Eve, only to have to make a new resolution.

Personal Videoconferencing - How To Choose The Best Camera For Your Needs
By: Jason Cox | 01/08/2007 | Video Conferencing
You have got your computer; you have got your headphones and your speakers. You found the perfect microphone and you have got your IP connection. Now all you need to videoconference is a camera. What kind of camera should you buy?

Tips To Justifying Your iPod To A Non-Technical Person
By: Jason Cox | 01/08/2007 | Electronics
Next time someone asks you why you want an iPod or why you bought an iPod, just remember all the things you are able to do with an iPod. From communicating with people from all over the world, to learning, to even helping you with work, the iPod is a universal device that is not just for listening to music anymore.

Videoconferencing For Apple Computers
By: Jason Cox | 31/07/2007 | Video Conferencing
Videoconferencing for Apple computers is not only possible; it is as easy as it is on a PC. There are Instant Messenger programs that also have streaming video. They provide Mac to Mac and Mac to PC video streaming, making it possible to stay in the loop in an overwhelming PC world.

Article Categories

Article Marketing

Article Notepad

Stop Duplicate Content

Term Papers

Need Help?

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.53, 17)

Meta Tag - You are it! How To Use Meta Tags Effectively

Article Comments

Related Articles

Got a Question? Ask.

Latest SEO Articles

More from Jason Cox

Need Help?

Site Links

Webmasters

Business Info

Sign up for our email newsletter