Metatags 1

[JohnBates]

Hi,

I know the subject has been over-discussed - whether or not to use metatags/keywords.

I have decided to use them... my question is * Do I need to put them in every page or just the index page ? *

Thanks, john

 

[AMysticWeb]

Hi John,

I would say every page. I think eventually this might boost your ranking.

Hope I have been of some help,
Micheal

FrontPage Form Tutorials & Form Script Examples

http://FrontPageForms.com

 

[ChrisHirst]

meta keyword tags are still useful to a small degree with the bigger search engines. They still read it and you can use it to target some common mis-spellings of your keywords, that way you don't have to work out how to get them into your copy without it looking ridiculous. Also many smaller and niche engines still use them and some directories will not list the site without them. So use them, put it on every page and make each one relevant to the page rather than use the same ones globally.

The meta description tag is a different situation this is important because all engines do read it. The text contents of the tag can and will be used on the results page for a search and in some engines is the only thing shown. Google especially, will do this if the search term is not found in the visible page copy or is an off site factor (IBL anchor text or an image alt attribute in a linked image for instance). And as such should be on each page and relevant to that page.

What they aren't anymore is a "magic bullet" to good positioning.



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

 

[JohnBates]

Thanks AMysticWeb and ChrisHirst,

I have this:
<meta name="Keywords" content="trucking safety consultants, driver safety training, simulated DOT audit">

<meta name="Description" content="">

I have more keywords than this but this is just a sample.

Chris you said:
"The meta description tag is a different situation this is important because all engines do read it."

If I understand correctly, I should also put the keywords into the Description content line as well ...?

Please clarify. Thank you. John

 

[ChrisHirst]

The meta description should be just that, a brief description of the page it is on and you should have the targetted phrase(s) for that page in the description.
Bearing in mind that it is for potential customers to see where the engines aren't showing a snippet from the main body so having it stuffed full of keywords probably won't have the desired effect.

Consider it as having to get your sales pitch over in around 200 characters.



Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?

 

[JohnBates]

Thanks so much ChrisHirst.

With your help, I will get more hits (and more accurate ones) for my dad's web site.

John