- From: <bugzilla@wiggum.w3.org>
- Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:21:28 +0000
- To: public-html@w3.org
http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=6853 Summary: restore meta keywords, search engines use them Product: HTML WG Version: unspecified Platform: All URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/html5/ OS/Version: All Status: NEW Severity: normal Priority: P2 Component: HTML 5: The Markup Language AssignedTo: mike@w3.org ReportedBy: Nick_Levinson@yahoo.com QAContact: public-html-bugzilla@w3.org CC: public-html@w3.org The meta element for name="keywords" has recently been demoted to being a failed proposal, presumably thus not to be allowed under HTML5. I disagree and suggest the status be restored to that of a proposal. Search engines use it and for good reason. 1. Advice is often to integrate keywords into the visible text, especially near the beginning, and into headlines, especially in h1 and h2 elements. This is sound but has a limitation. I'm writing a page against using drugs to stay awake. I'm telling readers that I don't know of any I'd want to recommend. Therefore, I don't want to list any. But I know some people will search by a drug name because they want to know if it'll help them stay awake. Therefore, I'm listing some drugs in a meta keywords tag. Whether a search engine applies the tag is up to the search engine's management, but I'd like the option. 2. The argument that keywords should all be in visible text and headlines is sound for attracting readers through search engines, but it can be counterproductive for retaining readers, especially through longer or multi-page content. Keyword-heavy writing style can lead to bad writing in the minds of some audiences. Better writing should be permissible without contradicting search requirements. 3. It is the only technology for its purpose. Unlike description, keywords are not meant to be visible to a searcher but are meant to influence results behind the scenes. 4. Google or some forum posters at Google say Google doesn't use them. The reasons I don't believe this are given below. More likely, Google uses them only a little and maybe only part-time, but that's good enough. They serve a purpose nothing else serves as well. 5. It works. I designed a website. When I searched in Yahoo and Google using periodless abbreviations appearing only in my meta keywords to clarify an otherwise confusing search request (the site was for someone who has the same name as someone else with kindred interests), the website came up, or came up higher, via both search engines. 6. It's been much abused. But that's not reason to prevent or discourage its proper use. If Google or Yahoo choose to give them no weight, that's their choice. But they also have the choice of analyzing them and using them selectively, for example, not using them if they're repetitive, apparently irrelevant, misformatted, or used in sites with certain themes associated with unreliable use of keywords. 7. Google inserts them into some of their own pages. Here's one: <meta name="keywords" content="browser, browsing, web browser, internet browser, free browser, web applications, web apps, bookmark, web applications, search box, navigate the web"> It appeared in the source code for <http://www.google.com/chrome/index.html?hl=en&brand=CHMH&utm_source=en-et-abt&utm_medium=abt&utm_campaign=en>, as accessed 4-27-09. (Perhaps the keyword "web applications" appearing twice is not keyword-stuffing.) Here's another: <meta name="keywords" content="Google Friend Connect, Friend Connect, FriendConnect, add social features, add social gadgets"> It appeared in the source code for <http://www.google.com/friendconnect/?utm_medium=et&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-et-abt>, as accessed 4-27-09. Those were not search results pages. 8. Yahoo inserts them into some of their own pages. Here's one: <meta name="keywords" content="New York Police Department,Sen. Charles Schumer,Andrews Air Force Base,White House military office,White House,U.S. National,AP">. It appeared in the source code for <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090428/ap_on_re_us/us_low_flying_plane;_ylt=ApaxPTErLp3DhJ9wj6jH6lSb.HQA;_ylu=X3oDMTJtdDFqZTQ3BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNDI4L3VzX2xvd19mbHlpbmdfcGxhbmUEY3BvcwM3BHBvcwM3BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDamV0Zmx5b3Zlcmlu>, as accessed 4-27-09. Here's another: <meta name="keywords" content="401k,Business,Financial Information,Investing,Investor,Market News,Stock Research,Stock Valuation,business news,economy,finance,investment tools,mortgage,mutual funds,personal finance,quote,real estate,retirement,stock,stocks,suzeorman,tax,track portfolio"> It appeared in the source code for the home page at <http://finance.yahoo.com/>, as accessed 4-27-09. Those were not search results pages. 9. Here's one from an MSN page, not search results, and I understand MSN is the third leading search engine: <meta name="keywords" content="IE, IE8, Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer 8, browser, web browser, Microsoft browser, MSN, MSN Internet Explorer." /> It appeared in the source code for <http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0403A>, as accessed 4-27-09. 10. Here's one from a page at the Ask search engine site: <meta name="keywords" content="nascar, race schedule, nascar drivers, race results"/> It appeared in the source code for <http://www.ask.com/nascar>, as accessed 4-27-09. That's not a search results page. 11. If Google thinks meta keywords are a bad idea, it shouldn't mind competitors using them. 12. If Google only sometimes thinks meta keywords are a bad idea, Google would want them available for when they think they're a good idea, which means they'll want websites populating the tags in anticipation of Google's reliance on them. 13. Yahoo recommends using meta keywords: "Use a 'keyword' meta-tag to list key words for the document. Use a distinct list of keywords that relate to the specific page on your site instead of using one broad set of keywords for every page." <http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/search/ranking/ranking-02.html;_ylt=Aqo20RnglJfFGUGT0ou1UxObqCN4>, as accessed 4-28-09. 14. Microsoft recommends using meta keywords: "Use a descriptive title tag, meta keywords, meta description, and H1 tag on all pages to identify its intended content, even if the content on the page itself isn't immediately accessible." <http://blogs.msdn.com/webmaster/archive/2009/02/03/optimizing-your-very-large-site-for-search-part-3.aspx>, as accessed 4-27-09. 15. SEO promoters say to add meta keywords. SearchEngineWatch in 2007 said so even though their use was limited: <http://searchenginewatch.com/2167931>, as accessed 4-28-09. 16. SearchEngineLand said in 2007 that Yahoo and Ask used them, and described a test showing it. <http://searchengineland.com/meta-keywords-tag-101-how-to-legally-hide-words-on-your-pages-for-search-engines-12099#>, as accessed 4-28-09. 17. For a test with an ambivalent result by Webmaster World, see <http://www.webmasterworld.com/google/3138562.htm>, as accessed 4-28-09. 18. Yahoo and Google apparently distribute their indexes to many nations and try to serve searchers in many nations, suggesting a likelihood that ranking criteria may vary by nation where the index is locally supported and according to the desires of local searchers. Thus, meta keyword reliance may vary by nation. 19. Other search engines around the world, such as Baidu, include some that are popular within their own nations, may compile their own collections, and may weigh factors differently. The tag should be available for them to analyze. Conclusion: Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Ask all use them, if in very limited ways, and therefore implicitly support meta keywords. Some SEO firms support them and I don't know of any who oppose them when they think engines use them. Other engines may also use them. Meta keywords are the only technology that fits the need. The abuse is soluble. And the need exists. Thank you. -- Nick -- Configure bugmail: http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/userprefs.cgi?tab=email ------- You are receiving this mail because: ------- You are on the CC list for the bug.
Received on Wednesday, 29 April 2009 06:21:40 UTC