Re: [Bug 6853] New: restore meta keywords, search engines use them

On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 4:13 AM, Julian Reschke<julian.reschke@gmx.de> wrote:
> bugzilla@wiggum.w3.org wrote:
>>
>> 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.
>> ...
>
> I noticed that this bug is in state "resolved", with "keywords" being added
> as "proposed" to the meta extensions wiki page.
>
> I don't think that's sufficient. "keywords" is not an extension, but
> something that was present in HTML4, and is widely documented and used.
>
> If it is mis-used and thus ignored by search engines, we should back that up
> with research, and then potentially document the issue in the spec.

http://searchenginewatch.com/2165061
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_element#The_keywords_attribute
http://www.seomoz.org/article/search-ranking-factors#f5
http://www.searchengineguide.com/richard-ball/meta-keywords-a.php

Most search engines completely ignore it.  Yahoo still uses it, but
admits it places little importance on the value.  It's not clear
whether or not Google uses it, but the SEO experts in the SEOMOZ
article clearly believe it has little to no value when optimizing for
the big G.

~TJ

Received on Wednesday, 19 August 2009 12:49:41 UTC