Are Meta Tags Extinct? - Results of the Experiment

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The Results of the Experiment

After the latest Google update in March, we compared the results of our experiment, and came up with some very interesting observations.  Our research indicated first and foremost that our theory was far more complex than I stated, but essentially it turned out to be fairly accurate.

Based on our results, I will soon answer the questions that I asked earlier in this article.  Granted, our small experiment probably in no way determines any definite behaviors of the search engines in regards to meta tag information, or the lack thereof.  This experiment is to simply show trends in what directions these particular search engines may be heading.  And analysis of trends seems to be at the heart of SEO these days.  I will take a look at the changing tides of SEO in a later article.

Essentially we optimized all of these sites being examined in the course of the experiment in exactly the same ways, with careful research on content keywords, competition, backlinks; the whole SEO works.  The major difference between the sites in the control group and the sites in the test group were the presence and absence of the meta keyword and description tags respectively.

Since the experiment, we have also been analyzing our competitors’ sites to see what they are doing, and whether meta tags or the lack thereof are affecting their PageRank as well as their SERPs positions, and comparing the trends in a similar fashion to our experimental sites.  It seems honestly to make no difference whatsoever that a site may use meta tags, or not use them at all.  We DO see, however, that a huge number of meta keywords or stuffed keyword tags, or any other spam areas ARE being assessed and penalized.

Next: Answers to Our Questions >>
 

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Comments On: Are Meta Tags Extinct?

· An interesting article on a subject I've wondered about for a long time. My only...    · 4 years late IMHO.    · Are you saying the article is 4 years too late, or that meta tags should have been...    · Thanks for your comment. Sorry if the article was a bit wordy :)At this point, I...    · This is some very interesting research. I have had a sneaking suspicion that meta...    · As an SEO I was interested to read the comments. Maybe this experiment would bring...    · As it should be. Optimization is dead. Content/relevancy/Frequent site...    · I think that makes SEO even easier. Two less things to worry about: meta keywords...    · Ok, so they are not explicitly Meta Tags but Adobe PDF docuemnts heavily use Meta...    · Interesting article. I've used well written and optimized description and keyword...    · That it's not just PROFESSIONALS that visit this site. And while this information...    · Putting something in the description that doesn't reflect what is already in your...    · I definately have to back the author on this point. SEOchat is made for everyone....    · JenI just wanted to say I really enjoyed this article and I hope you are...    · Hi Jennifer,You have written an extremely thought-provoking article on a topic which...    · Very interesting article. If for nothing more than posterity, someone wanted to hang...    · I think there's a good chance that removing the meta keywords and description can...    · Different professionals have their own innovative way of achieving their goal & that...    · Thanks for this, it was a good read. I'd like to know more about your experiment...    · Interesting article but my long term experience differs from your conclusions. I...    · Thanks, Jenifer!I am a definite newbie webmaster and I appreciate your excellent...    · Great post and research jennifer. Thanks for the info. As per some of your other...   >>> Post your comment now!