Why Meta Keywords Are Dead for SEO (2025 Update)

For years, website owners were told to fill their <meta name="keywords"> tag with every relevant term they could think of. In 2025, that practice is not only outdated — it could actually harm your credibility. Let’s break down why meta keywords are officially dead, what Google says about them, and what you should be doing instead.

What Were Meta Keywords?

The <meta name="keywords"> tag was introduced in the early days of the internet as a way for site owners to tell search engines what a page was about. It looked something like this:

<meta name="keywords" content="digital marketing, SEO, small business, growth">

While it started as a genuine ranking signal, it was quickly abused. Site owners began “keyword stuffing” with irrelevant or misleading terms in an attempt to rank for unrelated searches.

What Does Google Say?

Google has publicly stated that it does not use the meta keywords tag in its ranking algorithm. In fact, this has been the case since at least 2009. Matt Cutts, former head of Google’s Webspam team, confirmed this in a video Q&A:

“We don’t use the keywords meta tag in our search ranking. It’s just ignored.”

Google’s own documentation reiterates this stance. As stated in their official Search Central documentation:

“Google doesn’t use the ‘keywords’ meta tag in our web search ranking.”

Why Meta Keywords Are Still Misleading in 2025

Despite being obsolete for over a decade, some website builders and SEO plugins still include the option to add meta keywords. This leads many DIY site owners to believe they’re helping their SEO, when in reality, they’re adding unnecessary clutter to their HTML — or worse, handing competitors an exact list of their target keywords.

In 2025, using meta keywords:

• Provides no SEO benefit on Google, Bing, or other major search engines.
• Increases your page size slightly and unnecessarily.
• Signals to search engines that you may be following outdated practices.

What You Should Do Instead

If you’re serious about SEO in 2025, focus on tactics that actually move the needle:

1. Optimize Your Title Tags and Meta Descriptions

Google still uses these to display search snippets. Make them unique, relevant, and keyword-rich — but avoid stuffing.

2. Use Structured Data

Implement structured data (schema.org markup) to help Google understand your content better.

3. Focus on On-Page Content and Internal Linking

Write helpful, people-first content. Include keywords naturally in your headings, paragraphs, and alt text. Link related posts together using smart internal linking strategies.

4. Improve Site Performance and Accessibility

Core Web Vitals and accessibility scores are more important than ever. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help you make improvements.

Final Verdict: Let Meta Keywords Rest in Peace

Google doesn’t use them. Bing doesn’t use them. And your SEO plugin shouldn’t either. If you’re still adding meta keywords to your site, it’s time to move on. Instead, focus on what actually matters in 2025: fast, mobile-friendly websites, clear content structures, and real value for your visitors.