does google ignore meta tags or not?

[bopub]

I have a debate going on and need some advice
from a professional here. Is it true that google
will ingore meta tags or not? There seems to be
a level of opinion based on experience in this
matter, so I thought I'd try the professionals
here that knows google and how it operates.

I'm thinking they are needed for other SE's and
for ranking even on google, but are the meta's
title, desrciption and keywords play an important
role anyway even if they are not recommended?

Confused to the Max!

[cbp]

Google prety much ignores them, except for the title. I have only ever included the title, keywords (usually only a couple of words, matching the title) and the description meta tags for several years because of the possible very minimal weight given to them by other SE's(except for title) . I don't bother with any others.

CBP

[cspelts]

One thing to keep in mind - if your description includes the search term, Google will display a snippet of your description under the link. If not, then Google pulls text from your page that includes the search term.

To me that's a really good reason to write a pithy, strong sentence or two that truly describes you site. You only have a few words to try and hook the viewer!

[rivux]

Meta tags especially the description, title and keyword ones are very important. There is more to the internet then google out there and some directories and scripts use the meta information. If Im surfing the web looking for interesting sites to add, I am much much more likely to add a site that has the info that I can use then a site that doesnt have it and forces me to write my own description/keywords for them.

Its much easier for people to edit your tags when they want to use it, then it is for them to write it themselves.

[RikR]

I am amzed how many links are submitted to my directory site, that when I spider them come back with no meta tags, many not even a title, no description, no keywords.

This forces me to either visit the site and try to get the information manually, or frequently just decide my time is too valuable to worry about a site that does not care about itself and delete the submitted link.

[sem-seo]

Hi there

Google loves the title tag.

Google pays no attention to the meta keywords tag.

Google only uses the meta description tag if:

It cannot find a DMOZ Directory listing.

It cannot index any content on the web page.

However it does not give it any value due to spamming tactics.

Clint

[ctabuk]

That is spot on, I have just scored a victory over a DMOZ I managed to get a competitors site delisted, it took nine months and before anyone say's that's a rotten thing to do, the site was reported 9 months ago as it was 'under construction, and still is today, but it moved me up 9 positions!

Now I have a question for all you Google experts, how can a site get to number 12 on Google when it's tags don't have the Search Term and it's pages don't have the Search term - and the Keywords are totally bereft of the Search Term? All it has is one small mention in it's pages. Beats me. I'm not going to URL it as it is a competitor of mine and I won't be childish, I'll just live with it.But it does annoy me that the changes we made to our site were visited by googlebots last night and our pages were updated.

[wednesday]

Originally Posted by ctabuk

site get to number 12 on Google when it's tags don't have the Search Term and...

IBLs?

[ctabuk]

Originally Posted by residentevil

IBLs?

I love that title - Could be I'll check, but they do have Google adwords on their site!!!

I've checked 56,124 quality Back Links - oh God, more submissions