Keyword Tags -- Same for Whole Site, or Unique Tags per Page

[jawn_tech]

We can probably agree on the value of keyword tags. From my experience, I've become accustomed to building an entire site with one set of keyword tags to define the whole site.

Are there potential SEO advantages by possibly building each page separately from each other, and linking them together as a site, giving each page its own set of keyword tags?

The angle I'm coming from is experience designing by eye using web authoring softare rather than hand-coding, and the software usually lets you add pages then builds the site all at once in a folder. I can always go back and tweak HTML code, such as with GoLive. However, I might be in the minority of people who do it this way.

I'm curious to hear anyone's opinion about unique keyword tags for each page (and noticeable results), as well as varying methods of site development.

[cyanide]

Well since meta keywords are being phased out and are largely ignored by the main search engines, I wouldn't spend a huge amount of time on them.

But, yes having distinct keywords, as well as title tags and meta description for each page is the way to go.

[paulhiles]

I think most people with any sort of SEO experience will strongly recommend the use of unique tags for each page. In this manner, you can target different sets of keywords/phrases on different pages. If you're linking to other pages within your site, take care to use keywords in your anchor text.

I would advise against using one set of keywords for a whole site. When a single set of keywords is used throughout, their effectiveness is greatly diminished, even worse, they may only be indexed for your initial homepage.

Also you should note, that not all search engines will take notice of your keywords (in the metatags). Google for example, tends to place more value on the "on page" factors, and of course, inbound links from other sites.

PS. I've moved your post from Web Programming into Search Engine Discussion.

[ronniethedodger]

I would be more concerned with the Description than the Keywords. But you might as well kill two birds with one stone.

The SEs are probably not going to pay much attention to them in the future. Google does not, Yahoo does the Description but I have heard someone reading that Yahoo is not going to use it anymore (that is an open subject).

Be that as it may, most software does not allow for custom meta tagging out of the box. That includes desktop as well as server software. With the server software you can rewrite the underlying code to allow for custom meta-tagging if you wish. Desktop software however, has a nasty habit of reintroducing default values for that information.

I guess it would depend on the software and how easily you can maintain and update the meta-tags. If it is too much of a chore, then you will have to balance that against the benefits -- which is practically or going to be nil.

[paulhiles]

Good point on the 'description' tag Ron. I've seen both Yahoo! and MSN pick up those when they're present.

[cyanide]

I've seen google pickup the description tag in the serps too