Google doesn't use the keywords meta tag in web search ranking
Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
- Commonly cited as
- "Do meta keywords help SEO?"
- True origin
- Google Search Central Blog (Matt Cutts) — Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking (Sept. 21, 2009)
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2009
- Data as of
- Published Sept. 21, 2009; Google's current note says it still doesn't support the tag
- Last checked
- What the source says
Google doesn't use the keywords meta tag in our web search ranking. ... However Google still doesn't support the keywords meta tag.
- Method & sample
- Official Google statement.
- Drift between quote and source
- None
- Interest
- Google operates Google Search.
Safe rephrasing
Google has said since 2009 that it doesn't use the keywords meta tag for ranking, and its current note says it still doesn't support it.
Sources we opened
Machine-readable: /api/claims/google-does-not-use-keywords-meta-tag.json · Last checked 2026-10-16