There are two main motives for any website on the Web. One is to attract users by enhancing its visibility and the other is to hit the top position in the search engine results. Over the years, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) practices have been on an increase and becoming immensely popular with online businesses and millions of websites. One such practice is using Meta tags which comprises of Meta keyword tag and Meta description tag. But these days, SEO experts all around the world are skeptical about the use of Meta tags.

To begin with, Meta tags have indeed played a crucial role in the past to influence search engines and users. It all starts with an online user looking out for one or more keywords through search engines. The subsequent results displayed on the search result provide an option for the user to select either of them and find the answer to his queries.

But on the other hand, it is argued by many that Meta tags are not the key factor for achieving higher ranks. Whether this belief is true or not, it is better to keep them on the web page so as to ensure safety, precaution and added advantage.

Also as a point of contention, it can be said that Meta tags allow you to use important words of the page and highlight it in the search engine result briefly explaining about the page. It is just like a sample that allows users to understand what is in store for them once they buy the product or avail the service.

The role of Meta tags depends on the style in which a webmaster uses it. By limiting the description tag up to 160 or 170 words and effectively describing the web page content in a concise but attractive manner, it is likely that a user will visit it first than that with an unorganized looking description

Another important aspect is how well you insert the keywords in the Meta keyword tag. In spite of numerous criticisms by webmasters around the world, it cannot be said that Meta keyword tags do not play any role in influencing the search engines. For example, if the user searches for any keyword, most likely the search engines will display those pages which have quality content, and also contain an appropriate keyword tag that talks about the page, which is not misleading.

Hence, it is wise not to disregard Meta tags completely, in order to be on the safer side. But at the end, if you decide your website’s fate depending only on the Meta tags and not concentrating on the quality, you would just be another person joining the list of those who consider it as a useless SEO practice.