5/5 - (1 vote)

If you’ve ever dived into WordPress SEO, you’ve probably come across the term “meta keywords.” But what exactly are they? And more importantly—do meta keywords still matter in 2025?

In this guide, we’ll break down what meta keywords are in WordPress, why they were once important, and whether you should be using them today.

Let’s separate myth from fact and help you build an SEO strategy that works now—not five years ago.

What Are Meta Keywords in WordPress?

Meta keywords are HTML meta tags that used to tell search engines what your content was about. They’re part of the <head> section in a webpage’s code and look something like this:

Years ago, marketers would add a list of relevant keywords here to help Google understand the page’s topic. These were called meta keywords.

In WordPress, you could manually add them in your theme’s header or use SEO plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math to insert them easily.

Do Meta Keywords Still Matter for SEO in 2025?

Here’s the short answer: No, not really.

According to Google Search Central, Google officially stopped using the meta keywords tag as a ranking factor back in 2009.

Other search engines like Bing or Yandex may still use them a little, but even they rely more heavily on page content, backlinks, and user behavior.

So, while meta keywords won’t hurt your SEO, they won’t boost it either.

When (and Why) Meta Keywords May Still Be Useful

Even though they aren’t directly tied to rankings, there are a few specific cases where meta keywords can play a secondary role:

Internal Search Engines: Some WordPress themes and plugins use meta keywords to improve on-site search accuracy.
Legacy Systems: Older CMS platforms or internal search tools may still rely on this tag.
SEO Training: Learning about meta keywords is still useful when studying the history of SEO or understanding metadata.

However, your main SEO efforts should focus on real ranking factors:
👉 content quality, keyword placement, page speed, mobile experience, and backlinks.

How to Add Meta Keywords in WordPress (If You Still Want To)

If you’re still interested in experimenting with meta keywords for educational purposes or internal search, here’s how to do it:

✅ Using Rank Math SEO Plugin

Install and activate Rank Math.
Go to Titles & Meta > Posts.
Enable the Use Meta Keywords option.
While editing a post, add your keywords in the meta box.

✅ Manually via Theme Editor

If you’re comfortable editing code:

Go to Appearance > Theme File Editor.
Find header.php.
Add this code in the <head> section:

⚠️ Important: Always back up your theme before making code changes.

What You Should Focus On Instead

If you want better rankings and more traffic, focus on modern SEO practices:

Use relevant keywords naturally in your content
Write strong title tags and meta descriptions
Optimize site speed and mobile experience
Add proper internal links (like this Services page)
Get backlinks from trusted websites

Tools like Google Search Console, SEMrush, and Ahrefs can help you monitor performance and improve your keyword strategy.

Want help optimizing your WordPress site with current SEO best practices?

👉 Explore Our SEO & Web Development Services
👉 Talk to a WordPress SEO Specialist

We help businesses implement the latest SEO techniques that actually work in 2025.

Trusted Sources for SEO Guidance

These resources are updated regularly and provide fact-based insights on SEO trends.

Related Articles 👇

Conclusion: Are Meta Keywords Worth Your Time in 2025?

If you’re building a modern SEO strategy, meta keywords in WordPress are no longer necessary. They won’t hurt your site, but they won’t help either.

Focus your efforts on writing high-quality content, optimizing for mobile, speeding up your site, and using SEO plugins smartly.

And if you’re ever unsure where to start…

📞 Wix Infotech is here to help.
We offer full-service WordPress development and SEO solutions tailored to your business goals.

👉 Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Driving Growth Through Innovation With wixinfotech