TIP 40: Using Meta Tags

In this tip we take a look at two kinds of meta tags: keywords and description. Search engines still depend on these two tags to help them determine if your site meets the criteria of a person's search. Keywords are a list of words that exemplify the content of the page or site. If the site is all about custom window treatments, for example, you might include keywords such as fabric, draperies, sashes, blinds, and so on. You could also include keywords that indicate where your business is located (Princeton, Trenton, New Jersey, and so on) or other pertinent information.

To create a keyword meta tag, drag and drop the Keyword object from the head portion of the Objects palette into the page.

GoLive automatically opens the head section, drops the object in, and selects it. In the Inspector palette, type a keyword into the input field and press Enter/Return to add it to the list. Repeat as needed to complete your list (Figure 40a).

Figure 40a. Add, edit, or delete keywords via the Keyword Inspector.

The description meta tag gives the browser a bit of descriptive text to use when a search has been run and the site meets the criteria. So if a person runs a search on "custom draperies, New Jersey," the search engine returns a link to the site followed by a description, if included. If there is no description, the search engine uses text on the page. To insert a description meta tag, open the head portion of the page, double-click the meta object, and then in the Meta Inspector select Description from the pull-down menu (Figure 40b). In the Text Input field, type the description of your Web site. If possible, include keywords in your descriptive text for best results.

Figure 40b. Choose description from the pull-down menu and enter the description.

Keyword Magic

If there is a word in the text on your page that you'd like to include in your keyword list, select the word, press Shift-Command-A (Mac) or Shift-Control-A (Windows), and it will automatically be added as a keyword.