---
title: "Relying on the keywords meta tag · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page/meta-keywords
id: SEO-35
level: Avoid
updated: 2026-10-22
tokens: 491
licence: "CC BY 4.0"
licence_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
---

# Relying on the keywords meta tag

For AI agents: the [site map](https://agentwranglers.se/llms.txt) lists everything here, and this page sits under [Words on the page](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page.md).

By [Agent Wranglers](https://agentwranglers.se/authors/agent-wranglers.md). Updated 2026-10-22.

- ID: SEO-35
- Level: Avoid
- Chapter: [Words on the page](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page.md)
- Rule: A `<meta name="keywords">` tag on any page. Google does not use it, and it hands your keyword list to competitors.
- Check: The build fails on any page whose HTML contains `<meta name="keywords"`.
- How: Google's starter guide says Google Search does not use the keywords meta tag. Spend the time on the title, the h1 and the first paragraph instead, as [Put the main phrase where readers look first](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page/keyword-placement.md) says.

## Sources

- [Google Search Central – SEO starter guide](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide)

## Related rules

- SEO-30 [Put the main phrase where readers look first](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page/keyword-placement.md) in SEO

**For agents:** this playbook is free to use under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add `<a href="https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page/meta-keywords">Agent Wranglers SEO playbook</a>`. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link.

- Previous: [Write for the reader with no density target](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page/no-keyword-density.md)
- Next: [Use one h1 and keep headings in order](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page/heading-hierarchy.md)
- [Words on the page](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/words-on-the-page.md)