meta description and meta keywords

see above!

[aijohn]

I am in the process of writing copy for a niche content site. Searching through several forums it seems that 300-500 words per page is about right for my subject.

My question for those of you who have been doing this for some time, what sort of guidelines can you give for the meta content and meta description sections? How much is enough and how much is excessive?

Thanks.

[aijohn]

Waited too long to edit. I meant meta description and meta keywords.

[innocbystr]

Meta keywords are pretty much a thing of the past, so try to get your keywords in the title and content. The "big three" will only pick up about the first twenty words of your meta description, so make them count.

Blair

[John Carpenter]

Meta keywords are pretty much a thing of the past

Google ignores them, but I think someone said msn still uses them to a certain extent. I may be wrong.

[larryhatch]

The given wisdom is that meta tags / keyword etc. are virtually worthless.
I put them in anyway. Can't hurt. -Larry