meta keywords and meta description

[hal12b]

Are the meta keywords and meta descriptions still needed these days? At one point I know they were needed, but is the title tag and content weighed more heavily now?

[mattur]

Hi hal12b,

Content (including title) and links are more important. A general rule of thumb is that "visible" content is more important (i.e. more trustable) than "invisible" content.

Here's a recent thread that may be of interest to you, discussing meta keywords and meta description:

Are repeated meta keywords duplicate content? [webmasterworld.com]

[hal12b]

Thanks!