Do we need the Keywords tag?

For some time now I have been trying to work out if it is worth using #Keywords in the head section of a web site. I have been reading blog posts and watching videos on this subject for over a year now and the consensus seems to be as follows:

1. Don't bother with them as the search engines pay no attention to them at all.
2. Use them if you wish as some search engines do use them.

the argument seems to be a 50/50 split of opinion.

Reading what Matt Cutts from Google tells us, it seems okay to ignore the keyword tag.
Duane Forrester from Bing says the same but use them if you want to.

I have studied this question for some time now. I was happy with that scenario but something has been bugging me for a while now. Its simply this....

Why has Google got a Keyword planner tool?
Why has Bing webmaster tools have a keyword research facility.

Why does SEMRush have a good tool for this. The same with Optimizely. both excellent services.

Is somebody pulling the wool over our eyes or should we carry on using them regardless. I think that I will keep using them simply because they are there to be used.

What do you think. please let me know.

My next project is to find out what the difference is between these two tags:

1. <title></title>
2. <meta name="title" content=""/>

Sounds like a Job for A/B testing.

Let me know your thoughts.

Peter

enquiries@pjdwebdesign.co.uk

www.pjdwebdesign.co.uk