How to Add Meta Keywords to Your WordPress Site

Where to add meta keywords in WordPress

Meta keywords go in the HTML head section of your page, but you do not write them by hand. WordPress plugins handle this for you. The most common route is Yoast SEO or Rank Math, both of which add a keywords field to your post editor. You fill in a target keyword, and the plugin writes the meta tag automatically when the page publishes.

If you use a page builder like Elementor or Divi, those tools often have their own SEO panels where you can enter keywords without installing a separate plugin. Check your builder's settings first — you may already have the feature available.

For a manual approach without plugins, you can edit your theme's header.php file or add code to your functions.php file, but this requires comfort with code and breaks if you switch themes. Most people find a plugin simpler and safer.

Key Takeaways

Yoast SEO and Rank Math are the two most widely used plugins for adding meta keywords in WordPress, and both place the keywords field directly in your post editor.
Meta keywords have little to no impact on Google rankings, so focus on writing for readers first and keywords second.
Page builders like Elementor and Divi often include built-in SEO fields, so check your builder before installing a separate plugin.
If you add keywords manually through code, they will disappear if you switch themes unless you move the code to functions.php.

Setting up Yoast SEO for keywords

Install Yoast SEO from the WordPress plugin directory, activate it, and go to any post or page you want to edit. Scroll down past the editor and you will see a Yoast SEO box. Click the pencil icon next to "Keyphrase" and type your target keyword — usually one to three words.

Yoast will then scan your post and tell you whether the keyword appears in your title, first paragraph, and body text. It also checks keyword density and suggests improvements. You do not have to follow every suggestion, but the feedback helps you write in a way that search engines can understand.

The meta keyword tag itself is generated automatically. You do not see it in the editor, but Yoast writes it into your page's HTML when you publish. If you want to verify it was added, view the page source in your browser (right-click, select "View Page Source") and search for "keywords" — you will see the meta tag near the top.

Using Rank Math as an alternative

Rank Math works similarly to Yoast but with a different interface. After installing and activating it, open any post and look for the Rank Math panel on the right side of the editor. Enter your target keyword in the "Focus Keyword" field.

Rank Math shows a content score and tells you how well your post matches the keyword. It also offers suggestions for improving readability and SEO. Like Yoast, it generates the meta keyword tag automatically — you do not need to do anything else.

One difference: Rank Math's free version includes more features than Yoast's free version, such as the ability to set multiple keywords per post. If you want advanced features like schema markup or redirect management, both plugins offer paid plans.

Why meta keywords matter less than you think

Google stopped using meta keywords for ranking in 2009. Bing and Yahoo still read them, but they carry minimal weight. This means adding keywords will not hurt your rankings, but it will not boost them either. The real ranking factors are content quality, backlinks, page speed, and how long readers stay on your page.

That said, meta keywords can help with internal organization and clarity. If you manage a large site, keywords remind you what each page is about. They also appear in some WordPress admin views, making it easier to find related posts.

The takeaway: add keywords if your plugin makes it easy, but do not spend hours perfecting them. Write for your readers first. If your content is useful and answers a real question, search engines will rank it — with or without a meta keyword tag.

Adding keywords without a plugin

If you want to avoid plugins, you can add meta keywords by editing your theme's header.php file. Go to Appearance → Theme File Editor, find header.php, and add this line inside the <head> section:

Replace "your keywords here" with your actual keywords, separated by commas. Save the file and the tag will appear on every page using that template. The downside is that you have to edit the code manually for each page, and if you switch themes, the code disappears and you have to add it again.

A safer manual approach is to add code to your functions.php file instead. This keeps your keywords in place even if you change themes. However, this method requires more technical knowledge and a mistake in functions.php can break your site. Most people find a plugin less risky.

Checking that keywords were added correctly

After you publish a post with keywords, verify they were added by viewing the page source. Open the post in your browser, right-click anywhere, and select "View Page Source" (or "Inspect" in some browsers). Press Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) and search for "keywords".

You should see a line that looks like this: <meta name="keywords" content="your keywords">. If you see it, the tag was added correctly. If you do not see it, check that your plugin is activated and that you filled in the keywords field before publishing.

Some plugins also let you preview the meta tag in the editor itself. Yoast shows a preview of how your post will appear in search results, including the meta description. This preview does not show keywords, but it helps you see the overall SEO picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need meta keywords for SEO?

No. Google ignores meta keywords, so they do not affect your rankings. However, Bing and Yahoo still read them, and they can help you organize your content. If your plugin makes adding them simple, there is no harm in doing so — just do not expect them to move the needle on traffic.

How many keywords should I add per page?

Most SEO plugins recommend three to five keywords or keyword phrases per page. Keep them relevant to the page content. If you list keywords that do not appear in your post, search engines may penalize you for misleading metadata. Write naturally first, then add keywords that match what you actually wrote.

Can I add different keywords to different pages?

Yes. Both Yoast and Rank Math let you set unique keywords for each post and page. This is one reason plugins are better than editing header.php — you can customize keywords without touching code. Just fill in the keywords field for each page separately.

What if my theme does not have a keywords field?

Install a plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. They add the keywords field to every post and page, regardless of your theme. You can also check your page builder's settings — Elementor, Divi, and others often include SEO fields built in.

Will adding keywords hurt my rankings?

Not if you keep them relevant to your content. Search engines ignore keywords they do not recognize in your page, so there is no penalty for adding them. The only risk is if you stuff keywords that do not match your content — but that is a content problem, not a keywords problem.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.