Keywords in Google Webmaster Tools for Forum

[Stephan Whelan]

I've been looking at my Google Webmaster Tools for my forums (DeeperBlue Forums - Powered by vBulletin) and see that the keywords that are showing as significant for the forums are pretty generic forum words/phrases:

1. posts
2. deeperblue
3. power
4. permalink
5. rep
6. location
7. thread
8. avatar
9. forums
10. post

I'd expect keywords to be more specific to content on the forums, especially as we've had vbSEO installed for a couple of years now.

Any thoughts why or how we might get more relevant keywords to be picked up by Google?

Thanks!

[marco1]

These words is the most words that Google bots see it in every page never mind about it, However let me show you an example :
Google Bot open thread and that's the thread content :
vBSEO The lead vBulletin SEO Plugin
And sure this post have a permalink URL so google bots will see "permalink #1"...etc
Another bot open another thread and that's the thread content :
Hello Guys,
I'm trying to purchase new license of vBSEO
Also this post have "pemalink #1"

So what's the common words of these threads ?
vBSEO
Pemalinks
vBulletin
Plugin
Purchase
License.....etc

So that's the most "seen" words in your site.

[McDot]

Sorry, but I find each unnecessary keyword listed in the metatag "Keywords" takes strenth away from the important keywords. I would highly appreciate a possibility to exclude a list of words from being listed within the Keywords.

[marco1]

You will not see your threads keywords because in every page in your forum there is some words should be in every thread like pemalink thread post signature Avatar ....etc but your correct threads keywords (The keywords you are wan it in the list) is only in 1 or 2 threads so they will not show in this list. I never mind about it.

[Brian Cummiskey]

It seems that you are confusing meta data with page data. You won't find things like post, linkback, etc in the meta keywords (unless the thread title also uses those words).

The list google pulls is by reading your site.

There's basically 2 ways to fix this:
- make all of these common/reused words images (which in turn ruins accessibility and adds weight)
- don't show the words at all


In then end, as Marco suggests, we ALL have the same list or slight variation thereof, and we still rank well for our keyterms.

[swiftor]

I was concerned about this as well when I checked out the webmaster tools.

So basically, for the most part, ignore the top keywords on this list.

[Brian Cummiskey]

Google is smart enough to know that words like these are NOT what your site is about.

ie, searching for linkback, you get info ABOUT linkbacks.
linkback - Google Search

not pages/blogs/forums that CONTAIN them

[awssar]

I have a forum in vb4 in italian linguage, and in my Google Webmaster Tools I have this keywords:

1. forum
2. post
3. data
4. attivo
5. count
6. currently
7. greater
8. have
9. images
10. must
11. posts
12. signatures
13. status
14. view
15. user
16. you
17. your
18. avatar

Why?

[Marco Mamdouh]

I have a forum in vb4 in italian linguage, and in my Google Webmaster Tools I have this keywords:



Why?

Hello aoussar,

As I said before these words is the most words viewable by Google bots, it's will not make any problem with search engines , Just ignore them.
P.S : We all have the same words but you have it in your forum language (Italian).
Please check the above posts you will learn more about it.

[awssar]

P.S : We all have the same words but you have it in your forum language (Italian).

thanks marco :-)

No , are all in English

p.s.
I use vb4 and vbseo 3.5

[Marco Mamdouh]

thanks marco :-)

No , are all in English

p.s.
I use vb4 and vbseo 3.5

That's fine, Just ignore them

[awssar]

That's fine, Just ignore them

how do ignore ?

[Marco Mamdouh]

how do ignore ?

As I said before these words will never effect your site SEO so don't worry about it

[kurole]

whether u ignore or not, these words are going to be there in top list