Search Keywords, Meta Keywords and Meta Descriptions; Keeping Webmaster Tools Current

[CostumeD]

What are Search Keywords, Meta Keywords and Meta Descriptions? What exactly is the difference between them and which one is more important?

In regards to Webmaster Tools, if we delete a page or a product, it still shows up in Search Analytics. How can we update Webmaster Tools so as to keep it current with our website?

Lastly, again in regards to Webmaster Tools, in Search Analytics. At the moment we put relevant queries into the Meta Description of low ranking pages, in order to raise the position of the page. Is this the right way to handle queries? Should we be putting the queries into the Meta Description or the Meta Keywords?

[MattRoney]

Wow, there are a lot of questions in here! I'll take a couple of them:

In Webmaster Tools, "Search Keywords" refers to search terms that are currently returning your site. These are (some of) the searches that are leading people to you.

You can read about meta description here. It's basically your way to have a say in the text that accompanies your listing on the SERPs. Using keywords in your meta description will not help you rank, but it may increase the likelihood that folks will click on your link when they receive your page as a search result, provided they're used as part of relevant, intriguing copy that effectively communicates to potential visitors what they can expect the page to be about.

Meta keywords is an older tag that allows you to list the important keywords for a given page in the page's code itself. It's generally considered out-of-date and to not do you any good. I'd recommend not using it, as it's little more than a great way to tell your competitors what you're working on.

Honestly, it sounds as if you'd really benefit from reading through our Beginner's Guide to SEO. It'll leave you with a much better understanding.