So, last time we looked at meta tags and how to install the meta tags module to your web site. Today we will look at how to get the module up and running.

1. Go to http://www.yourDrupalsite.com/admin/content/nodewords or click on Administer | Content Management | Meta tags.

2. The Global copyright, Global GeoURL, Global keywords, and Default robots meta tag are the site-wide defaults. If you don’t specifically set these elements in the node, then the Meta tags module will display the ones that you set here. Here are some examples of what you might put into these fields:

• Global copyright: © Copyright 2010 Yourcorp Corporation. All rights reserved

• Global GeoURL: 30.4363439, ­97.7728595
(Note: despite what is showing in the help notes below this field, do not put parenthesis around your latitude and longitude)

• Global keywords: computers, servers, gaming pcs

• Default robots meta tag: ALL=INDEX,FOLLOW

3. The Auto-keywords vocabularies field allows you to select the taxonomy categories that you would like to include in the keywords field. Here’s how it works:

• Select any taxonomy on the meta tags configuration page.
• When you create a node, include terms from the taxonomy that you selected.
• When you save the node, the terms that you selected will now be included in the keywords meta tag. You can verify this by looking at the source of the page in your browser.

4. Further down the configuration you will see a box that designates Text length and then a shaded box of Advanced options. You will probably want to leave these configuration settings as the defaults, but let’s review them.

Text length: Defines the maximum length of a meta tag. Most search engines won't look beyond 255 characters.

Tags to show on edit form: Specify which meta tags you want you or your content creators to be able to edit on a node­ by­ node basis. For most, description and keywords are all you should allow. However, if you want users to be able to opt content out of Google, give them control over the Robots meta tag. GeoURL would allow users to define their pages in a different geographical location than the rest of the site.

Tags to output in html head: You can turn on or off any meta tags that you want or don't want to appear on your site. For example, if you're not a geographically focused business, you might turn off the GeoURL meta tag.

Repeat meta tags for lists: As you build up content on your site, you’ll notice that some pages, like the home page and taxonomy pages, will use pagination. That means that they’ll show the ten most recent nodes and then offer links to subsequent ones. This option allows you to specify if you want meta tags to show up on the paginated pages of a long list of content. If you uncheck this option, you’ll have meta tags on the first page of paginated content only. Most sites should leave this option unchecked.

Use front page meta tags: The Meta tags module allows you to specify meta tags for the front page of the site. In Drupal, there are many ways to define the front page. You can make it a node, a list of nodes, a view, a panel, and more. You could even specify different front pages based on the role of the currently logged ­in user. With this option, you have an opportunity to define the meta tags no matter how the front page of the site may be defined. Most sites should check this box and then...

5. Define the front page meta tags by visiting the following link, http://www.yourDrupalsite.com/admin/content/nodewords/frontpage or clicking on Administer | Content Management | Meta tags | Front page.

• Description: Enter the description of the front page of the site. This is usually a two or three ­sentence description of the content of the page that is used by many search engines in the search results as the text under your link. It's very important because it's what a search engine user will see before they click on your link.
• Keywords: Enter a comma­ separated list of keywords about your site.

6. Click on Save.

So, there you go. The meta-tags module is loaded and ready to rock! Have fun!