As part of your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy, you’ll want to choose the wisest keywords and keyword phrases. If you’re new to SEO, or haven’t been involved very long, conducting keyword research can seem overwhelming. Which words are the best? How do you know if they’re likely to work for your website?
Below we’ll answer some frequently asked questions on the best ways to choose keywords for your SEO strategy.
How Do You Research Your Competitor’s Keywords?
You can probably list your top three to five competitors off the top of your head, so go to their websites and do a little sleuthing. Take a close look at their strongest web pages, such as landing pages, the home page, and blog/article pages, if the site has been optimized, you’ll see the keywords your competition is targeting. Take note of their keyword strategy, because this is a terrific starting point.
How Can You Find Keywords Your Customers Are Using?
If you were your customer, what would you type into the Google search box to find what you were looking for? As an example, if your company sold handbags that were inexpensive, you might choose “cheap purses” or “cheap handbags” as your search terms. The more you can think like your target customers, the better your keywords are likely to be.
How Do You Find Keywords in Google Search Console?
Are you already using Google Search Console on your website to determine other factors, such as indexing and your site pages’ click-through-rates? You can also see which keywords are generating traffic. These keywords are organically determined, so they’re well worth considering. Again, write them all down — unless they don’t pertain to what you’re offering. They can be found in the performance section for exact URLs under the queries column.
What are the Best Length Keywords to Target for SEO?
At one time, it was fine for companies to use single keywords as part of their SEO strategies, but those days are long gone. Now, it’s “go long, or go home.” Long-tail keywords are keyword phrases that include several words, such as “best cat litter for multiple cats” or “buy cheap men’s bowties.” Most people type at least three words into search engines, so keep that in mind.
How to Target Geographic Location for Organic Keywords?
If you’re trying to target people in a specific geographic area, use the location in your keyword. A great example is the difference between “used oak tables” and “used oak tables Chicago.” Make sure you use terms that make sense for people in the area, too. Many people have nicknames or shortened names for neighborhoods, cities, and communities. They may say “west side” or “east side” to delineate a particular area. Be conscious of this during your optimization process.
Should You Use Simple Keywords for Organic Search?
Don’t try to get too fancy with the keywords you choose. Most people use basic words when they conduct their searches online. One of the biggest mistakes is forgetting that fact. Although it might seem too simplistic to call your products “best” or “cheap,” it makes sense to consider them in your keyword strategy for SEO purposes.
Get Professional SEO Opinions and Help
Sometimes, it just makes sense to go beyond a do-it-yourself approach to SEO strategy and get assistance from a pro. In this case, you’ll want to partner with a business that has a strong reputation for helping companies build their SEO, including determining which keywords to start with.
Want to know the biggest SEO mistake of them all? Not having an SEO strategy, period. In today’s highly competitive marketplace, you can’t afford to go without SEO. Be certain you stay focused on optimizing your site to get the highest-quality visitors who are likely to convert to customers.
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