“Hey Siri… Where can I buy an apple?”
It all starts with a web search. Keywords, simply put, are the words typed into a search box. Optimizing a website with keywords is a method of directing those search inquiries to the correct website. In the example above, my friend Siri is going to direct me to the closest Apple store.
To quote our friends at MOZ,
“Keyword research is one of the most important, valuable, and high return activities in the search marketing field. Ranking for the “right” keywords can make or break your website. Through the detective work of puzzling out your market’s keyword demand, you not only learn which terms and phrases to target with SEO, but also learn more about your customers as a whole.”
Have you heard this joke?
Q: Where is the best place to bury a body?
A: The second page of Google search results!
The right keywords can make or break an online business. Picking the right keywords is a key part to ranking higher on search engines like Google.
4 Phases of Keyword Research:
- Phase 1: Brainstorm keyword possibilities. List all the words and phrases that should lead a customer to your website.
- Phase 2: Verify keyword data and add words recommended by Google. Verify the words on your list using Google’s free keyword planner
- Phase 3: Narrow down keywords. Using ranking data and competitive data, shorten your list of keywords.
- Phase 4: Assign keywords to content. Set specific words and phrases for site landing pages, videos, and blog posts.
The following slides will provide you with a few ways to get started when you are selecting keywords.
Want to learn more?
Check out Jenny Munn’s upcoming 2-hour SEO strategy/lead gen workshop on 10/16 and 10/17.
If you’re an Atlanta business owner, marketer or web designer who needs SEO help, this workshop is for you.
