Search Engine Optimization Tips
1. Keyword Research
2. Website Structure
3. Meta Tags
4. Content Optimization
5. Link Building
Keyword Research
Keyword research is probably the most important step in the Search Engine Optimization process. Keywords are terms that people (and potential customers) use to find information in the search engines. For this reason, finding the correct keywords to use for your website is of great importance. Choose the wrong ones and your traffic will be virtually nothing...choose the right ones and your business could flourish with high search engine placement and increased traffic and sales. This article will focus on the basic steps to go through when selecting the right keywords for your website. This is meant to be a quick overview for beginners on developing a highly targeted keyword list and then implementing the keywords throughout your website.
1. Compile Initial List - This first step is compiling a list of keywords that describe your business, products or services. Keep in mind that single keywords are highly competitive and are generally harder to rank high in search results. It's much better to target key phrases for a couple of reasons: less competition and potential for more targeted, qualified traffic. Enlist the help of friends, family and clients. Ask them what they would most likely search for when looking for a specific product or service. Compile a list of about 20-30 potential keywords. This will be you building block in your initial research.
2. Utilize Keyword Tools - Keyword research tools are highly useful since they deal with historical search data. They can tell you what users and potential customers are actually searching for. This should play a huge part in developing your keyword list. There are many keyword tools out there. Here are some that I use on a regular basis:
Free Keyword Tools
Google's Keyword Tool
Overture's Keyword Suggestion Tool
SEOBook's Keyword Suggestion Tool
3. Research Competition and Refine: By now you should have a fairly comprehensive keyword list. At this point you want to begin to narrow your list. Head over to Google and type in your search terms, one-by-one (surrounded by quotes). Be sure to note the number of results that returned for each. Also jot down the top 10 websites that are returned. It's also a good idea to check out the competitions use of keywords in their title tags and anchor text.
4. Finalizing your list: Before finalizing your keyword list, here are some questions to ask:
- Are the keywords / keyphrases relevant to the page you are optimizing?
- Are the keywords too general? For example, "Baltimore car wash" is much better than "car wash".
- Is the level of competition too steep for my keywords?
- Are users searching for a specific keyword likely to buy your services or product?
