We all want our blogs, websites and content to get the most traffic possible, and while there are many ways to achieve this, one thing to prioritise is key words and search engine optimisation. It's crucial that you use the most effective keywords throughout your site that connect with the right audience for your business. This is something I've slowly come to terms with while completing my summer internship in a digital marketing agency so I thought I'd share some hints and tips I've came across along the way!
It all begins with words typed into a search engine. Keyword research is one of the most important and high return activities in the search marketing field. Ranking for the right keywords can make or break your website. By researching your market's keyword demand, you can not only learn which terms and phrases to target with SEO, but also learn more about your customers. It's not always about getting visitors to your site, but about getting the right kind of visitors.
SET AND UNDERSTAND YOUR OVERALL GOALS.
Before you decide which keywords are right for your brand, spend some time thinking about what your SEO goals are. Most companies use SEO to increase website traffic, which in turn, increases revenue, but you’ll need to be more specific than that.
Ask yourself these three things:
- How fast do you want to see results? SEO is a long-term strategy, so it sometimes takes months before you start seeing results. If you want results faster than that, you’ll need to choose lower-competition and higher-volume keywords.
- How relevant does your audience need to be? Are you laser-focused on one specific audience, or flexible with the types of people you have coming to the site?
- What types of traffic are you seeking? Do you want people to buy your products, or are you focusing for now on brand awareness?
THINK LIKE THE AUDIENCE
This may seem like an obvious step but is often one that is overlooked, examining your website as a prospective customer can be crucial in choosing the right keywords. Identify your target audience and put yourself into the shoes of a customer when you create your initial list of keywords. Ask yourself, “If I wanted to find one of these products or services, what would I type into Google?” You can also consult others, such as friends, family members, or even current customers to get their opinion on phrases they would use when searching for your products and services.
UNDERSTAND THE LONG TAIL KEYWORD
Long tail keywords are a combination of three or more words or phrases, and can also be a question. While long tail keywords tend to boast lower search volumes, they generally attract more relevant traffic, are typically less competitive, and easier to rank well on. Choose long tail keywords that help to specify your product or service.
USE KEYWORD RESEARCH TOOLS
Use Google AdWords Keyword Tool to research your potential target keywords. With these tools you can gather data on keyword volume and trends, keyword competition, similar keywords, and more.
STUDY THE COMPETITION
ANALYSE THE RESULTS
After choosing your keywords don't forget to monitor them and analyse the results. There are often trending keywords or phrases, along with new keywords your competitors may be using. Don't forget to utilise your keywords wherever possible! Insert your keywords into blog posts, social media posts and your website's content. The more you use keywords within your content, the easier it will be for your target audience to find you.
Your first blend of keywords isn’t going to be perfect, but it will give you a solid baseline you can use to improve your level of traffic even further. Pay close attention to how your results develop over time, and don’t be afraid to make changes when you need to!
Have you got any SEO tips that you've came across? Let me know below
Have you got any SEO tips that you've came across? Let me know below
Beth x
No comments