Keyword Tips for SEO Starters
August 3, 2018
Keywords can go a long way toward the development of an online presence for your website and brand. Not only do they help the consumer public know what to search for, but they also promote traffic to your site. Keywords can be as general or specific as you want them to be, although most SEO experts recommend narrowing your search scope with specific keywords which coincide with your business.
So, how do you know which keywords to use, when and where to use them, and how to get started with search engine optimization? Here’s a beginner’s guide to success when it comes to SEO and keywords.
Less is More
One of the ways to narrow your search field is to limit the number of keywords you use. Not only does this help you focus more on the keywords you already have in play, but it helps reduce the confusion of consumers when they click on your links. Having three or four well-thought out keywords circulating your site will make it easier for consumers to pinpoint your business and brand. Some searches are seeking one business, while others are looking for a service or products which could exist on multiple facets.
For example, using a keyword like “Mary’s Beauty Salon” makes it easier for fans of your salon to find you after they’ve been, or heard about you through the grape vine. Similarly, a customer searching for a new salon might just type, “Hair Salon Newark”, which will provide a long list of Newark based salons. You can see here how having a few different keywords can help, but how having too many could make it difficult to rank at all.
Focus Your Target Like a Laser Beam
There’s always a target audience for any product or service, so don’t shy away from yours. Use keywords which are attractive to the type of crowd you’re hoping to draw in. For example, if you own a camping supply store, and want to target young adults and families prone to camping and trips, use keywords which attract local and federal attention by using a keyword like, “Kids Tents Newark”, or “Camp Party Tents and Coolers”.
Knowing your audience lets you create customized content for your group, which will help not only in crafting appropriate keywords, but in building a better blog or website as well. The information you write online should be in tune with the message you want your brand to send. The more related to your brand, genuine, and transparent your posts are, the more likely it is that Google will promote them over similar content.
Keyword Stuffing Helps Nobody
One of the rookie mistakes newcomers to SEO make is to stuff as many keywords as they can into just about every sentence they write. If you’re learning the ropes of keyword use in search engine optimization, it’s recommended that you take your time and build up slowly. Too many keywords in one paragraph look forced, which causes content to appear spammy. An example of this can be seen when keywords aren’t used with proper grammar or spelling, making them look sloppy and out of place.
You can completely avoid keyword stuffing by remembering the first rule of “less is more”. This is especially true for brands that have multiple keywords in play. A good rule to consider when it comes to keywords is that you shouldn’t have more than one in a sentence, and not more than two in a paragraph.
Mix Up Short and Long Keywords
To avoid the keyword stuffing enigma of search engine optimization, try to use different lengths of keywords. For example, if you own a plumbing company, you can use a keyword which simply says, “Stan’s Plumbing”, but you could also increase the length of your keyword by writing, “Unclog toilets and sinks in Newark”. The simpler keyword is called a head term, while the lengthier version is referred to as a long-tail keyword.
Not all long-tail keywords are fitting with the message business owners are looking to send in a particular publication. This is why it helps to have a list of keywords to use, but to mark down which are being used as you go along. If you have a list of ten, and you use five, be sure to mix up the results between short keywords and longer keywords.
Follow Google Algorithms
One thing Google has made clear in recent years is that it isn’t taking lightly to those attempting to use the system to advance their business over another. The search engine giant wants business owners to rise in ranks within their respective search queries naturally, not through forced methods of SEO. One way you can create the appearance of following the rules and allowing Google’s algorithms to make the choices of where the dice may fall in your ranking is by using a single keyword when possible.
Single keywords fit in far more situations and sentences, making it easy to use over and over again without looking like spam. For more information on the current and upcoming Google algorithm changes, check the company’s main site regularly. There’s no way to know whether your site is hitting every single factor used in determining Google rank, but you can see if there are any obvious traps you’ve fallen prey to and fix them while you can.