A Complete Guide to Keywords for SEO
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SEO is one of the most important aspects of online marketing. If you want your website to rank high in search engines, you need to do keyword research.
In this blog post, we will teach you everything you need to know about keyword research for SEO. We will discuss what keywords are, how to find them, and how to use them effectively. So whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced SEO professional, this blog post is for you!
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization
SEO stands for “search engine optimization”. Simply stated, it is the process of optimizing a website for Google search with the goal of earning higher web traffic levels and improving the visibility of the site. If no one can find your site, chances are you’re not making very many sales, right? SEO is important for businesses of all sizes.
In fact, small businesses can benefit from SEO more than large businesses. This is because small businesses typically have a smaller marketing budget and less brand recognition. Therefore, they need to make sure their website is as visible as possible.
Two Types of SEO
On-Page SEO
If you want your website to be successful, you need to make sure that you’re doing on-page SEO. This refers to the optimizing of website elements such as titles, metatags, and content. An example of on-page SEO might be adding the keyword “shoes” to the title of a blog post about shoes.
By including relevant keywords in your website content, you can help improve your site’s ranking in search engine results pages. In addition, on-page SEO can also help to improve the usability and relevance of your site for users.
Off-Page SEO
Off-page SEO might sound like something that happens when you’re not looking, but it’s actually just the opposite. Off-page SEO is all about optimizing factors that are not controlled by the website owner. These include things like link building and social media engagement.
An example of off-page SEO would be if someone left a comment on your blog post about shoes and included a link to their website. By increasing your off-page SEO, you can make your website more visible and attractive to potential visitors. And who doesn’t want that?
What is a Keyword?
A keyword is a word or phrase that someone types into a search engine when they are looking for something. For example, if someone is looking for a new pair of shoes, they might type “shoes” into Google. Or, if they are looking for a specific type of shoe, they might type “running shoes”. Both on-page and off-page SEO require the use of keywords.
What do Keywords Have to do with SEO?
As we mentioned before, keywords are what people type into search engines when they are looking for something. Therefore, if you want your website to rank high in search engine results pages (SERPs), you need to use keywords that people are actually searching for. This is where keyword research comes in.
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of finding and selecting keywords that you can use in your website and marketing materials. There are a number of different methods for doing keyword research, but the most important thing is to make sure you are choosing keywords that are relevant to your business and that people are actually searching for.
Top 2 Method's for Keyword Research
Keyword Research Method #1: The Google AdWords Keyword Tool
One of the best ways to do keyword research is with the Google AdWords Keyword Tool. This tool allows you to enter a keyword and see how many people are searching for that keyword each month. It also provides other useful information such as the cost per click (CPC) and the competition level for that keyword.
To use the Google AdWords Keyword Tool, go to: adwords.google.com/keywordplanner
Enter a keyword that is relevant to your business in the “Your product or service” field and click “Get Ideas”.
You will then see a list of related keywords along with their monthly search volume and CPC.
From here, you can select the keywords that you want to use in your website and marketing materials.
Keyword Research Method #2: Google Trends
Google Trends is a tool that allows you to see how popular a keyword is over time. It also allows you to compare multiple keywords and see which one is more popular.
To use Google Trends, go to: trends.google.com
Enter a keyword in the “Explore” field and click “Enter”.
You will then see a graph showing how popular that keyword is over time.
You can also compare multiple keywords by entering them in the “Compare” field and clicking “Compare”.
From here, you can select the keywords that you want to use in your website and marketing materials.
The Dos and Don'ts of Keywords
Now that you know what keywords are and how to do keyword research, it’s time to talk about the dos and don’ts of keywords.
Be sure to do these things!
Do: Use relevant keywords
As we mentioned before, it is important to make sure you are using keywords that are relevant to your business. Using irrelevant keywords will not help you rank higher in search engine results pages.
Do: Use long-tail keywords
Long-tail keywords are specific and usually contain three or more words. For example, “running shoes” is a long-tail keyword. These keywords are often less competitive and can be easier to rank for.
Do: Use keyword research tools
There are a number of different keyword research tools available, such as the Google AdWords Keyword Tool and Google Trends. These tools can be extremely helpful in finding the right keywords to use for your website.
Don't make these common mistakes.
Don’t: Use too many keywords
Using too many keywords on your website can actually hurt your SEO. This is because search engines will view your website as being “keyword stuffed” and this can result in a lower search engine ranking.
Don’t: Use the same keyword over and over
Using the same keyword too many times on your website can also hurt your SEO. Search engines will view your website as being “keyword stuffed”. Plus, spamming your readers with the same keyword over and over will just annoy them. Food blogs are notorious for this! Want to see the word “cinnamon-roll” used 75 times in one paragraph? Check out a food blog.
Don’t: Use keywords that are too competitive
If you are just starting out, it is important to choose keywords that are not too competitive. Using highly competitive keywords will make it difficult to rank high in search engine results pages.
Improve your SEO Today!
By now, you should have a pretty good understanding of what keywords are and how to do keyword research. You also know the dos and don’ts of keywords. Keywords may seem overwhelming when you’re first getting started but they’re an important part of SEO and mastering your keyword research will help you rank higher in search engine results pages and result in more traffic to your website. Following these simple tips will help you get started on the right foot.
Would you like to learn about how we can help create content that converts to more sales for your business? Click here to schedule a free consultation with NLC today!