As digital marketers, the number one question we hear from our clients is how they can get their website to show up on the first page of Google or Bing. The answer is easy, you pay for it! Unfortunately, it gets a bit more convoluted for those looking to make an organic impression. But one factor always remains the same, no matter what type of industry you might be in or website you might have and that's keywords. This powerful tactic, when done correctly, can easily boost your website's search engine ranking. And it all starts with research.
The Importance of Keywords
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is not only focused on appearing at the top of search results, but rather, showing up to an audience that has the potential to become customers or clients. The keywords you decide to optimize not only help determine the amount of users coming to your site, but the quality of them as well. You can do this by finding and determining niche topics your audience is interested in.
The easiest way to find industry related searches, for free, is by typing in a keyword or phrase you think your customers are interested in. From here, you can scroll to the very bottom of your search results page and see " Searches Related To...". These are live results that users are actually searching for. This is a great starting point for beginners that do not have keyword search tools or previous knowledge of the subject matter.
Prioritizing Keywords
An effective SEO strategy requires targeting long & short tail keywords. For example, hair salon vs. hair salon specializing in color. In general, the shorter the keyword (hair salon), the higher its monthly search volume but the more competition you have. While long-tail keywords have a lower monthly search volume, they'll be easier to rank for. Once you have compiled a list of keywords, it's time to look for the sweet spot.
The ideal keyword is one with a relatively high monthly search volume and relatively low competition level. You can utilize data like search volume and competition level to find connections to your audience, and ultimately lead to more sales. This should not dissuade you from going after short tail keywords, it's just important to be mindful of your geographical location and audience preferences.
Put It All Together
Keyword research is an essential step in any SEO strategy. It's the best way to attract quality users, assist in the buying process for potential customers, and become more recognized across the web. This is definitely a time-consuming process with a big learning curve. You'll need to identify the most important topics for your business and industry, select the best mix of long and short tail keywords, use keyword tools for competitive analysis, and consider data like search volume and competition for bidding. Once you have your keywords selected, it's time to get started on the content of your website!
The expert marketing team at Informatics has 20+ years of experience in SEO and keyword research. If your company is ready to drive more sales, curate more clicks, and top the competition, contact us today!
