Adapting to Search Engine Algorithm Changes
A photo of different medicinal drugs, tablets and pills on blue background.
If you’re new to SEO, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about keywords. Do they really make that big of a difference? The answer is a resounding yes! Keywords are one of the most important elements of SEO success. In short, keywords are the terms or phrases that people use when they search for something online. For example, if you sell raincoats, some relevant keywords might be “raincoat,” “waterproof jacket,” or “umbrella.”
Creating a list of relevant keywords is an essential first step in any SEO campaign. But it’s not enough to just come up with a list of keywords and hope for the best. You also need to optimize your website content using those keywords—otherwise, your site will never rank high in search results. Keep reading to learn more about creating and optimizing keywords for SEO success.
How to Create a List of Relevant Keywords
Start by brainstorming a list of potential keywords that are relevant to your business or website. There are a few different ways to do this:
– Look at your competition. What terms are they targeting?
– Use keyword research tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner or Moz Keyword Explorer. These tools will help you see how often certain terms are being searched for and how difficult it would be to rank for those terms.
– Ask your customers! Chances are, they have a pretty good idea of what they would search for if they were looking for your product or service.
Once you have a list of potential keywords, it’s time to start narrowing things down. Not all keywords are created equal—some will be much more difficult to rank for than others. Here are a few factors to consider when evaluating potential keywords:
– Search volume: How many people are searching for this term every month? The higher the search volume, the better.
– Difficulty level: How difficult is it to rank in the top 10 results for this term? The lower the difficulty level, the better.
– Relevance: Is this keyword relevant to your business or website? The more relevant the keyword is, the better.
Once you’ve evaluated each keyword on these factors, you should have a good idea of which ones are worth targeting. From there, it’s time to start optimization!
How to Optimize Your Website Content Using Keywords
There’s no one magic formula for optimization—it depends on factors like your industry, your competition, and the type of content you’re creating. However, there are a few general guidelines that can help you get started:
– Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions: Titles and descriptions are some of the first places that people will encounter your content, so make sure they’re packed with relevant keywords.
– Use keyword-rich headings and subheadings: Breaking up your content into smaller sections makes it easier to read—and makes it easier for Google to understand what your content is about. Use headings and subheadings liberally, and try to work in some relevant keywords where possible.
– Use keyword-rich alt text: Whenever you include images in your content, be sure to include alt text that describes what’s happening in the image—and include some relevant keywords while you’re at it!
Keywords play a vital role in SEO success—there’s no two ways about it. If you want your website or blog to rank high in search results, you need to choose your keywords carefully and optimize your content accordingly. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available (like Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Moz Keyword Explorer) to help you choose the right keywords for your business or website. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start optimizing!
