Search Engine Optimisation: the power of keywords
PLUS some great free keyword research tools
SEO: unlocking the power of keywords
One of the most crucial parts of SEO is using keywords strategically to drive traffic to your website.
Central to this is getting really clear on your target audience's needs and pain points - and most importantly the words and phrases they would use to search for answers online - and then matching your keywords to those questions and answers.
Using keyword research tools
There are some great freely available keyword research tools that make it easier to find the right keywords to target and give you the data you need to actually rank for them.
They usually show you how often a particular keyword is searched and offer suggestions for similar terms. This insight helps you prioritize your efforts.
These include:
How to focus your SEO keyword research
Focus on the pages of your website that have the most traffic and the best results in terms of dwell time and conversion, and ensure that they are optimized with the right keywords.
Think about how people are searching for businesses like yours. Google’s search results vary depending on what people are looking for. For example, if you search for “occupational therapist,” the first results will include see local listings and a map because location matters for services like that. On the other hand, if you search for “laser printers” the first search results will be product and retail listings.
To shape your SEO strategy and focus your keyword efforts in the right direction, ask yourself:
- Are people searching for answers to a specific question, issue or problem?
- Are they looking for you by name?
- Are they searching for a specific product?
- Is location important?
Getting clear on this will help you optimise your content with keywords - and keyword phrases - to push your web content up the search listings and drive more of your target audience to your site.
For a quick review of your site to see where you could improve your SEO:
