When practicing search engine optimization, you’ll often hear how important keywords are. One keyword can target many different search intents. One keyword can actually help reach different kinds of searches. Understanding keywords and search intents is vital for bringing more people to your website or blog.
A keyword is a word or phrase that people type into a search engine. For example, someone might simply search for dance shoes or white tights. People searching for these same keywords can have different search intents. Dance shoes could mean anything from character heels to ballet shoes to tap shoes.
Search intent is the meaning behind why people look things up. It’s what they want to get out of their search. Some people search because they want to learn information. Some people search to compare options. And still others search because they want to buy something. In class, Professor Sweet used the example of people searching for a shoe dryer. Except people don’t actually want a shoe dryer, they want dry shoes! The search intent is the meaning behind the keywords.
Using one keyword in different ways helps reach more people and avoids the clutter of too many keywords. Different types of content help answer different questions. Content variety is vital to keeping a site interesting and helpful.
One keyword can connect many different search intents. Whether someone wants the newest running shows, ballet slippers, or the most fashionable new sneakers, they might just type shoes into their search engine. While working in search engine optimization it is super important to think about what searchers are actually looking for and to be proactive and mindful of search intent. Understanding search intent helps create stronger and better content and improve SEO.
One Response
This is so cool to read Grace! I really appreciate how you explained that there is more to a search than the word given at face value. It is about finding the intent behind it.