Keywords and phrases are critical in getting in the top search results. They represent the main focus of a site. Knowing which keywords to include allows search engines to find your content and include it in relevant searches. Keywords act as the foundation for building an effective SEO strategy.
The goal of using good keywords is to attract the right visitors. Using strong keywords is only part of a good SEO strategy. You also want to know what keywords will be important in engaging visitors who are actually invested in your site and its content. There is no use including certain keywords if the visitors are uninterested once they have landed on your website. A good question to ask is, “What terms are my target audience searching for naturally?” or “what terms would I search if I were looking into this topic?” You may be able to gather insight by studying your past searches as well. Oftentimes, keywords are simple and straightforward, not elaborate phrases or four-syllable words. People are typing in quick questions hoping to receive clear, quick answers. You must put yourself in the shoes of your customers. At their core, keywords represent real questions, problems, and interests, and understanding keywords means understanding your audience.
What are some practical steps you can take to form or strengthen your site’s keywords? First, consider the pain points of the customer. What kinds of questions would customers have that your content could answer? A simple way to research what people are searching is to ask questions in Google and see what words or phrases appear as you type. These results are based on real searches done by real people. Lastly, looks at the Search Engine Results Page (SERPS). Once you see the results of a search, you can also read the “People Also Ask” section.
Knowing how to find and include the right key words for the right people will have a huge impact on the success of your site in terms of SEO, and you are one step closer to being included in relevant searches all over the web.
3 Responses
You’re totally right! SEO, and keywords in particular, are all about attracting the right customers. These are ones that will be invested in your content, engaged in it, and will leave your site feeling informed by the valuable, high-quality content you produced.
100%! Working smarter not harder is always the best option. Looking for complicated phrases that people wouldn’t type into a search engine in a million years is a waste of time and money. Keeping keywords and meta tags short, sweet, and to the point with the right audience in mind is the ticket to a fantastic SEO strategy.
This was a really clear and practical explanation!! I especially liked how you tied keywords back to understanding the actual user and their intent, not just what looks good for search engines. Also, your suggestions like using Google’s autocomplete and the “People Also Ask” section are easy to apply, especially for beginners. This post does a great job emphasizing that strong SEO starts with empathy for the audience.