Are you using some search engine optimization (SEO) keywords on your site but not seeing results?
Well, how much research did you do in advance?
Research is the Secret to SEO Success!
As an entrepreneur, the last thing you want to spend time on is search engine optimization on your site so you:
- Develop a list of SEO keywords off the top of your head and start using them.
- Tell your employees to start using these words in your copy.
- Forget about it and move on to your core, business activities.
Does this sound familiar?
Well, while this is a good start to your SEO process, it’s not going to get you the results you are looking for on the search engines. For your site to appear when customers search for your type of products and services online, it’s essential to conduct research.
Why Is It Important to Research SEO Keywords?
Yes, you’ll want to use terms that you think of off the top of your head and common-sense terms you think your customers will use to find you.
But, what about your competitors? What are they doing online?
And even more important, what words are your target market actually searching for online?
While you may have some good terms on your SEO keyword-list to start with, these may not be the keyword phrases that your customers are really using to search for your products and services online.
If this is the case, you are wasting time inputting keywords that aren’t working!
With this in mind, how do you discover what your target market is actually looking for?
How To Start Your SEO Research.
To start your SEO research, follow these three steps:
- Make an extensive list of all the terms you can think of that you think people will use to find your products and services online.
Be creative and write down all the words that come to mind.
- Look at competitor sites and see what words they are using.
If you are not sure who your competitors are, enter the keywords you created in step one above into Google or Bing and see which businesses appear. Then, look at these sites to see which keywords they are using.
- Discover what your target market is searching for online.
Start by entering the words you came up with in steps one and two above into free services like Google, Alexa, WordStream, Keyword Discovery, Word Tracker, and others. Check several different sites like this, and you’ll discover exactly which words people are searching for the most.
Get Organized.
Once you have all of this search engine optimization information, place it into a Word, Excel or other spreadsheet. Then, decide which of the keywords you want to start using first. This depends on your products and services, marketing messages and the size of your Website.
And after you start using your keywords, note that this is just the beginning. SEO keyword research is an ongoing process of reviewing top keywords online, checking competitor sites, updating your SEO keyword list, and making changes to your online copy as needed.
Isn’t this a lot of work that takes a great deal of time and effort?
Yes, it is!
However, this research is essential to your SEO success.
You’ll discover exactly what words you need to use on your site to compete, appear at the top of the search engines and bring in new customers.
And it’s well worth it.
After all, do you really want to waste your time using SEO keywords that don’t work?
For help with your SEO copywriting efforts, and free tips and information, please contact me here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com.