At the centre of Search Engine Optimization is a keyword. A keyword is a searchable phrase or word in the search engine. On the other hand, SEO seeks to optimize your site for a higher ranking by search engines. All that a site owner or content marketer has to do is to make sure the site/post is spotted as the best match for a person’s search.
Remember, the determination of the ‘best search result’ is based on algorithms that consider authority, and relevancy to the search in question. Loading speed is also a key consideration. Google alone has more than 200 ranking factors.
Search engine results
Results that appear on the google results page are typically separated into two parts: Organic and paid results. See the appearance below: –
- Organic results:
They appear after the paid results, are ranked on merit. These kinds of results are natural. In short, these results make it to the first results page or are ranked higher without the need to pay google. However, this particular ranking is subject to google’s numerous ranking factors.
It’s worth noting that organic results are considered authoritative by both Google and users. This explains the reason why one opts to overlook boosted results. Google users trust organic results more. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you clicked paid results?
- Paid results:
In Google’s long history, paid results are best known to appear on top of results pages. Pay per click advertising applies in that advertisers are ranked based on the penny they are willing to pay for each visit. The prices may differ depending on the set of results in question. Mark you, these paid ads are completely independent.
Importance of keyword research
TRAFFIC TRAFFIC TRAFFIC!
Backlinko advises that Search and Traffic are inseparable. In short; Enhance the search, and the traffic shoots up. A website or blog, regardless of niche, gets traffic from a series of sources. See the illustration below: –
From the above, it’s evident that ‘search’ accounts for the most traffic.
Now, suppose you run a car consulting company. In a month, 70,000 people search for car consulting services. Out of this, assuming the website is highly ranked, your website receives 22% traffic (15,400). These 15,400 visitors present value. Below is how: –
Assuming each web visitor yields a click worth 1 dollar, web traffic of 15,400 would equate to $15,400 in one month. Interestingly, this is only one search phrase. An SEO-friendly site would rank for hundreds of variant keywords. You can’t overlook the fact that some advertisers pay up to $40 per click. In essence, good traffic yields monetary value. Nonetheless, CPC may depend on competition, ad network, business type and industry. From the onset it’s worth considering SEO difficulty.
Keyword and Customer Research
Undoubtedly, customers do engage in the keyword search. This means that customers search for something via search engines and it all starts with a single word.
You are tasked with finding out what customers search for. Similarly, one has to be well aware of the exact words or phrases customers use to search.
In short, knowing what customers search for aids in ranking your site for the searches performed on a daily basis.
How to do customer research
It all starts with knowing your ‘customer persona.’ This means KNOWING THE ACTUAL TRAITS OF YOUR TARGET CUSTOMERS.
Not only does customer research help in presenting a perfect match for customer needs, but it’s also an avenue for super SEO and content marketing results.
In case you have forgotten; SEO success is deeply rooted in creating awesome content revolving around the topics that customers search for. There is no shortcut to this fact: You have to know your customers. Otherwise, it will be impossible to comprehend the keyword used by your customers.
How to find keywords for SEO
After you get a glimpse of the customer persona, the next step is keyword research. This should happen as a real drill – Get to find out the exact words that customers insert as queries (Here, you have to go an extra mile and put yourself in the shoes of the customer). However, there are two kinds of keywords: –
- Product Keywords – Phrases that people use to trace what you sell.
- Informational Keywords – Phrases used by the target audience in their normal searches (Here, the audience is not necessarily looking for what you sell).
Therefore, it’s overly important to optimize a page around the two keywords – Regardless of what the customer searches, your website shows up.
Tips to generate keywords
- Google Autocomplete
- Make use of “People also Ask”
- Use keyword tools.
As for keyword research tools, the following are remarkable free sites
- Ubersuggest
- H-suppertools
- Google keyword planner
Tip: If you are new to SOE, embrace long-tail keywords.
Creating SEO-Friendly Content
Quality is everything: It gives you the numbers you want. In short, quality content enables you to rank high in SERPs. Don’t forget to top up your quality content with a superb page design.
Content should ‘always’ get top priority. This is one of the best ways to chase Google ranking. Remember, this is more of content marketing. The more you market using content, the more the traffic.
Above all: Your site needs to be fed with Amazing staff now and then. This is because millions of blog posts are released every month. The same means that any post you produce competes with millions of others. Let your content be Exceptional. Let your keywords stand out and remember to visualize your content.
Conclusion
With the above-categorized information, you must be a notch higher in understanding keywords and how SEO works. This particular read is among the best SEO introductory releases you will ever find. It’s overly detailed to make you realize an informative start in the world of digital marketing and particularly search engine marketing.
Before you walk away, I present to you four things to keep you going: Firstly, create your keyword list. Secondly, make awesome content. Thirdly, build links. Lastly, keep updating and improving your content. With these, you are in for excellent search engine recognition and performance. See you at the top!
In case you need keywords, SEO Articles and web assistance, contact me via email. Thank you for spending your time reading and taking notes. Implement and catch up with feedback.
