Use human intuition for keywords as well as tools. Google is not
always right!
Conducting keyword research is an important aspect of SEO, helping your website rank higher in search engine results and attract more traffic.But, Think carefully about the core keywords your site is really targeting. Sure, there are many great tools that can tell you what people are generally looking for, but it still takes that little bit of human magic to make it really fit for your brand. Think about the ‘long tail’ as well to soak up searches for those words and phrases that others are not aiming for.
Why are keywords important for SEO?
Keywords are the driving force behind SEO.Effective keyword research can also help in your social media advertising efforts, increasing visibility and ROI. The primary role of a search engine like Google is to return the most relevant results based on the keywords someone types in. That’s how they determine what the searcher’s intent is.
Keywords play a huge role in which pages the search engine shows a user. If you’re searching for “keyword tools,” you can be sure all the pages in the search results are going to be about keyword tools.
Now, keywords are only part of the puzzle. Google has a complex algorithm that uses hundreds of ranking factors and calculations to serve up a select few web pages from the billions of pages in its index. But keywords are one of the most important SEO factors. You compromise your other efforts when you fail to use the right keywords.
By finding keywords that are relevant to your business, you can then target those keywords in your content and provide the answer. Proper keyword research involves finding low competition keywords with high search volume. It’s also a way to find search terms and topics you would otherwise never have even considered.
Long-tail vs. short-tail keywords
When you start learning about keywords, you’ll hear the terms “long-tail” and “short-tail.” The definition for each of these terms is as follows:
- Short-tail keywords : As the name suggests, these are short
keywords. Generally speaking, they’ll be 2-3 words long.
Examples of short-tail keywords are:
- Short-tail keywords
- Organic SEO
- Keyword research
Short-tail keywords typically have high search volume, but as you can see from the examples, they’re not highly specific or targeted. That means if you can rank well for terms like these, you’ll get a lot of traffic. It may not be traffic that converts well, however, as it’s hard to answer a specific question or query with a few words.
- Long-tail keywords are keyword phrases that span any length
longer than 3 keywords.
Examples of long-tail keywords are:
- How do I find good long-tail keywords?
- Is organic SEO better than PPC for long-term traffic?
- How do I do keyword research for an e-commerce site?
Comparing these keywords to the short-tail examples above, by adding more words, you’re able to ask a more specific question. Typically, the longer the keyword, the less search volume. However, if you can rank well for long-tail keywords there is a lot of potential to convert the traffic.
When deciding which type of keyword is best for you, the answer is almost
always going to be long-tail keywords. They are typically more specific in nature. There are also fewer long-tail keywords to find, and most will be less competitive than short-tail phrases.
Always stay up-to-date with the latest SEO best practices, emerging technologies and conducting thorough keyword research can ensure your website stays ahead of the curve and provides a cutting-edge user experience.
