Phoenix Website Design – 4 Things to Remember When Selecting Keywords to Rank for (Part 1)
For the SEO industry, keyword research is an integral part. Surely, at some point, we had to do it.
No matter the scope, we needed to identify what keywords we want to rank for. Previously, I have already tackled such as Free Keyword Research Tools, and The Things That SEO Tools Will NOT Tell You.
However, the risk is always there. No one can guarantee the effectiveness of a chosen target keyword. Thus, keyword research requires effort, and at times, the results are not always what we want. That’s why we all need to cautious in choosing the keywords to rank for. Here are some tips to help us follow straight track in targeting for keywords:
- Know the business goals.
You would be surprised that step 1 isn’t some technical tip. Yes, before you get into the details, you need to identify the goals.
Whether it is in SEO or PPC, you still need to ask yourself about the goals you want to achieve. Because the truth is: there are NO tools that will help you about knowing the goals.
Knowing what you want to achieve is a great foundation. Before you start to grow your click-through rates, web traffic and engagement, and sales, we need to find specific keywords to rank for.
- Ask the team.
Now that you have goals, it’s time to find keywords. But you can’t just go around and find topics. In order to successfully list prospects, you need to ask for help. Ask for suggestions and insights from your customers, marketing people, and business associates. Get the opinion of the people around you because a business is not only a one-man team.
Learn how people search in finding products and services. Nothing is final yet at this point. So, take whatever you can get. We’re still formulating a list, and no need to filter and narrow down it yet. The important point is that you were able to gather and build a list of insights.
- Study your competitors.
Next, you need to look at what your competitors are doing. Well, you won’t know if they are doing well or not. The thing is, you just have to study their ways.
Analyze if they have the same content as your website. Perhaps, they may also offer similar products and services. If so, take this as an opportunity to learn from your competitors.
Closely study the following:
- On-Page SEO elements such as the title and meta description,
- The content of their site,
- Know what they are talking about beyond their website specifically on their social media accounts.
- Then, make a list of the terms and phrases they use.
- Do a keyword research.
Now, this is the part where you do actual research. Like I mentioned earlier, there are free tools you can use to conduct a keyword research.
Remember, don’t take this step lightly. You need to carefully plan your keywords and terms. If you act with haste, you may end up cannibalizing your resources. More on: Keyword Cannibalization and its Negative Effects.
Next? 4 Things to Remember When Selecting Keywords to Rank for (Part 2)
