Day 2 of 30 Day SEO Challenge: Using Keywords and Key Phrases to Get More Traffic

Welcome to day 2 of the 30 day on-site SEO challenge. As we go through the next 29 days we will be focusing on what you need to know to ensure that your website is optimised for better search results and an increase in traffic.

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It’s important to note that when it comes to keywords, there are keywords and key phrases. They can also be known as short and long tail keywords. A short tail keyword is just one work without any modifiers, unlike a long tail keyword which is a phrase of words including modifiers.

The role of the Search Engine

It’s rare for a search engine user to type in just one word when they are searching for information. Most ask a question, or they will use more than one word, usually a long tail keyword or keyword phrase.

Keyword phrases are a critical part of your SEO plan as they will enable your target market to find you. Using the phrases that people use to find information on your topic, can bring people to your site, which is known as traffic. The role of the search engine is to display relevant content to the person searching.

Use Keywords and Keyword Phrases Throughout the Content

You will need to add keywords and key phrases throughout your content. They should read normally though, not in a false or contrived manner. For example, avoid adding any misspelt words, because that’s what other people are using in their search terms. Don’t add keywords in a manner that the flow of your content doesn’t read smoothly. All keywords should fit seamlessly into your text and provide extra meaning. This may take some thought and some planning to do it.

Write Normally

The best approach is to write as you normally speak. Don’t try to take on another tone. Without trying, you already have your own unique voice that your audience wants to hear. With your chosen keyword phrases in mind, write normally. When you revisit your content to proofread and edit it, you can then insert the keyword phrases that fit the best and read the best without changing the meaning of what you’ve written. If adding the keywords is going to make the piece lose it’s meaning or sound strange, then don’t add them. Your primary focus should be on writing for humans, not the search engines.

Do Your Research

Before adding any keywords, do your homework. Use online tools to understand how much in demand they are. How many people are using these words to search for information? If you cannot verify that a keyword phrase is in demand, you could be wasting your energy adding them to your content. Good tools for keyword identification are Google Adwords Keyword Planner, Spyfu, Semrush and Moz.com.

Once you have decided on your keywords you’re going to add them to titles, headings, subheadings, bullet points and alt text for images. Using them throughout your content to add to its comprehension will also help the search engines to index your pages. Don’t forget to use a range of synonyms too, but after checking on the keyword tools. You need to find out what the results are of a search of that nature too.

I personally like to use this site for my keyword checking >> https://keywordtool.io/

I don’t advise that you try for the big keywords with tens of thousands of hits. If you’re a local business, then try for the name of your town and the type of business you have. If you’re a blogger with a lifestyle blog then opt for a keyword that has something in the range of between 100 and 1000 searches per month to start with, even if it’s a long tail keyword. You’ll have a much better chance of getting results.

In case you missed yesterdays post, you can access it here.

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