Incorporate Keywords into Your Website's Content
If you're looking for the secret to perfect search engine optimization (SEO), you're not alone. Nearly every website owner would love a no-fail formula for ranking at the top of search engine results. While you'll unfortunately not find one, cut-and-dry solution for achieving SEO perfection, the smart use of keywords figures into every approach.
We type in keywords when we search for products, services, and answers on search engines like Google®, Bing®, and Yahoo®. As a business owner, you can help capture the interest of search engines by assigning keywords to each page of your website. This is known as "optimizing" your Website.
Choose Keywords for Your Website
Your selection and use of keywords is vital. Here are a few tips that will help you select the perfect keywords for your Website:
- Stay relevant. A relevant keyword is one that helps online users find your Website if they search for it using a search engine. You must use keywords that make sense and are related to what you do.
For instance, a landscaper who’s drafting content for their website would consider relevant keywords like landscape, lawn maintenance, or lawn care.
- Be specific. The more specific your keywords are, the greater chance you'll have less competition and will rank higher. Your keywords should represent what you do, your location, the services you offer, your products, and your industry.
That landscaper might use specific keywords like Arizona landscaper, landscape design, or desert landscape for their website's Services page.
Incorporate Keywords into Your Website
Relevant, specific keywords will improve search engine ranking and increase traffic to your Website — but only when used properly. When incorporating keywords into your Website:
- Be strategic. After you've chosen your keywords, use them in page titles, meta data, image names, and in your website's page content. Use each word or word combination, as well as their variations, at least two to three times per page. And use the keywords at the top of the page so search engines recognize them right away.
- Keep it natural. Overusing, or "stuffing," your keywords will harm your Website's ranking because search engines read Websites like we do. They evaluate context, and know when a word isn't used properly or is out of context. Use your keywords naturally — without thinking about their placement. Remember that you're writing your content for people, not robots. You want to avoid sounding spammy so you don’t push search engines or potential customers away!
See also Best Practices for Website Content.