SEO Keywords: A Beginner’s Guide

Depending on who you ask, keywords are either the best way to catapult your website to the top of search engine results pages or the finest way to condemn your site to obsolescence. Which of these statements is correct? Predictably, the answer is both and neither.

Understanding keyword optimization is critical to make your site appealing to search engine algorithms as well as useful to actual site users; the crucial thing is to understand how to employ keywords effectively.

Here’s what you need to know about keyword optimization in the context of search engine marketing:

• Not All Keywords are Words

Keywords, in the context of search engine optimization, are words or key phrases that inform search engines how to rank your site. Some are brief, such as “SEO advise,” while long-tail keywords, such as “how to choose keywords for SEO,” can be extremely helpful. You might think of them as theme terms or phrases and questions that visitors to your site could type into a search bar. Keywords are also the foundation of pay-per-click advertising campaigns, however, that’s a more complex procedure than this article can go into detail about.

• Keywords Have to Be Relevant

If you’re just getting started and determining what content to put on your website, keyword research tools may not be the greatest place to start. This is because, above all, the keywords used on your website must be related to what you offer, whether it’s grilling recipes, carpet steaming, or legal services. Visitors will stop by, find that their wants aren’t addressed by your site, and immediately jump back if you utilize high-ranking keywords that don’t connect to your core business offerings. This is bad for both your SEO and your overall sales. Once you’ve chosen the best broad domain for your keywords, you can use research tools to figure out which terms will help you outperform your competitors and manage your PPC campaign expenditure.

• Density Shouldn’t Be Too High

Keyword density is a tough subject, and there is no ideal percentage to aim for. Your rule of thumb should be to utilize the keyword as many times as it fits into natural, legible prose; this may be two times or seven times. Everything is determined by the keyword. Keyword stuffing, or cramming keywords into places where they don’t make sense, should be avoided at all costs in order to artificially increase your ranks. The days of posting statements like “If you’re seeking for SEO guidance or SEO services NY, ask your local SEO services NY about easy SEO plans” are long gone, and we should all rejoice.