Choosing Keywords for Highly Optimized Web Pages

MRR and PLR Articles Pack

Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Internet Business -> subcategory SEO.

AI Generated Image

Choosing Keywords for Highly Optimized Web Pages


Word Count: 1422


Summary

Well-optimized websites tend to maintain higher rankings over time compared to poorly optimized or spammy sites, which may initially rank well but eventually lose their position.

Keywords

SEO, search engine optimization, keywords, Google, Yahoo, search engine, traffic, free traffic, keyword research

Article Body


This is the first in a ten-part series on search engine optimization (SEO). In this article, we’ll delve into selecting the keyword phrases most likely to deliver a high return on investment (ROI) for your SEO efforts. Throughout this series, we’ll cover ten essential elements required to optimize a site effectively. Some steps may take hours, while others could take months, depending on the competition. However, with proper execution, you'll have a well-optimized site that maintains strong rankings.

Optimized websites stay at the top longer than poorly optimized or spammy sites, which may temporarily achieve high rankings but lose them over time.

Step One: Keyword Selection


Selecting the right keywords is arguably the most crucial step in the entire SEO process. Without the right keyword phrases, you won’t maximize your campaign’s ROI. Remember, keyword selection isn’t just about finding the most searched phrases. Successful SEO is about achieving the best return on investment for the time and money available.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better


Imagine you’re a web designer in Seattle launching your own business. You could focus on "web design" as your targeted keyword because it had 707,962 searches in September 2004, according to the Overture Search Term Suggestion Tool. However, unless you have substantial resources, aiming for "web design" might not be wise. Instead, targeting "Seattle web site design" with 5,070 searches could be more feasible. A Google link analysis showed significantly less competition for "Seattle web site design" compared to "web design."

With a properly optimized site, you could gain more work than you can handle from those 5,070 searches if your site ranks well on major search engines. This strategy offers a higher return for small business owners who usually lack the resources to compete for high-demand keywords like "web design."

This example highlights that the phrase with the highest number of searches isn’t always the best target for your business.

Phrases That Convert


Another consideration is whether your keyword phrases are "buy phrases." High-search phrases that aren’t "buy phrases" might attract a lot of traffic, but conversion rates will be lower. Targeting "buy phrases" could result in fewer visitors but a higher conversion rate.

For instance, as the marketing director for a well-known accounting company, you have several choices for your targeted keywords. In September 2004, the top accounting-related searches were:

- "accounting" with 156,095 searches
- "accounting software" with 54,621 searches
- "accounting job" with 32,015 searches
- "accounting services" with 19,260 searches
- "accounting firm" with 13,089 searches

Targeting "accounting" might seem appealing, but it’s a broad phrase attracting various searchers, including students or small business owners not interested in hiring an accountant. "Accounting software" and "accounting job" are irrelevant, leaving "accounting services" and "accounting firm" as the main options.

Evaluating competition and considering the effort versus the potential search traffic for each phrase will help determine your primary target.

Promotions targeting various "buy phrases" often yield better results than those focused solely on search volume due to higher conversions and less competition.

Tools to Use


Now that you understand how to identify and choose among different phrases, how do you find out which phrases are actually searched? Here are some great resources:

Overture Search Term Suggestion Tool
This tool helps research keyword phrases, indicating which phrases had the highest searches on Overture the previous month. Its main limitation is that it groups singular and plural terms together and corrects misspellings, unlike natural search engines where these variations are treated differently.

WordTracker
Similar to Overture's tool, WordTracker distinguishes between singular and plural searches and doesn’t correct spelling, giving numbers for misspelled searches too. It shows predicted search numbers across all engines per day instead of just one engine per month.

WordTracker offers a free trial with limited results but can be extremely useful.

I recommend starting with the Overture tool and then using WordTracker once you've narrowed down your options. If you discover discrepancies between the tools, use your best judgment.

Don’t forget to check for misspellings with WordTracker!

Tips & Tricks


While there are no absolute "tricks" for determining the best keywords to target, here are some tips to optimize your selection:

- Think Like a Layperson: Don’t assume everyone knows industry jargon. Consider what terms a non-expert would use when searching for your products or services.

- Think Like an Expert: Conversely, there may be industry-specific phrases that insiders use. These could be hidden gems with lower competition.

- Don’t Target Too Many Phrases: Some SEOs target dozens or even hundreds of phrases, losing focus on priority ones. Keeping your site focused will help you rank higher for the most impactful phrases.

Testing


Test your phrases. If you’re unsure whether a search phrase is worth targeting, consider testing it through pay-per-click (PPC) engines. Set up PPC campaigns to gauge conversion rates.

Remember, PPC results differ from organic search engines. If PPC campaigns don’t yield high ROI with more expensive phrases, that doesn’t mean they won’t perform better in organic searches where ranking doesn’t incur a per-click cost.

Ultimately, PPC testing can help solidify your keyword list. If your campaign is successful, consider continuing it to enjoy the extra traffic it provides.

By following these guidelines, you’ll develop a solid list of keyword phrases to optimize your site effectively.

You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Choosing Keywords for Highly Optimized Web Pages.

You can browse and read all the articles for free. If you want to use them and get PLR and MRR rights, you need to buy the pack. Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.

“MRR and PLR Article Pack Is Ready For You To Have Your Very Own Article Selling Business. All articles in this pack come with MRR (Master Resale Rights) and PLR (Private Label Rights). Learn more about this pack of over 100 000 MRR and PLR articles.”