Keyword generation is the first and arguably most important step of the search-engine-optimization, SEO, process. The bulk of your Web site, from the directory and file names to the title tags and page copy, is build around the words and phrases you choose during the keyword generation phase.

Initially, you want to generate a potential keyword list that is as large as possible, with the keywords organized by search volume. Volume refers to the number of searches performed on a unique keyword over a period of time.

Select Keywords

There are two kinds of keyword terms, head terms and tail terms. Head terms refer to short keywords, usually on to two words in length that tend to have very high search volume. Tail terms are the longer keyword terms, typically three or more words that tend to have much lower search volume that head terms.

Head terms tend to generate substantially more traffic that tail terms, but do not necessarily lead to more sales or repeated visitors. Tail terms typically send much less traffic, but often convert at a higher rate than lead terms.

Choose Between Head and Tail Terms

In general, you should select tail terms when optimizing Web pages with specific content and head terms when optimizing Web pages with more general content.

Select head keywords for your home page that represents the overall theme of your Web site. Your home page has the highest chances of ranking for the competitive head terms, and your subpages should target less competitive head terms, as well as tail terms.

Select Head Terms Sparingly

In fact, only the top ten Web sites within any particular industry or category rank on the front page of a search engine for a general head term. Unfortunately, even if you take and apply all the suggestions possible, there is no guarantee that you will rank for one or more competitive head terms.

As a result, Web sites using shady SEO practices tend to enjoy top ranking for only a short period of time prior to being banned from the search engines for a short time or indefinitely.

Select Tail Terms for Most Web Pages

Your primary SEO strategy should focus on building content that ranks well in the search engines for long-tail terms.

Always keep in mind that you need to set long-term goals for SEO. Over time, as you build out content on your Web site and optimize each page for select keywords, you will notice that your Web site traffic has grown substantially.

Optimize Every Page or Your Web Site

When you select keywords to incorporate into your Web site, remember that your goal is to optimize your Web site all at once, but to optimize each page of your Web site. You should never optimize for more than one of two target keywords per Web page.

Add Target Keywords to Meta Tags

You should strategically place one or two target keywords in the title tag or your Web page, as well as in the description and keyword meta tags. When you are building back links to your pages, keep the target keywords for each page in mind.

Analyze Your Competition

Compete.com is a keyword research service that allows you to analyze your competition, including the keywords your competitors rank for on search engines.

Compete.com also offers free keyword research and Web site analytics services, including the ability to compare estimated traffic statistics for up to five domains at a time over the last 12 month.

Seodigger.com is another tool to analyze your competition. Seodigger.com offers two options for accessing competitor keywords. Nonregistered users are allowed up to five free domain searches per hour, and registered users are provided up to ten domain searches per hour.

Another popular free tool to evaluate your competition’s keywords is the Shoemoney Search–Engine Results pages (Serps) located at www.shoemoney.com/serps.php. By clicking any search-engine name, you can see what other Web sites are ranking for your target keywords.

After all, simply getting users to your Web site is only the first step. Having them interact with your Web site, digest your content, and eventually take your call to action of your monetization strategy is the ultimate goal.

Keyword Research with KeyCompete

One of the most effective methods for generating keywords is to evaluate what keywords your competition is bidding for on major pay-per-click search engines such as Google, AdWords, and Yahoo Search Marketing.

However, the KeyCompete technology does not return results if your competitor is not using paid search.

In addition to KeyCompete, other popular, competitive, keyword-generation research tools include Hitwise.com, GoogSpy.com, and SpyFu.com.

Keyword Suggestion Tools

Wordtracker, located at www.wordtracker.com offers a useful keyword suggestion tool that comes in free or subscription-fee version.

The Google AdWords Keyword Suggestion Tool located at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywrodtoolExternal, is a free tool offered by Google. This tool allows you to gauge search volume and competition, and see exactly how Google interprets your content, which can be incredibly useful for creating, and tweaking, your Web site content.

Research Keywords

Another extremely effective method for doing keyword research involves using the subscription fee-based Keyword Discovery research tool, located at www.keyworddiscovery.com. You can generate a large list of head and tail terms for any topic you choose.

Analyze Keywords

Keyword Discovery includes several useful advanced features that enable you to analyze your list of keywords, including information on the number of occurrences of a keyword throughout a Web site.

When you use the Analyze section of Keyword Discovery, keep in mind, that the data is not derived from actual data, but from best guess estimates. This data should be combined with other keyword generation tools such as KeyCompete.com and Compete.com to from the starting point of your keyword research.

Filter Keywords

Keyword Discovery offers a keyword filter tool that is incredibly useful when expanding on existing keywords for both PPC and SEO campaigns.

The filter tool can also help enhance your SEO efforts. You can add common prefixes and suffixes to your base keywords and also introduce common synonyms to further expand your list.

Share on Facebook