Keyword Research and its Impact on Website Rankings
The impact of keyword research on website rankings is clear and present. Every business desires to rank higher than their competitors for every search, but it can be a difficult and lengthy process with SEO done right. The benefits of keyword research are obvious when you look at the steps that lead up to achieving this goal.
This post provides an overview on the process of keyword research, and what types of companies benefit from them most. Additionally, the post includes information on how websites can make use of these keywords in order to achieve better rankings than their competitors.
Before beginning on a campaign to rank your website higher than your competitors, you must first understand how people search on the Internet.
What SEO Experts Says about Keyword
Most Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts say that keyword research is the most important aspect of search engine optimization. If you plan on using SEO as an effective Digital Marketing method, then you must learn what keywords are and how to use them most effectively.
Keywords are single words or phrases used to define the subject matter of a web page. So, for example, if someone wanted to find out information about saving money on car insurance then they might type in the words "how to save money on car insurance".
This example is a simple search query used to find information on the Internet. The problem is that using these three words in a web page will not necessarily lead to someone finding your site without more work.
This is where keyword research comes into play. It includes finding out what keywords (or keyword phrases) your visitors use and then using them to create pages that rank higher in search engine results than those of your competition. But first, you need to do some research and define what kind of website you have so that when you find the keywords that best describe your website, you are able to make use of them easily.
You Need to Know What Type of Site You Have
Your website type is the first thing you need to consider when beginning your keyword research. This will dictate how you should use the keywords for your particular site.
There are two different types of websites: content and transactional. Here is an overview on each type, along with helpful tips on doing keyword research for each one.
1) Content websites –
Content sites are those like blogs, informational articles, news sites, etc. For these types of websites it's important to find out what your niche is and focus on creating content that is specific to that topic or industry.
These websites are designed to attract users who are interested in learning more about a particular topic. They like to read information written by an authority figure that is relevant to the subject matter. For content websites, it's important to research what keywords your audience uses and then find out how many people are searching for those words on a monthly basis.
The next step is to create pages that contain these keywords and the most useful phrases around them. This will lead people looking for information on those various topics directly to your site where they can learn more about what you have to offer.
2) Transactional websites –
Transactional sites include ecommerce sites, shopping sites, product comparison sites, etc. There are many different types of transactional sites, and they each have unique SEO requirements.
The main thing to know about content websites is that people come to them to learn more about a particular topic. On the other hand, people don't tend to come to transactional sites in order to learn more about a particular topic; they have specific needs and wants that they need met. The main goal of these sites is to sell something, so it's important for your pages on those website types to contain keywords that describe your company and its products in a way that makes them the best choice.
Using keywords in the following ways can help you boost your visibility in search engine results:
Your domain name and directory structure – your domain name should contain keywords that describe what your site is about, (i.e. if you have a blog about pet care then something like "organic dog food blog" might be a good choice for your website). Also, when creating directories on your site, make sure to include those keywords in their title and URL. This will help to increase their relevance when it comes to search engine results and can help you rank higher for certain searches.
Your page titles and ALT tags – your page titles and ALT tags should include your keywords because as we all know, titles are one of the biggest factors when it comes to your pages being noticed by search engines. So, if you have pages that rank well for a certain keyword, use them in your page title and ALT tags so that they rank even higher!
Your URLs – you should use keywords in the URL of the page. For example: if you have a website where videos of dogs doing stupid things are posted, then an appropriate URL for one of those videos might be "watch-dogs-chase-car". Using video-related words in your URL will help it rank higher and make it easier for people to find.
Your content – most importantly, you should use your keywords throughout the content on your website. Try to use your main keyword at least three times in a page and if possible, relate that keyword to other topics mentioned on the page. This will help people who are interested in those other topics find their way to the page that best meets their needs.
To Sum It All Up…
Knowing how to research keywords is very important if you want to create a successful website with organic traffic from search engines.
Keywords can help you attract visitors to your site, get people to give you leads, and even sell products. However, it's imperative that you choose keywords wisely because using the wrong ones will have a negative effect on your search engine rankings.
If you take the time to do some research and find out what terms people are searching for when they come to your website, then you will be able to create a website that is most likely to bring in visitors and customers.