Keywords are at the core of any search engine optimization campaign. Generating effective keywords allows you to effectively connect with your audience when they search for products or services relevant to you, while keyword research helps understand who your audience is while finding ones with traffic-generating potential. Even if you have the perfect keyword in hand, improper usage may make ranking that search term challenging.
How to use keywords for SEO can be a complex topic with many varying opinions on what constitutes the ideal method. In this article we provide some basic and fundamental rules on how best to implement keywords into content to achieve maximum SEO benefit.
Let’s define keywords first: SEO (search engine optimization) is the practice of optimizing websites and content for search engines with the aim of driving free organic traffic through these channels. Search engines use keywords to sift through millions of pages to provide users with only relevant search results.
Customers using Google search query keywords to describe the product or service they want and answer any related queries are using search intent matching as their criteria to search keywords and content, this ensures they stay on your page longer and ultimately make purchases from it.
Proper keyword usage involves finding them naturally within your content. For optimal use, one keyword per website page or blog post should be present across all of its related elements, including title tag, meta description and internal/external links.
Make sure that images on your site include keywords in their alt text to increase SEO, while helping people with visual impairments find content most pertinent to them. This will not only boost SEO but will assist users who may require assistance finding relevant material.
At last, you should remain mindful of any instances of keyword stuffing. Overusing keywords is considered spam by Google and can incur penalties which will prevent your content from being indexed and ranked.
Focusing on how to use keywords for SEO will get you on your way towards creating useful and optimized content for your target audience. Keep this in mind at all times: your audience’s needs should always come first in any strategic approach you employ.
No matter the size or nature of your business, keyword optimization remains an invaluable way to drive new business. If you need assistance using keywords or SEO strategies, reach out to The Digital Squad; we’d be more than happy to assist!