Ever wondered how to find really efficient keywords? Need more organic traffic? This post shares insider tricks on how to make sure your keywords will get you more traffic.
Highlights on this page
Facts about keywords
- Over 50% of all searches, have 4 words or more. Source: HigherVisiblity
- You need to integrate keywords in 7 locations on every page to get organic traffic.
- Synonyms and clusters will soon replace long tail keywords. This is because of increased AI.
- A key-phrase must sound natural in headline and text.
The future of keywords
The trend to longer and longer key phrases is likely to reverse with increasing AI (artificial intelligence).
More likely are clusters of pages, ALL pointing in the same direction. They will also be linked to each other more intelligently.
Besides, AI will draw meaning out of the CONTEXT. SYNONYMS will get as important as keywords.
This seems to be the hidden strategy behind Neil Patel’s raving success. In 2019 he ranked #1 with a new website on Google.
Keywords must run like a golden thread through your page
Your keywords need to occur in 7 places on your page, to be efficient:
- In your URL – directly after the country code of your web address (.com/…)
- In the top headline, (H1).
- At least in one sub-header, (H2).
- In the lead paragraph, after the H1 headline.
- The page content should contain your key-phrase around once per 100 words.
- Within the meta-tag description.
- In the alt. text of some pictures, (but not all).
Your keyphrase must never sound odd in headline and text
A typical search online might be: “marketing best research tool”. It is crucial to rearrange the words to sound natural.
The result could be “best marketing research tool”. That would be your actual key-phrase.
These words should stay in the chosen sequence. They do now easily fit into the headline and text – without sounding odd.
This specific phrase in one sequence is still the standard in 2020. However, everything points to a change because of increased artificial intelligence.
Keyword strategies for different pages
HOMEPAGE:
Concentrate on one “long tail keyword” of high relevance to your core business. Be careful to match the title tag and meta description.
LANDING PAGE:
Focus on one key-phrase and one product only. Repeat similar keywords on other landing pages to strengthen a certain key area.
BLOG POST:
Use only one “long tail keyword” per page. Write your entire content around that key-phrase.
How to get really efficient keywords for more traffic
5 steps to find better keywords:
- Make a list of topics relevant to your business.
- Put your client’s hat on – what would he search for – in his words.
- Test synonyms.
- Check the words with the following online tools.
- Know that the top positions on the list are very hard to rank for.
Online tools to find really efficient keywords
THIS IS WHY YOU NEED TO RESEARCH YOUR KEYWORDS:
- There is no use in ranking for keywords no one is searching for.
- It’s much better to be number 3 with 5 keywords, than ranked number 158 with 3 words.
1) Google AdWords Keyword Planner:
Check the search volume of your desired keywords.
Log in to your Google account and go to AdWords.
- Create a $1 AdWords campaign to use the tool.
- Enter your key-phrase. (The section “competition” refers only to Google AdWords ).
- Narrow down your focus with the “Keyword Option”.
- Set “Only show ideas closely related to my search terms.”
- Look for phrases related to your desired product or field of work.
- Search for a combination of words that has search results, (initially in the high 3 digits).
2) Google Search Bar:
Enter the first part of your key phrase (without pressing enter). You’ll see about 10 variations of your entered keywords.
These are some popular searches there is a demand for.
3) BuzzSumo:
Check out how a keyword or key-phrase is TRENDING on social media.
How not to do your keywords
- Never force a key-phrase into a text, if it sounds odd there.
- Don’t split the key-phrase.
- Don’t repeat it too often.
- Never use hidden keywords, (white text on white background). You’ll get blacklisted by Google.
- Don’t choose keywords randomly. Do your research online.
Give it some time if you want to find really efficient keywords!
Brilliant key phrases do occasionally fall from the sky.
However, mostly it takes some time to find efficient keywords. Why?
Creativity doesn’t work well under pressure.
This works best for us. Complete everything and leave it for 1 or 2 days. Then focus ONLY on the key-phrase and headline.
Mostly, we find that a little tweak does the job.
5 tips to get you started
- Draft a preliminary headline (H1).
- Set up all your H2-sub-titles. Make sure readers can capture your content by just flying over the sub-headers.
At least one of the sub-headers MUST contain your key-phrase.
3. Write the lead paragraph in the very end, (it needs to contain the key-phrase too).
4. Decorate and illustrate with pictures.
5. Sleep over it – adjust the headline and bring it all together.
A small glossar
Keyphrase
We often call keywords key-phrases, because they mostly contain several words.
While a typical search may be: “best location tango boston” this needs to be rearranged to sound natural.
The modified key-phrase could be “tango location in boston”.
Landing page
A page on your website dedicated to promote one product or service. Focusing on one item makes it easier to get the keywords and SEO right.
Long tail keyword
A long tail keyword is a key phrase that contains 4 words or more.
Organic traffic
Organic web traffic are visitors with genuine interest in your content. They find your website mainly through keyword searches.
The primary reasons for poor organic traffic are: 1) bad keywords, 2) poor SEO and 3) unattractive content.
Short tail keyword
A short tail keyword is a key-phrase, which contains up to 3 words.