If you’re looking to take your SEO efforts up a notch, you need to start by doing keyword research. Keyword research is the process of finding and targeting the right keywords for your website. In fact, keywords are at the heart of any effective SEO strategy. Though it’s one of the most common SEO mistakes, only a few can really work on their keyword research right. By targeting the right keywords, you can improve your chances of ranking high in search engine results pages (SERPs) and generating more leads for your business. In this post, we’ll highlight tips for conducting effective keyword research to help you achieve better results.
See What Customers Commonly Question
The best way to find the right keywords for your business is to start by understanding what questions customers commonly ask. This can be done by conducting customer surveys or interviews. You can also use online tools such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Google Trends to get an idea of what keywords are being searched for. Once you’ve identified some commonly asked questions, you can start targeting those keywords.
Use Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are simply longer and more specific phrases that are less common than short, general keywords. Though they may get less traffic overall, long-tail keywords tend to be easier to rank for and can be more effective in driving targeted traffic to your website.
For example, if you’re a plumber, you may want to target the keyword phrase “plumbing services.” However, if you’re targeting a more specific long-tail keyword such as “residential plumbing services,” you’ll be more likely to generate leads from people who are actually looking for your services.
Set a List of Localized Keywords
Speaking of targeting specific customers, another great way to find keywords that will generate leads is to target localized keywords. This means targeting keywords that include your city, state, or region. For example, if you’re a plumber in Los Angeles, you may want to target the keyword phrase “plumbing services Los Angeles.” By targeting these types of keywords, you’ll be more likely to generate leads from customers who are actually in your area.
Use Negative Keywords
Negative keywords are simply the opposite of common keywords. They’re words or phrases that you don’t want your website to show up for. For example, suppose you’re a plumber who only offers residential services. In that case, you may want to add “commercial” as a negative keyword. This is because you don’t want your website to appear in search results for people looking for commercial plumbing services. Negative keywords can help you filter out unwanted traffic and focus on the leads that are more likely to convert.
Conducting keyword research is the heart of any SEO strategy. The above tips will help you get started on finding the right keywords for your website. By targeting the right keywords, you can improve your chances of ranking high in search engine results pages and generating more leads for your business.