How to Select the Right Keywords for SEO
The whole of SEO is built on selecting the right words that people will type in a search query.
Below are a few tips for selecting the right keywords for SEO.
1- Optimize your search intent. Search intent is the purpose of an online search; the reasons why people look for what they look for. Search intents can be to answer certain questions, look for something, or to purchase an item.
Search intents are hence divided into three categories: informational, navigational, and commercial. Once you have analyzed and understood your audiences search intents you are better able to target their needs through selecting the right keywords.
2- There are different types of keywords each type will render different results. Keywords that consist of one or two words are called “head keywords”. Head keywords are very specific searches such as: national holidays. A three word keyword is known as a “body keyword” such as: Canadian National Holidays. The last type of keyword is known as the “long tail keyword” which consists of four or more words such as: Canadian National Holidays Soon. Ranking for head keywords is a very difficult task and this is why the most used type of keywords is the long tail keyword and on the long run is it more productive.
3- Use the keyword planner tools found on Google Ads or Moz Explorer. These tools will help you select the right keywords for your ads, campaigns and content.
4- Use LSI (latent semantic indexing which means word association) to refine your keywords. The best way to use LSI is to type in a specific word (related to your SEO topic) in the Google search bar and wait for the autocomplete results displayed. The words that appear in the auto-completed suggestions are the right keywords to focus on.
5- Keep an eye on your competition. Observe the keywords that your competitors use closely, especially if they seem successful. The best way to do that is to hire a company that specializes in digital marketing and SEO.
6- Tie your keywords to your landing page. A landing page is the main page on your site that can convert your visitors to leads. Thus, your selected keywords should ultimately be tied to your landing page to reflect the same titles, headings and content there.
If you are unsure of how to select the right keywords for SEO, it is best to ask a professional company to handle this task for you.