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Key Word Research - Finding Relevant Keyword Phrases
For Your Search Engine Optimization Campaign

Key word research is an integral part of our professional SEO consulting services and one of the early stages of search engine optimization that needs to be completed properly. 

When selecting search engine “key” words (aka: keywords, keyword terms, keyword phrases, search terms, etc) that you want to target with your search engine optimization campaign, it is imperative to choose carefully.

Often times, website owners make the mistake of selecting only high traffic key words; keyword phrases purely based on the traffic volume that they believe the “key” words will attract. High volume traffic however, doesn't necessarily mean more sales, better content or a better user experience.

GET HELP WITH YOUR KEYWORD RESEARCH

Choose Relevant Search Engine Key Words

Your key word choices should be extremely relevant to the products, services or information that your website offers. Choosing the proper key words can also improve your site content and your user experience, especially if your key words and content are highly relevant to what the visitor has queried.

Understanding Keyword Types & Their Different Functions

Broad High Traffic Key Words

Keyword phrases that are too broad and generic in nature (especially single word keywords such as car, computer, etc.) are considered ineffective for search engine optimization. High traffic key words may attract a lot of search engine traffic (visitors) however the traffic is rarely highly targeted or motivated. (For instance the word “car” may imply “car dealers, used car, car parts, car mechanics, car accessories, car detailing, car rental, etc.).

Long-tail Key Words

Long-tail keyword phrases usually consist of 3, 4 and 5 (or more) word strings and can be very precise in nature (such as “2008 Chrysler Crossfire Roadster Alberta”). Searchers that use multiple word strings are considered to be highly qualified traffic because they are searching for something quite specific (and many times regional).

Generally the broader your chosen “key” words are, the more traffic those “keyword phrases” will receive, however these types of “key” words are usually quite competitive and may take a long time to actually rank well. Long-tail keyword phrases usually have less traffic but generally convert to more leads and increased sales and conversions; websites will generally rank faster for long-tail keyword phrases within an average of 3 to 6 months.

Key Words And Search Engines

When a search engine attempts to “crawl” and index your website, its program spiders can only read text. Essentially, the search engine is looking for “key” words that match or relate to the “keyword phrases” that the searcher typed into the browser. If your page text does not contain the “key” words that match the searcher’s query and if your content does not support those keyword phrases the search engine will not rank your pages well for that “keyword phrase”.

Pages with good, unique content that is deemed to be most relevant to the key words queried will be ranked the highest in the search engine listing results. Therefore it is imperative that your website page content be as relevant as possible and optimized for the “key” words that searchers are using to find your products or services.

Selecting Keyword Phrases

Many website owners worry about having to make the decision on using broad “key” words or long-tail keyword phrases within their campaign. The best recommendation is to have a gentle mix of both types as long as the keyword phrases are descriptive of what you are offering.

Keyword Research and Search Engine Optimization

After a site and server analysis, key word research (choosing the best, most relevant “key” words) is the next crucial step in a successful search engine optimization campaign; however this must be followed by proper content development in order to support your relevant keyword phrases. For more information contact our SEO consultants.

To learn more about “keyword research” or for help in finding the best “key” words to improve your page content (and relevancy to the terms used by searchers to find your products or services), or to inquire about our professional SEO consulting services call 1st on the List Promotion Inc Toll-Free at 1-888-262-6687 or Contact us today.

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