Choosing Keywords That Work

For those new to website optimization, finding the right keywords can seem like the hunt for a proverbial needle in a haystack. In reality, the process isn't all that terribly difficult. As long as a few basic steps are taken and common sense is employed, even a beginner can come up with a good starting game plan for locating the right keywords.

It is always a good idea to come up with a basic list of keywords before sitting down to write copy. While it is feasible to write the copy and add the keywords later, this is harder than many think. It often involves total rewriting to avoid nonsensical copy. Considering this, the effort can be counterproductive.

There are several things that should be focused on when picking out keywords. The most important is the fact that not every person searches in the same manner. There are a number of ways to say exactly the same thing using a variety of different word combinations. The methods a particular person uses to find a website can be impacted by gender, age, profession, education and even country of origin and so on.

When looking at keywords, remember they do need to relate to your individual site. Pulling people in with keywords that are not relevant is dishonest and it also results in "unqualified" hits. If you're selling something or you happen to have ads on your site, you really need to pull in visitors that are interested in your topic. Should you keyword load with irrelevant terms, you'll turn visitors off, could lose sales and might even lose ads.

The best place to start in selecting keywords is with a pad and pen. Dream up every possible word and phrase you can that relates to your site and its pages. Then ask others you know to do the same. It can be very helpful to seek out people who fall into your site's targeted audience, too.

With a keyword list ready to go, it's wise to now visit the Internet to refine it. You can use search engine databases to see what words others use to find sites similar to yours. Overture and Google both have keyword tools, and software like Ad Word Analyzer can save you a ton of time on keyword research. All of these tools can assist you in seeing how many similar sites come up on searches when your keywords and phrases are plugged in.

It is now a very good idea to really consider the targeted audience. Consider the words on your list that these folks would actually use to find your site. Cross off those that don't fit. Remember, conversational language is more common in searches than advertising or marketing jargon. Short phrases that are quite basic are generally the best.

Even with a well-researched list, it is important to remember optimization is an ongoing process. It is very likely you'll revise your keywords from time to time. Don't fret if it doesn't go right the first time out.

With a good list of keywords ready to go, start writing copy or have it written for you. Make sure the keywords go into copy that's useful, pertains to the topic and isn't keyword stuffed. Don't overload with copy for the sake of overloading. Make sure it's useful, informational or interesting and don't forget to include keywords in titles.

Finding the right keywords the first time out can be a tough proposition. It does get easier with practice. Look at is as an ongoing process and the job will seem a little less daunting.

Article Source: http://www.articles.ask-me-about.com

About the author: Jeff Alderson develops search engine marketing tools. He specializes in boosting traffic and sales. Jeff suggests using Ad Word Analyzer to find internet keywords for your website.