Drive more traffic with the 7 golden keyword optimization thumb rules

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Optimizing the keyword list before you begin your SEO campaign can double the user traffic to your site. Believe it or not, but despite the continuous changes in the Google algorithm, keyword optimization still is the WWE champion when it comes to traditional or voice search.

But, doing it right is the main game. More often than not, SEOs tend to overload their content with uncountable keywords. Or add popular keywords having more traffic. Seems like the way to go, right? But, they overlook the fact of competing with the already mature sites that have gained trust for those most popular keywords. Whose website would you visit? Reebok or a new local brand which finds mention of the SERP? 

The question is – if that is the right approach? Or to put it right on the spot- the right approach for keyword optimization in today’s scenario?

With changing times and tweaks in the Google algorithm and search layout, you need to be an expert to optimize keywords for SEO. 

In this blog, we will take you through the seven tips that can help you in keyword selection and take your digital marketing campaign to the next level.

Tip 1: Understand user intent

Keyword optimization majorly revolves around empathizing with the user psyche and wants. Users start their journey with an intent in mind and not a keyword. So, ask yourself the question, how do you get an insight into the user’s intent? Because at the end of the day, this is the basis on which your keywords will be formed.

There are various tools available that use the latest technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to observe user search trends. 

One such tool is Keywordcountry, which can be used to generate a traffic-driven keyword list. This tool works on a machine learning algorithm that understands user intent and activity to generate keywords by fetching data from 600+ databases. As per google estimates, 40% of the keywords generated by this tool are new, based on user-study and something that search engines have never seen before. 

So you can get a list of user-oriented new keywords which are never used before and hence have no or very less number of competitors using them.

Tip 2: Understand the user journey to fetch relative keywords

Understanding user psyche and intent is very important to fetch an optimized keyword list. Not all users know what they are looking for. They just have an idea of their needs, and the SERP is all for their taking. So, you got to ensure getting a keyword list that targets everyone whose interests match the content on your site.

Let’s understand the user journey to optimize keywords for SEO.

The Awareness Stage: In this stage, the users are aware of their problem and try to look for a solution or a product /service that solves it. Example – “How to gain muscles?” or “How to do water logging?”
In this stage, you shall map your keywords list to content pages on your site, that answer the questions about your product with an informative and NOT a selling tone.

The Consideration Stage: In this stage, the users already have a solution to their query and are looking out for alternatives to select from. 

In this stage, you need to pitch your product and gain trust that it is the right one for the user. So, you shall map your keyword list to the value of your solution. 

The Decision Stage: In this stage, the user makes a search query with a commercial intent to make a purchase.
In this stage, your keyword list shall include keywords like – Buy, order, try, demo, and so on. Consider this as a do or die stage for making a sale.

Tip 3: Make a check-list to have 360° control over keyword optimization.

While making keyword selection, you shall put thorough emphasis on every section of your website. From sub-headings to alt texts and meta title, every aspect of your website has to be covered. Doing so could be cumbersome, and this is why you need a check-list to have a structured workflow.

Your check-list shall include all the essential to-dos priority-wise so that you don’t miss out on anything.

  1. Set priorities – Categorize your keyword list by segmenting your webpages as per topics and conversion rate. 
  2. Top-down alignment: Align top pages and group of pages with their targeted key phrases, search volume, and difficulty score.
  3. List of keywords: Create a list of long-tail keywords which can help you game voice search. Add keywords with geo-modifiers and run a competitive analysis to include overlooked keywords. 
  4. Include Brand terms: Include all terms and keywords that relate to your brand.
  5. Enable site search: Use Google Analytics to find out the search terms that interest your users.

Tip 4: Include mobile keywords

Selection of keywords has a lot to do with the device used for searching — Fifty-one percent of the global population access the internet through their mobile phone. So, overlooking mobile keyword selection could prove to be harmful to your SEO campaign. 

Mobile search queries are either shorter because of a less comfortable keyboard or longer because of voice search. So you got to do keyword optimization keeping both these factors in mind for mobile and tablet users. 

Example: –

Mobile keyboard search: Shoes showroom Bangalore

Voice search: Which is the nearest shoe showroom near me

Note: As per Google estimates, 94% of mobile searchers look for location-based info. So, adding keywords like ‘nearby’ and ‘near me’ etc. could be of great help. 

Tip 5: Keeping in tandem with keyword trends

You ought to connect your content with the user intent and leverage trending keywords to boost your SEO. 

To optimize keywords for SEO, you need to keep your keywords trending. You can use tools like Keywordcountry, Soovle, and Google Correlate to get the trending words of the period and optimize them for SEO.

Highlights: –

  1. Trending words are used less in comparison to general keywords. So, there is less competition.
  2. They may prove beneficial if they match your niche. But you got to clean them every once in a while because trends keep on changing.

Tip 6: Include Long-tail keywords in your keyword list

Long-tail keywords can help you boost your sales. Such keywords are used by high-intent users and in voice searches, which is taking over a large part of the search queries. 

It is estimated that more than 50 percent of the searches will be voice searches by 2020. So, you need to include long-tail keywords, or you will miss out on a large portion of your targeted customers. 

Long-tail keywords are also essential because voice searches differ from a traditional search. Users ask questions in a conversational tone like – “What are the top ten hill stations in India”? Or “Which is the best tool for keyword optimization?”

With the majority of users switching to voice search, including long-tail keywords to optimize your SERP ranking is also very important.

You can read more about boosting your site ranking on SERP by reading our blog on Artificial Intelligence for Keyword Research. The article will take you through the changes in the SEO best practices with the advent of AI and how Google RankBrain works to optimize site ranking.

Tip 7: Include negative keywords

Including negative keywords can improve your clickthrough rate by filtering ADs that are not relevant to your product. 

For example – If you own a showroom for men’s shoes then adding a negative keyword like ‘Girl/s’ or ‘Women’ will prevent your ad from showing when people search for ‘Women shoes’ or ‘Girls shoes.’ This way, your ADs can be made more relevant to your targeted users.

Conclusion

Hence, we can conclude that the right keyword optimization can boost your SEO campaign to the skies. Keywords research is already considered as the highest return SEO activity and hence requires some expert handling. Inculcating these seven tips while making keyword selection will definitely help you drive more traffic to your site.

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