BLOG.ACOSTAAGENCY.COM: Get found with relevant keywords

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Get found with relevant keywords

Keywords are to your website as a foundation is to your home.

The core element of search engine optimization (SEO) is keywords in content and incoming links. Search engines find, index, categorize, and rank based on web content. Optimizing web content makes it easier for search engines to do their job.

Before you put content on your website, make sure you're keenly aware of what keywords you are aiming to rank for in search results. Once you build your foundation of keywords, it'll be easier for you to create relevant content for each page of your website, including page titles, headings, and meta descriptions.

Start out by using Google's free keyword tool. Select keywords from the list that have high traffic and are the least competitive. These will be easier for you to rank for. Next, search on the keywords you selected to see what page you show on in search results for that keyword, if at all. You'll get a good feel for what you're up against when you find out where you show up in organic search for terms that you think will bring potential customers to your site.
Select 1 - 3 keywords (a keyword can be a phrase, aka "long-tailed) for each page then theme that page's content around those related keywords. Use your keywords in your page title (make sure you have a page title) and heading. Sprinkle your keywords for that page throughout the content, but make sure your writing flows naturally and does not look like you stuck keywords in just to have them in there. What helps me is to create my heading and write naturally from that and then go back and insert keywords into places that make sense. This way my writing doesn't appear forced.

It's important to not duplicate keywords on other pages in your website, or you'll be competing with yourself in ranking for those keywords. Using themed keywords relevant to each page's product or service also serves to keep your writing focused, a plus for site users as it's important to keep their attention focused on what brought them there in the first place. Avoid distracting users with irrelevant offers or unrelated content. Think of this type of writing as driving down a tunnel versus the wide open highway.

Keyword Takeaways:

Keywords used in content and internal text links,
Relevant content is reachable by search engines,
Content is added often and periodically,
Keywords used in Alt Text for images,
Keyword content is organized logically--themes, categories,
Quantity of quality sites linking in (relevant and authoritative),
Monitor on a regular basis; adjust continually.

Analyze your results with Google's free analytics tool. This powerful tool is supported with step-by-step directions for the novice, so don't be intimidated; it's easier than it looks. Once you get the green light and a few days for the data to roll in, review your results. There's no magic formula to getting it right. Just keep testing and tweaking and you'll see improvements over time.

Happy Marketing!