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How to Choose SEO Keywords

When consumers use keywords to search for your type of business, do the results point to your company or your competition?
Because the right SEO keywords essentially grab potential customers by the wrist and lead them right to your business, it’s up to you to make sure you facilitate the meeting between the user and your website.

Relevant keywords bump you to the top of search engine rankings; without targeted SEO keywords, you could be losing business 24/7.
While keeping tabs on your competition is necessary, you don’t want to completely mimic your SEO efforts against the opposition’s strategy. Taking the time to select specific keywords for your business and website is key to edging out the competition. The following steps help you choose and implement the best keywords for your website:

• Determine Your Site’s Platform

The best time to determine key elements of your SEO strategy is during the website design phase. Ask yourself key questions that force you to hone in on your intended audience and your content:

o   What is your website’s focus?
o   Who is your audience?
o   What makes your website valuable?
Select keywords based on these answers, and conduct your own market research by asking current customers what words they would use to search for your website. Remember to use keywords that include products, services and general information.

• Research Keyword Popularity

Once you’re armed with keywords and phrases that accurately describe your business, products and services, you’ll need to determine how many other websites use the same keywords, and how many people actually use those keywords in their search efforts. To determine the answers of these questions, go to the Google Keyword tool or a paid tool such as RavenTools to find out the amount of results each of your keywords or phrases return. Additionally, you’ll find out what keywords people actually use to search for your type of business and all variations of those keywords.

• Keep Keywords on Your Page

You’re ready to dive in to the hard part – integrating your chosen SEO keywords and phrases into your content. First and foremost, make sure targeted keywords for a page are actually on that page. Use keywords within the title, in the content, in bold, in italics, etc. The key is to utilize your keywords in as many different ways as possible, without repeating words or using words that don’t pertain to your company or website. Search engines are smart; you’ll be banned if you try any sort of spam technique or deceitful tactic to gain visitors.
Other important elements for SEO integration include using META tags in the head section of your document, including common misspellings of relevant keywords, and using both singular and plural forms of keywords.

With a comprehensive SEO strategy, you’ll raise awareness of your business, increase your credibility and drive sales. It’s up to you to stay abreast of industry trends or changes. For best results, keep your keywords fresh to mirror evolving consumer search habits.

This guest post was provided by University Alliance and submitted on behalf of University of San Francisco.  USF offers complete SEO training courses available 100% online and taught by leading industry experts.  If you complete three of the required courses then you’ll earn an Internet marketing certificate.