How to Create a Keyword List to Improve the SEO on your Website.
Creating an effective list of keywords is vital for any business aiming to enhance its online visibility and attract more traffic to its website.
By carefully selecting the right keywords, you position your business to be discovered by potential customers who are actively searching for what you offer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a robust keyword list that will improve the SEO on your website.
Start With Your Business
Begin by brainstorming a list of words and phrases that you believe best describe your business, products, or services. Think about how you would explain what you do to a new acquaintance. What words or phrases would you use? This initial list will form the foundation of your keyword strategy, as these terms are directly linked to your brand’s core offerings and identity.
Understand Your Audience
Next, consider the language and phrases potential customers might use when searching for your products or services online. This involves stepping into your customers’ shoes and thinking about their search habits. For example, if you sell ‘Botanical Skincare Formulations’, your customers might use terms like ‘Natural Skincare Products’. It’s crucial to align your keywords with the natural language and search behaviours of your target audience.
Analyse Competitors
A look at your competitors’ websites can provide invaluable insights. Identify which keywords they are targeting within their content. This can help you discover keywords you might have overlooked. Analysing competitors’ Google Ads is another rich source of keyword ideas. Since businesses pay to feature these ads, the keywords used are often highly strategic.
Leverage Keyword Tools
Tools like Google’s keyword planner or Google predictive search are useful in expanding your keyword list and providing data on search volume. These tools can help refine your selections and identify long-tail keywords, which are less competitive and more specific, often resulting in higher conversion rates.
Implementation and Optimisation
Once you’ve compiled a comprehensive list of keywords, the next step is to integrate them seamlessly across your website.
Web Content: Incorporate keywords naturally into the text on your web pages, including headers and footers.
Meta Tags and Descriptions: Meta tags and descriptions should include relevant keywords to improve your site’s SEO and click-through rates from search engine results pages.
Image Tagging: Don’t overlook the power of images. Tag images with keywords to boost their discoverability in image searches.
Blogs: Regularly updated blog posts or articles can help you target additional keywords and keep your content fresh.
Keep It Natural
While it’s important to include keywords throughout your site, overuse can lead to ‘keyword stuffing,’ which negatively impacts your SEO efforts and user experience. Always aim for a natural flow in your writing, ensuring that the use of keywords feels organic and adds value to your content.
Monitoring and Adjusting
SEO is not a set-it-and-forget-it endeavour. Monitor your website’s performance and adjust your keywords based on what the data tells you about user behaviour and search trends. Regular audits can help refine your approach and sustain your site’s visibility in search results.
By methodically creating and implementing a keyword strategy, you can significantly enhance your online presence, making it easier for potential customers to find and engage with your business.
