Everyone has heard of Google now and we are all using it to search for products, services and information every day of our lives, so it is not surprising if you are thinking ‘What steps do I take to use keywords and search engine optimisation in my content creation plan?’
Search engine optimisation can seem like a bit of a black art, but if you just think of it as Google trying to make recommendations based on the information it can find online…just like people try make recommendations based on their knowledge.
Know your keywords
The most important thing with search engine optimisation (SEO) is to know your keywords. It is no good just making up the words and phrases that you think people might be searching for. Google records every search that is made so the information on what keywords people search for and how many searches a month they make is freely available in Google’s Keyword Tool (just ‘Google’ Keyword Tool to find it and login to start using it).
Start by entering a few keywords (which are actually key phrases) and Google will take that information and using AI (yes it really is everywhere) suggest more (and more, and more). It will also give you search volume and competition levels – so you know which are the most popular.
Create a list of your best Keywords and keep them handy.
Create content regularly
Google wants to see that you are updating your website and creating new content on a regular basis. This is how it judges whether you are an active business and an expert in your field.
This is where your Blog comes in…it is the best place to create content with your Keywords in it. It is best to create content that engages and educates, rather than sells…that is what your product or service pages are for.
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Use your keyword
Each Blog you write should focus on ONE keyword. Choose your title with this keyword in mind…ideally EXACTLY as it appears in your research. Use your keyword in the title of your blog, in the opening paragraph, once in the body content and once in the closing paragraph and NO MORE. Google does not like Keyword stuffing – in fact you can get black listed for it.
You blog should be at least 300 words, but it is better if it can be 1000 – 1500 words. Ensure that any images in your blog are tagged with the keyword.
Meta content
As well as your user facing content websites also have ‘meta content’ which is only visible to bots. You can include and edit this meta content in your website code. Most content management systems give you the ability to add this content, although some such as WordPress may require a plugin such as Yoast. You can add a meta title, keywords and description to each page.
If you use WordPress and Yoast the plugin will give you a traffic light system to tell you how you are doing on optimising your content and advice on more things you can do for better results.
I hope this short guide helps you with your keywords and SEO. However the fact is that if your sector has high competition you may need to do more than just adding keywords to your content to see results. SEO can be dangerous for the inexperienced as Google WILL blacklist websites for ‘black hat’ practices. If you need more advice on SEO or any area of marketing why not ask for some support in our NoLimits Community Feed.
By Duncan McKechnie
Join the NoLimits Business Community
Are you a business owner looking to take your business to the next level? Join our innovative community of like-minded professionals and gain access to a wealth of valuable resources, including a community portal to chat with other business owners, ebooks, business development software, and growth events that will transform the way you do business. Best of all, these resources are completely free and will be available to you forever.
But the benefits of joining our NoLimits business community don’t stop there. By becoming part of our community, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other business owners, share insights and ideas, and build valuable relationships that will help your business thrive. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to supercharge your business and join us today!