Google Opens Up to Webmasters

Posted on Aug 7, 2008 by Rick to SEO

Google offers several useful tools for webmasters. These tools have a variety of functions but generally help webmasters optimize websites so that the search engines can access and understand their content. One such tool is the keyword research tool. For a long time, Google has offered a keyword research tool intended to help website owners select keywords for pay per click campaigns. Unfortunately, the tool wasn’t very helpful because users weren’t given complete data.

As a result, webmasters have relied on third party tools like WordTracker and Trellian to help with keyword research. These tools provide webmasters with ‘estimated’ keyword search statistics and competition. The only down side is that the data collection method used by most of these tools leaves room for error.

Google has finally exposed search volume for keyword phrases
Recently, Google decided to improve its keyword research tool by adding numerical search estimates. This is an improvement that many of us have been waiting for a long time to see. The revised Google keyword tool gives users the ability to type in a search phrase and get back results of exact and similar phrases that are commonly searched. Each keyword phrase is accompanied by a numerical estimated monthly search volume and competition level. In the past, the actual search numbers were not revealed. Instead, a bar graph would indicate a low, medium or high search volume.

So if Google is giving away for free what we’ve been paying for, why still use third-party tools?
Don’t get me wrong, I still love to use WordTracker and probably will continue to do so, for now. It’s a powerful tool that does more than just return keyword search volume stats. But, I think I will add Google’s tool as another resource for determining search trends and verifying search volume on keyword phrases important to our projects.

Tags: keyword research

How to Create Keywords – Part II

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Taylor to SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most important aspects of any website. SEO corresponds directly with ranking on the major search engines, which is how people find your site and therefore, your product or service. Part of creating a higher ranking on the search engines has to do with creating keywords. Keywords are the terms or phrases that people generally search when looking for sites in your industry. For example, if you run a florist business, one of your keywords would obviously be “flowers”, since you want your site to show up whenever people search under the word “flowers”. However, this may be unrealistic due to the daunting level of competition for the term “flowers”.

The process of creating keywords can be tricky. After all, many people search for certain phrases versus just one word to get specific results. The best way to create keywords for your site that will put you in the line of search for the audience you are targeting is to think creatively about creating them.

When you think about how to create keywords, not only should you think about whom you are a targeting, but also about the need you are trying to fulfill. Your site should feature words that directly correspond to the services or product you offer. You should also consider how you think people might search for whatever it is you are featuring on your site. Think abstractly and remember that there should be a fair amount of these words in the content on your site.

There are many tools that can be used that will help you create a keyword list. You need to analyze a few pieces of data to determine the best keywords. First, look at the traffic to each keyword and the number of websites that are using the keyword. This will help you determine if it is realistic to optimize your website for the term you selected. Then look at the websites that are using the keywords. Is the website that is using the keyword you would like a more relevant site to the search engines then yours? At this point you need to compare your website to the competition. For example, how many inbounds links do they have? How relevant are the links to the keywords they are optimizing for? How many pages is there website? How long has the website been active? How is the website coded?

In many instances, business owners work closely with SEO companies to help them determine the best search terms and keywords for their business category and then develop content around those words and terms. Whether you do it yourself or work with a professional SEO specialist, thinking about how to create keywords and implementing a plan of action is the best way to ensure that your page gets top ranking in the search engines. Moreover, a higher ranking will ensure that the public is better aware of what you have to offer, giving your business a great chance at online success.

Tags: keyword research

Keyword Research

Posted on Sep 14, 2007 by Michelle to SEO

There are 3 main questions you should ask yourself when you first decide to perform SEO on your site and start the process.

1. Relevance: Is this phrase even relevant to your site and its content?
2. Search Frequency: Are people even searching for this phrase?
3. Competition: How competitive is this field? Is it even a feasible target?

Now, to get started…

First: Brainstorm
Sit down with a pen and paper, and just start writing. Create a list of relevant keywords and keyword phrases. At this stage, there are no wrong answers. Write down all keywords that come to your mind, that describe your product. You can then move to your current website and any branding material to pull out keywords that already exist.

Second: Keyword Tool
Now, take that keyword list you generated in your brainstorming session, and insert it into your favorite keyword tool. Internally, we use Word Tracker. This tool will aid you in finding even more keywords based on your base list. It will also give you some semi-accurate information as to frequency of searches vs. competitors.

Third: Search Frequency
Once your keyword list has been given values in regards to Search Frequency, you can scroll through the results and pick out main keyword phrases and secondary keyword phrases. A keyword phrase with 100 searches a month may be perfect as a secondary keyword phrase, but in most cases may not be best as a primary keyword phrase.

Fourth: Compare Competition
After you determine a primary and secondary list based on search frequency, you should then compare the amount of competition that each keyword phrase has competing for it. The lower the number of competitors, the easier it will be to out maneuver them within the SERPs. You can determine your competition’s relevance, by their Page Rank, amount of backlinks and sites optimization for that keyword phrase.

Last, but not least: Choose 1 Main Phrase
It is usually best to focus on one main keyword phrase and build a strong foundation based on that keywords and a bunch of supporting keyword phrases. The amount of keyword phrases you can target is a direct reflection as to the size of your site. The larger your site, the more keyword phrases you can target and optimize for.

Once the Keyword Research phase is done, the fun stuff comes. Go optimize your site!

Tags: keyword research