SEO Talk: How to Find The Perfect Keywords For Your Website
Creating a stunning website is only the first step to getting a business online! To bring lots of visitors to your digital masterpiece, you want to show up as high as possible on Google and other search engines’ results. And since Wix has the best SEO for your website, you’re already in good hands.
With that said, one of the best ways to rank high is to make sure you find the right keywords for your business and to use these words in the text and other elements of your website. Keywords are two to five-word phrases that your potential clients would type into a search engine when looking for you (or a business like yours.) And while no one knows your business better than you, deciding which keywords to use is not always intuitive.
Here are some expert tips to help you choose the best possible keywords:
Make a List
The first step in finding your keywords is to sit down and make a list. Try and think of terms and phrases that your clients would be looking for when searching on Google for a business like yours. Not sure if you’re on the right track? Google those terms and see if your competitors come up. If they do, you’re probably onto something.
Be Specific
When brainstorming keywords, choose words that describe what you do and the services or products you sell. Then, consider pairing those words with trendy terms like “organic” or “DIY.” If you run a local business, try adding a word that describes your location. This will help you target customers in your area and help the right people find your site.
Think like your customer
Put yourself in the shoes of your customer. Don’t think about how you describe your business; instead, think about what your potential client would be looking for as they Google away on their computer or phone. For example, while you might describe yourself as a “garden designer,” your potential clients are far more likely to be looking for a “landscaper.” Even if you don’t think of yourself in this way – your clients do. And when it comes to keywords, that’s what matters
Use a keyword tool
When it comes to choosing keywords, experts always use a Keyword Tool like Google Analytics, Moz Explorer or SEMRush. These tools tell you exactly how many people are searching for specific terms each month. They also suggest terms to use and can tell you if a keyword is very competitive. (If many businesses are trying to rank for a given term, it’s considered competitive and is harder to rank for.)
The Google Keyword Tool is a great tool for two main reasons: 1. It’s free; 2. It’s owned by Google – Master-of-All-Things-Search-Related. Unfortunately, they’ve recently changed the rules, so if you aren’t currently running an AdWords campaign on Google, you can’t access the Keyword Tool. If you do want to set up an AdWords campaign, however, you can then use the Keyword Tool to access monthly search numbers for a specific term nationwide, in your state or even in your city. The tool can also recommend similar phrases for you to use. If you want to get started using Google’s Keyword Tool, check out their extensive tutorials here.
While the Moz keyword tool only provides nationwide search data, it is excellent at recommending phrases that you may not have thought of. Its ability to suggest longer tail (more than 3-4 words) keywords with lower search volumes make it a great choice for small businesses. Moz charges a monthly fee, but you can try it out free for 30 days. (And that should be more than enough time to get all the data you need.)
Here’s a step by step of how to use Moz:
1. Go to Moz Explorer. 2. Enter a keyphrase that you think describes your business. (If you want to look for local terms you can add the city or state as well.) 3. Select your country. 4. Below ‘Keyword Suggestions’ click ‘See all 1,000 suggestions’ 5. Search volumes for the original keyword will be displayed as well as a list of recommended terms which will show up in order of relevancy. 6. If it says “no data” next to a term, it usually means the search volume is zero or very low. 7. You can export the CSV file and choose the keyword ideas that are most related to your business.
SEMRush is another tool that the experts love. In addition to getting keyword data, you can also use it to find out how your competitors are ranking. (Just enter their Domain, click on Organic Results and click on Positions) SEMRush only gives you one day to try out their tool and then you’ll have to pay. They are so great, however, that it may be worth forking over the cash.
Consider competition
While you may be an excellent wedding photographer in Chicago, the chances that you will rank high for “Photographer Chicago” or “Wedding photography Chicago” are very low. These are highly competitive terms and it will be virtually impossible for a small photographer to show up on the first page of Google for them.
Find a niche instead – Look for your niche and try to find keywords that capture it. Are you particularly talented when it comes to black and white wedding shots? Or do you have a photojournalistic approach to capturing a marriage? Add some specific adjectives to your key phrases and you’ll boost your chances of ranking high.
Go for quality over quantity
Usually, you don’t want to choose the keywords with the highest number of monthly searches. Not only are these phrases often too competitive, but even if you do succeed at ranking high for them, they may not bring you actually clients. It’s more important to look for quality keywords that accurately and specifically describe what you do. Not sure if a word is right? Ask yourself: What are the chances that someone Googling this is really looking for me?
Once you’ve identified a list of 5-10 great keywords, it’s time to use them throughout your site. Use the words in your content, as image alt text and anywhere you write about your business.
Pro tip: If you’re really serious about finding the right keywords for your website, Wix SEO Wiz will become your new optimization buddy! It will help you find the best keywords and show you exactly where they should be placed on your website. If you want to rank higher on Google (because honestly, who doesn’t?) then you should without a doubt take full advantage of this awesome tool.
By The Wix Team
