Virtual tips for the savvy business owner!

Trends in Internet sales change frequently, but one thing that’s been consistent for several years is the use of effective keywords to help potential customers find your website. Intelligent use of keywords in website copy is the cornerstone of search engine optimization (SEO). Here are my thoughts about the best way to find and use keywords in web marketing.

My first rule when creating a webpage is this: find good keywords first, and then write the copy. This keeps my web pages reading naturally as well as being easy to find. Think about some of the websites you’ve read filled with stilted sentences and obvious keyword stuffing. Don’t settle for amateurish web copy, increase your website’s professionalism with strong, relevant sentences written around the keywords you research.

Here’s an easy way to find keywords likely to be used by your market to search for websites: go to the Google Adwords tool at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal and enter a general keyword that relate to your product or service. For instance, if you sell inflatable casts crutches, you might enter the keyword phrase “medical equipment”. The tool will then suggest keywords related to your website, along with the search volume for each.

Select a few keyword phrases with strong search volume and start creating your website copy. Remember, no keyword stuffing! Write as though you were talking to someone about your products, incorporating the keyword phrases naturally.

Experiment with keyword phrases, fine-tuning your web content and testing the traffic generated. As the search engine spiders begin picking up your website, add additional content such as articles of interest to your customer base (remember those keywords!)

You, too, can learn to find and optimize keywords to generate web traffic. Unlocking the mystery and power of good keywords is a great first step to creating an effective online presence.

Filed under: Website Optimization