SEO Basics-Keywords Tips

Many people new to the Internet and website construction have a certain diversion to SEO. In other words fear. But you should fear SEO. Why? It can help with your website's success. Thus, for those new to the Internet and new to SEO I have compiled some basic information on SEO and keywords.

SEO and Keywords

SEO (search engine optimization) defined is an online optimization process, which uses keywords and keyword phrases as one of its major tools to making your site search engine friendly.

The downside to SEO, is the immediate learning curve that you will have to conquer. It does take time and a lot of work to learn and use correctly, but it can increase your traffic and make money for your website in the long-term.

Let me give you some stats at what search optimization can do for your web page and thus, your online marketing.

If your web page is in the number 1 position for a certain keyword or keyword phase, you can expect to get about 40% of all the clicks. If you are in position number 2 for a given keyword, expect to get about 20% of all the clicks. Have I convinced you yet, about the relevance of using Search Engine Optimization?

As you can surmise, the key to SEO is learning about keywords and the placement of keywords within your content. I hope the following will give you a quick start at learning some of these basic skills.

Keywords Basics and SEO

As you will learn, or are learning, keywords is the life-blood of search engine optimization. Remember, keywords is how search engines like Google and Yahoo determines what your website is about. So let's begin with some keyword basics.

The keywords you use will influence where you will be positioned in the search results. Thus, the more relevant your keywords or keywords phrases the easier it will be for the search engines to categorize your web pages.
1 or 2 of your keywords should be in your meta title tag and meta description tag and in the url of your web page.
Make sure that your meta title and meta description match the content of your web page.
Do not put the same meta title and meta description on each and every page. Don't think it happens? That is one of the first mistakes that an Internet newcomer makes.
Use exact words, not general words to describe what the web page is about. Why? General words may help you get visitors but not necessarily buyers.

Example: Cheap software tools, free anti-virus tool, ugly green tools.
Label images within your HTML code through the use of the "alt" command. As you know, images are a growing search option.
If you have "Click Here" link, change the "click here" link to the product or service name. Why? The search engines only sees "click here", and, will probably assume the information is not important.
Your top keywords should be in the first sentence of your content.

Now that you have some basics information about keywords, let's delve a little deeper, with long-tail keyword phrases and short-tail keyword phrases.

Long-Tail Keyword Phrases

Long-tail keywords are phases that are usually 3 words or more in length, with greater description. Do not be shy about using long-tail phrases. You will find that you can bring the traffic you are looking for, because these phrases are put in the search box by people who know exactly what they want.

I think it's probably best to give an example. Let say you are selling widgets. Some of your keywords are: widget, wooden widgets, steel widgets. The long tail phrase would be: green wooden widgets; blue steel widgets.

Short-Tail Keyword Phrases

Short-Tail keywords are one to two keywords long. They do bring in more traffic than the long-tail keywords, but....you have stiffer competition. You will find that most of the established, well-known sites have the short-tail keyword phrases.

My advice, utilize both a wide range of keywords, long-tail and short-tail to gain a full range of traffic. Or, incorporate short-tail keywords within your long-tail keyword phases.

What is Keyword Density

What is keyword density? Keyword density is the percentage of keywords/keyword phrases that are within your content and within your tags. Some say the density of your keywords are not important. I tend to disagree, because if you overuse keywords you can be penalized by Google.

Knowing about the basic rules regarding keyword density can protect you from being penalized by Google, or the other search engines. So what percentage of keywords/keyword phases should you have?

Keyword Percentages are Important

Some use a simple formula of 2-3 specific keywords or keywords phases per 500 word count, with a percentage count of 1-2% for minor words and 3-7% for major keywords. Personally, I try to stay within 2% for major words and a little less for minor keywords. This is where you will have to do a little experimenting on your own.

However, realize that being within your 2% for keywords does not mean that people will be clamoring to your website. Why? The algorithm of most search engines have changed, or maybe improved it's method of determining relevancy. Thus, you have to ask yourself, what else matters to the search engines?

Page Title

Page copy that uses bolded, or anchored links.

Some people use the "H1" tag through their copy. I wouldn't waste my time doing that, because I do not feel that it would lend any more relevancy in the eyes of a spider.

Some search engines put more wait on length of time they have been online, site authority, and link anchor text.

My advice is to consider them all, but never, ever place your keywords above readability or quality of content. Why? Because quality content is very important to Google, and it should be to you, the writer. And from what I have learned, what Google does, is invariably followed by other search engines.

What Is Keyword Stuffing?

What is Keyword stuffing? Keyword stuffing is the overuse of your keywords within your meta tags and your content. This is a no-no in the eyes of the search engines and could get you labeled by the search engines as a spammer.

You can usually spot this type of infraction because the content is so loaded with keywords that the content makes little or no sense. The best way to determine whether you overplayed your keywords is to read the content out loud. If, when you are reading it, it makes little or no sense, it's time to rework your masterpiece.

I would suggest targeting at the most- three keywords on a page with a page count of 500. You really need to keep a balance between keywords and quality content. Translated, if your keywords diminishes the meaning of your content, you'll quickly lose the traffic that you want, and possibly your page position on a search page..

Keyword Tools-That are Free

After you have a starting list of keywords, you will need to learn how many people are researching those keywords (identifies the competitiveness of the words), as well as, adding additional new words to your list. (Brainstorming is great to get you started, but remember, it is only based around your circle of knowledge).

Below you will find the following keyword tools to increase and/or tweak your list - (Keyword tools are free):

1) Overture Keyword Search -- Overture gives you related searches that include your keyword; keywords and phases; estimate of the number of times that the term was searched on within the last month. Just put in a single keyword and it will give you the keywords and keyword phases.
2) Thesaurus- Another great way to find synonyms.
3) Wordtracker - gives you a smaller sampling of keywords
4) Google Keyword Tool - Gives you access to keyword tool search and keyword estimator
5) Google Wonder Wheel - The Wonder Wheel enables you to explore additional keywords or keyword phrases that people are typing into the Google Search Box. It is located on the left hand side of any Google Search Page.

Google Wonder Wheel

This is a quick tutorial on how to use the Google Wonder Wheel.

1. Put the keyword phrase in the search box of Google.

2. Click on "Show Options" which is located on the left side of the search bar

3. Scroll down to where you see Wonder Wheel. Click the link

4. You should now see a wheel with related word phrases

There is one rule of thumb to follow with SEO, I call it the three Es. Your site must be easy to follow, easy to read, and easy to search for you to succeed in getting traffic through Search Engine Optimization.

SEO Continued Reading........

Meta Tag Tips/Free SEO Submission Services
Different SEO Search Methods

Additional Reading........

Why Context Linking Is It Important?

Landing Page Basics