Using Keywords To Drive Traffic

Keywords or key phrases are what people who are searching the internet type into the search engine to find answers to their questions. They are important. So much so that some designers believe these words and phrases should be decided upon even before the site is created. So should you.

When deciding on a new Web site design, one of the most important things to consider is how to get it noticed among the millions of others that come up when a search is completed, having a site in the Top 10 is your goal. But are keywords or key phrases better? Most people use one to three phrases to make a search. Using a specific keyword may mean that more people will visit the site, but the chances of them buying anything are probably low because the audience isn't very targeted. So, when choosing keywords, you have to find words that are popular; choose those that are relevant to the site; remember what content is listed on your page; and how much competition there is.

The most time-consuming part of the whole process is usually finding the right keywords or phrases to use. Try to think about who would be interested in what your site has to offer. Then use these terms as keywords to reach a targeted audience. People search with a variety of terms so try to add misspelled words, capitalize some of them or add the plural version. Remember that people make mistakes, so by adding these words, the engine should pick up on traffic that the other sites have not taken into account. And what about people in other areas of the world? If they use a different term to describe a topic, this should be considered. For instance, in North America, the back of a car is called a "trunk", but in the U.K. it is called the "boot". The more detailed the words, the better return the site will get. Be sure that all keywords are relevant to the site's content.

Although search engines vary in how their sites are indexed, one thing is similar: the ranks are based on the keywords you choose. First, think about which words the average person would use to find the page. Then go to the competitor's site and look at which keywords they are using (view the HTML source code). While there is no need to copy what the competitor is doing, it should give a good indication of why they are ranking so high. After this has been done, narrow the choices down between three to five words. Then test the competition for these words in a search engine such as Google, by typing in all keyword and phrase ideas.

Ultimately, the keywords you choose will help bring traffic to your site. Depending on which ones you use, you should bring traffic that is targeted, specific to your site. You should be bringing people who will find your site relevant to their needs. This will bring customers in the end.