Any business looking to have a successful website must understand the importance of search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the key to getting your website ranked higher on search engine results. When a user searches for something online, such as “pasta recipes” or “Hollywood dentist,” the websites that are most properly optimized are the ones likely to show up at the top of unpaid results. The websites that show up at the top do so because they understood the value of keyword research.
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of analyzing and selecting words and phrases users will most likely search for that directly relate to the products or services your business offers. As in the example above, if your business is a dentistry in Hollywood, users searching for “Hollywood dentist” should be able to find your website on search engines such as Google or Bing. However, if your website is not properly optimized around the keyword “Hollywood dentist,” then your website will likely not appear on the first page of search results. It is imperative your business focuses on the products or services you offer when selecting keywords for your website.
Why is Keyword Research so Important?
Your website may never rank above your competition until your business knows which keywords to optimize for. The pages on your website may not be visible to users searching for products or services you offer if your content is not properly optimized. Furthermore, choosing the wrong keywords could lead to a high “bounce rate,” or percentage of unsatisfied users who leave your website after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate can be extremely frustrating for business owners who have traffic to their website but don’t have the sales to show for it. Conversely, when a user’s search takes him or her to a website with content that directly relates to the desired product or service, he or she is far more likely to turn into a customer.
Which Keywords are Best?
Popular search terms, such as “dentists” make up a significant percentage of online searches. However, ranking highly on a popular search is incredibly difficult. Google returned approximately 98,900,000 results for “dentists,” and only ten of those make the first page. While ranking highly for popular search terms may sound like a good idea, becoming a top ten ranked website is often unfeasible. The best course of action is narrowing down your keywords to a more specific term. For example, “Hollywood dentist specializing in dental implants” yields only 533,000 results, making it a far better choice in this case. This type of keyword, known as a “Long-Tail” keyword, ensures the traffic you receive is more qualified and more likely to generate revenue. Long-Tail keywords are searched for by users who have already conducted their own research and are prepared to spend money.
How do I do Keyword Research?
The first place to start when it comes to performing keyword research is conceptualizing the core products or services your business offers. Another method of keyword research is finding out what words or phrases your website visitors searched for — Google Analytics can show you just that. The most essential tool, Google Adwords Keyword Planner, can suggest keywords related to your business and even provide estimates of running paid campaigns. Ultimately, the success of your keywords is based upon the traffic they bring to your website, the number of visitors that turn into customers, the number of competing websites also using those keywords, and whether or not the content on your website is optimized for them.
In conclusion, keyword research is one of the most significant aspects of search engine optimization. The reasons above explained how keyword research can turn visitors into customers. Businesses that perform keyword research rank higher in search results than their competitors. Contact Business Website Builders today to learn how we can help choose the right keywords for your business and build your website around them.