Are you hoping that 2020 is the year you embark on your content marketing campaign? If that is the case, SEO must become part of your plan. SEO can revolutionize how content on your websites is found by search engines; its implementation can also be very straightforward. In this Ultimate Guide to SEO, we cover the essential fundamentals of successful SEO implementation – let’s get going!
What is SEO & How does it work?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and directs to any process undertaken to increase search engine rankings and gain greater exposure for their websites and content online. Businesses who desire increased rankings through SEO include those looking to index online listings and businesses who wish to increase the exposure for their online products or services through organic indexing efforts.
Search engines, Google, Bing, and Yahoo search results depend on the strength of SEO efforts implemented to generate suggestions. A solid SEO will have a higher rank on Google, meaning it is more easily and frequently discovered; otherwise, lower levels may occur and will not get as much notice from people browsing.
Types of Keywords
SEO utilizes two distinct categories of keywords – Short Tail Keywords and Long Tail Keywords. Both prove highly effective for SEO, though they attract different types of searchers. Here, we will examine some sourcing techniques for keywords and applications; first, let’s investigate how Long and Short Tail Keywords compare.
Short Tail Keywords
Short Tail Keywords (STKs) are search phrases with one to three words that have broad appeal, which is highly effective at driving visitors to your website due to their frequent usage. Unfortunately, their regular occurrence raises issues of overuse as well.
Heavy use of search terms such as Bing or Google can present challenges when trying to reach higher ranks on these search engines due to the sheer volume of pages using them. With hard work and persistence, however, you can improve the content’s search engine ranking and elevate its position within their indexes.
Long Tail Keywords
A long-tail keyword refers to phrases longer than three words that provide greater descriptiveness, making it easier for advertisers to target specific audience segments. Over 70% of internet searches make use of Long Tail Keywords!
Long Tail Keywords have the advantage of being more specific searches; therefore, they tend to bring in less traffic due to refining and narrowing searches further, which may deter some businesses. On the other hand, more precise queries have a higher potential of turning visitors into sales prospects for products or services offered by your business.
For further keyword research, Wordstream’s blog on SEO Keywords: How Better Keyword Research Gets Better Results may prove invaluable.
3 Best Applications for SEO Keywords
If you are new to SEO, finding keywords may prove challenging. There are various applications available to make your content more visible to target audiences – As part of the ultimate guide to SEO, here are our three recommendations:
- Google Keyword Planner
Recently, Google released several powerful SEO tools, with their Keyword Planner being one such helpful application. This user-friendly application pairs words together and suggests related phrases based on past searches.
- Google Trends
Another impressive offering from Google, Google Trends works similarly to Keyword Planner – when you enter your chosen keyword into it, Google searches Google to assess traffic generated from that term or phrase.
- Keyword Tool.io
Third on our list is Keyword Tool, an application designed specifically to assist those in their pursuit of long-tail keywords. Simply enter your topic or shorter keyword, and it will display five long-tail options relevant to that term.
To conclude
SEO is essential in ensuring your content is seen, and its implementation is straightforward. Use an appropriate mix of long and short-tail keywords when writing articles or blogs – using relevant ones will increase its visibility when searched for! Don’t forget your website either; its content must be optimized accordingly!
If you enjoyed our comprehensive guide to SEO and Lead Generation, look at how lead generation and SEO connect.