Keyword optimization is one of the most important factors in blogging success. The SEO dynamics may have changed significantly because of changes in Google’s algorithms, but keywords still play the key role in boosting rankings and traffic and choose right keywords is also one of the best ways to boost SEO. Are you looking for the best ways on how to choose the best keywords? Here are 4 strategies that should be followed for choosing the right keywords for your blog posts.
1. The Ideal Keywords
The ideal keywords are between 2 and 4 words long. They should ideally describe your offerings using language which is commonly used by your target audience (the searchers). These keywords are not highly competitive.
Remember to avoid choosing keywords which are too general. They are going to be too competitive. Even if your pages rank high for these terms, there is a very good chance that they will have very low conversion rate. The problem with general terms is that most searchers using those phrases are usually searching for something more specific.
At the same time, you cannot have keywords which are too specific. There will be only a few people searching for your key phrases, although the conversion rate will be high. The key to succeeding with keyword search for your blog posts is to use the right combination of general and specific terms.
2. Don’t Use Single-Word Terms
When it comes to keyword optimization, single words are forbidden. There are 2 reasons why they should be avoided:
- Single-word keywords are too broad
- Single-word keywords are too competitive
The advantage with using 2 and 3-word key phrases is that they are both easy to rank and generate high-converting traffic. If you were to search for something, you would not use one-word phrases because they will not give you useful results. Single-word keywords are too general and can deliver results which are too broad and useless. In fact, the results can be out of context in most cases. Your target audience will always add one or two more words to refine the search.
For example, you don’t want to rank your blog for a keyword like “food”. There are probably millions of blogs which are dedicated to food. Besides, it is so competitive that you will not be able to rank high for it.
3. Target Related Searches
A few years ago, most SEOs would use keyword stuffing as an effective strategy for ranking high on search engines. However, the same strategy cannot be used now without putting your blog at a high risk of being penalized or even banned. Use your main keyword just a few times and supplement it with related and synonym terms.
One of the best ways to find related terms is to scroll down to the bottom of the search results and look for the key phrases displayed under the “Searches related to <keyword>” heading.
4. Target Long Tail Keywords
Long tail keywords, as the name suggests, can be 4 to 6 words long. Besides, they are more specific. There are many advantages of using these keywords in your blog posts.
- Less Competition – Long tail keywords have lesser competition. So you will be enjoying the benefits of being specific and getting high conversion rates.
- Higher Conversion Rates – These keywords generate highly qualified leads and thus improve the conversion rates and ROI.
- Improved Head Term Rankings – Long tail key phrases also help in improving head term rankings. This is because the term already contains several words from your more competitive main terms.
Summary
These are the 4 most important strategies to follow if you are confused how to choose good keywords for your blog posts. Keep in mind that the more time you spend researching your keywords, the better the results will be.
