How to use Targeted Keyword Phrases to improve your rankings

The object in using keyword phrases in your articles is so the search engines can connect the searcher to the items they want to find, i.e. YOU. For now, we’ll focus on what search engines look for in articles, and how to maximize your results on the web.

A good keyword phrase is one actually used by searchers. It must be relevant to your website and what you are offering. So, it’s very important to study your target audience, know how they think, and be aware of their concerns. Unfortunately, most single words are already very competitive, making it hard to get top rankings. But using two or three word phrases can be very useful in directing traffic to your site and help you get higher rankings.

Here is a list of things to keep in mind as you build your site that will make your site a “search engine friendly site”. This is what search engines like to have in their results:

1. A site with lots of content

2. A site with UNIQUE content (something you wrote; original)

3. Well organized link-wise (simple navigation from your main page to every other page on your site)

4. Sites with links pointing to them from other relevant sites (similar in content, but not in direct competition to you)

5. Sites that change regularly (growing with new content)

6. Sites they can read (basically, simple HTML)

7. Tightly themed sites (all content relates so the engine can rank you where you want to be)

These are the basics. Follow these guidelines and you will begin to get good rankings. Tweaking comes after you are experiencing some success.

So, how do you find targeted keyword phrases for your articles? First, as mentioned before, know your audience. Who is it you want to bring to your website? Find keywords that will bring someone searching for what you’re offering to your site. Focus your terms on the topic of your website. Make sure these terms are being used by searchers.

The best way to research keyword phrases is by using one of the many keyword tools available today. Just do a Google search for ‘keyword tools’ and start shopping. Some are free, and some require a subscription. I recommend Wordtracker because it offers several ways to search and compare keywords and sub keywords.

Once you’ve selected your keyword phrases, you can then search for them in the search engine database. The more results you get, the more competitive the term. A good figure to shoot for in the results column is around 5000. This term will be easier to dominate verses one with 20,000 results. Look through the listings. Are there any keywords in the descriptions that might apply to your site? Also, look at any ads displayed with your search terms. There may be some useful keywords available there too. Write down anything that sounds promising and run them through your keyword tool as well.

You can also check your search engine stats program or raw server logs to see what terms your visitors are using to find your site. You might be surprised at what you find.

The content of your website is the most important thing. Once you have chosen a keyword phrase, it should be used in your topic if possible, and on each page of your site within the specific content. Make sure it reads well, and it makes sense within the content. Try to use as many keyword variations whenever possible. This will make you even more visible to the searcher.

Learning how to search for and use targeted keyword phrases will take some time and devotion, but will certainly pay off in the long run. This skill is essential if you plan to use PPC (pay-per-click) advertising. The last thing you want here are keywords generating the wrong kind of traffic to your site.

Organic search engine optimization (SEO) is the best way to go if you’re on a tight budget. Although it will take more patience and time before you see results, you will be able to reap the fruits of your labor for years to come.