When it comes to gaining visibility online, keywords are your best friend. But what exactly are they, and how do you select the right ones? Let’s break down the basics of keywords and how to create a simple yet effective list of keywords that helps the right audience find your website.
What are keywords?
Keywords are the words and phrases your potential customers enter into search engines. They serve as a link between the content on your website and the people searching for your products or services. If your website uses the same keywords as your target audience, your website will appear in their search results page.
For example:
- A local bakery might target keywords such as “custom wedding cakes Vermont,” “gluten-free cupcakes,” or “birthday cake delivery.”
- A home renovator could target keywords such as “kitchen remodel Vermont” or “local home contractor reviews.”
Why you need a keyword list
Without a clear keyword list, your content might be great —but it won’t necessarily get found. A well-organized list acts as a road map, ensuring that every page on your website speaks your customers’ language and boosts your chances of ranking higher in search results.
How to build your keyword list
Building a keyword list doesn’t need to be complicated. Follow these three easy steps:
- Know your audience: Think about your customers’ problems, questions, and how they’d search for your product or service. Jot down simple, natural phrases they might use.
- Think like a searcher: People search quickly and casually. Skip formal language and focus on short, to-the-point terms like:
- “backyard makeover ideas”
- “best landscapers near me”
- “landscape design help”
3. Pick the right keywords: Prioritize keywords that are:
- Relevant to what you offer
- High intent (“buy organic coffee”)
- Local (“cafes in Burlington VT”)
Once you have a list of keywords, how can you be sure they’re the right ones? Using your initial list—often called a seed keyword list—Stride can help you refine it for maximum effectiveness. Using data analysis tools, we research, analyze, and prioritize which keywords will garner the best results based on search volume, relevancy, and user intent.
Putting your keywords to work
Once your final priority keyword list is ready, it’s time to incorporate these terms naturally into your website:
- Headlines & Subheadings: Help search engines and readers quickly identify what each page is about.
- Body Content: Use keywords in a balanced, readable way. Avoid stuffing!
- Metadata & Image Alt Text: These are great opportunities to incorporate keywords and are also essential to your site’s visibility in search engines.
Remember: The goal isn’t to overwhelm your content with keywords. Rather, it’s to ensure that your website communicates with search engines and your audience clearly and directly. Try to think like your audience and use language they’d search for. And if you ever need a hand with any of the above steps, Stride is here to help you build a smart, effective keywords strategy to optimize your site.
