Webmaster Papers








What and How to choose the Right Keywords for Mega Traffic


Keywords in Search Engine Optimizing and Search Engine Marketing are the building blocks and foundation of your website on the search engines. If your foundation is weak or poorly put together your webpages won't have much to be based upon for the engines to rank with.

Therefore, careful consideration is of utmost importance when choosing your keywords for your webpages, and so if you choose and target the wrong keywords, all your efforts will be wasted.

When having chosen your keywords, you could be in one of two scenarios: You were able to get a top 10 position in a major search engine and were very excited about the traffic that flooded in, or You got a top 10 ranking, but only a few visitors trickled in to see your site.

Whats happened?

Well, in the first scenario, the person selected a keyword or phrase that was very popular and chose correctly, and lots a people searched on it, rather the other person optimized his/her page for a keyword phrase that not many people searched on, therefore received very little traffic.

So the million dollar question is then: How do you know how to choose the right ones to optimize your website for?

I'll first mention a few ways in which to choose your keywords wisely and then ways to see how popular they are.

1. Think in terms of your customer, put yourself in your customers shoes, what would your customer search for to find you? and 2. Focus your keywords into short, 2 or 3 word phrases (Studies show the majority search for 2 or 3 word phrases)

You can use the above tips in conjunction with the following tools.

http://www.nichebot.com
https://adwords.google.com/select/main?cmd=KeywordSandbox
http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion

The above sites will be very useful, in choosing your keywords, so use them to your advantage.

The overture tool, shows the phrase and the number of times a keyword phrase was searched for in the preceding month, while the Google Tool is used for adwords, although I myself and know of others that still use it for general keyword knowledge, and the nichebot site is very useful and a knowledgeable tool for "spotting" the niche words that are being searched for.

Ideally, you want to target keywords and phrases that are searched with some frequency, and that are specific to your Web site, but less competitive, or put another way, think and choose popular keywords that your competitors have overlooked, and which are still popular.

The best thing to try to do is to target multi-word keyword phrases that give you the highest quality leads. For example; if your targeting "software" don't just optimize your page for that word "software" chose a focused niche phrase to target, think in terms of "childrens software" or "educational software",... get the idea?

Think focus?

Also, a small addendum I saw recently on Webposition.com; "...If you take the time to target the RIGHT keywords,[...]you'll be ahead of 99% of the world and you'll be generating more traffic with less effort. Work smarter, not harder is what we always say!"

To sum up,... put yourself in your customers shoes when choosing our keywords, what do you want your customer to search for so they find you online, and input that into a 2 or 3 word phrase, while using the above tools to assist you in this process.

This article was written by Burke Ferguson of AltaCanWeb.com. Burke holds both a BSc. degree in Computer Science as well Certification in Search Engine Optimization and Marketing Strategies. He also regularly publishes The ACE! newsletter, in which he shares his experience, methods, and knowledge with others. Burke can be contacted by his main website AltaCanWeb.com or The ACE! ezine.

RELATED ARTICLES


Set Up Your Website in Minutes ? For Free
There was a time not long ago when setting up a website meant endless technical jargons, hiring a web designer, writing the html or jawa codes, selecting the right hosting platform and deciding on the band width.
Where?s Your Web Site?
This simple question can take on several different forms, but if you have your own web site, all are equally important. Don't worry, this isn't a sales letter, and it's well worth a read.
Planning A Usable Website: A Three-step Guide
A website is like an information flow, with you as the provider and your site visitors as the receivers of the information. If you don't plan your website with this in mind right from the start, you could find yourself with a brand new website that solves all your immediate needs... but not those of your site visitors.
How to Maximize the Value of Every Visitor to Your Website
While most marketers are beginning to understand the critical importance of maximizing conversion rates, few are tracking or working to maximize another critical measurement of website effectiveness.
Running An Effective Website
Running an effective website is a continuous process. I have compiled five (5) ways of doing it on a regular basis.
How To Keep Your Website Sticky
Developing a website with content that entices visitors to return over and over again is something that takes time and effort to put together. This checklist can give you a great start on creating a popular website that entices readers to hang around on your site.
You Dont Know Which One
I still remember it very clear ... It was almost a decade ago that I wrote it in my notebook as an interesting quotation from a famous man at that time and even now and ever. Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet president, shared this so-called joke with some reporters: "Mitterand has 100 lovers. One has AIDS, but he doesn't know which one. Bush has 100 bodyguards. One is a terrorist, but he doesn't know which one. Gorbachev has 100 economic advisers. One is smart, but he doesn't know which one!"
5 Essential Traits Of A Home Business Website
So you've decided to start an online work at home business and are just beginning to build your website. You probably have a million different ideas for what you want the site to look like. You will want to take into consideration that your idea of a great website may differ drastically from what a website designed to make sales should be like.
Developing A Website: 10 Tips For Getting Started
1. Be clear on your purpose.
Improving Usability for Screen Reader Users
Simply ensuring your website is accessible to screen reader users is unfortunately not enough to ensure these users can find what they're looking for in a reasonably quick and efficient manner. Even if your site is accessible to screen reader users, its usability could be so incredibly poor that they needn't have bothered coming to your site.
Website Strategy!
A website lets you put your products in front of a world-wide audience. It can help you generate new revenue, cut costs and build better relationships with both customers and suppliers.
From Concept to Website
You've decided to create a website to market your products or services. More and more people start their information searches online, so having a website is the logical next step. But without web development skills or knowledge, how do you build and market a website?
Ten Ways NOT to Set Up a Website-based Service Business
1. As the first step, "Hire a web designer."
The Two Most Common Mistakes That Scare Away Web Visitors
Can you imagine the hypocrisy of spending thousands of dollars, countless hours, and boatload of resources to create a marketing tool that actually sends prospects running for the hills? It might seem crazy, but a overwhelming majority of websites are doing just that.
Enhance Your Website With A Yahoo-Style Directory
Does your website have a links/resources page?
The Web: Your Window of Opportunity
Thinking about starting up a business? The web is the way to go. Look around! More and more, people are relying on the internet as an information resource, a way to foster personal relationships, and method of purchasing goods and services.
Better Web Site ROI: Efficient Online Business with SEO, PPC, Split Testing, and Forums
If you're looking for better web site ROI, chances are, the web is only one part of your business, you have a specific budget for your web site, and you want the site to not only carry its own weight, but why can't it make you some extra dough, too?
Why You Need A Web Site
"I have a small business with just a couple of employees and I don't think my product can really be sold online. Do I need a web site?"
How To Evaluate Your Web Sites Performance
Setting up a website is the very first step of an Internet marketing campaign, and the success or failure of your site depends greatly on how specifically you have defined your web site goals.
Building eCommerce Websites that Work - Part 2
Succeeding with an eCommerce website is a dream for many these days. It may seem nearly impossible at times, but it can be done. This series covers some of the basic success factors - things you must consider in creating, implementing, managing and developing a quality eCommerce web site. There are many ways to do business on the internet - and, not surprisingly, a lot of ways to both make and lose money. Mainly, I'm focusing on eCommerce sites intended to sell products of various kinds. Not every factor is going to apply to every site, but since a major failing of many internet entrepreneurs is the lack of multiple income streams, you'd do well to carefully consider all factors and apply them as needed in developing alternate revenue streams.