Using SEO Keywords to Get the Most Traction

SEO keywords are important to have for your website because they help search engines send the traffic to you that you are most interested in receiving.

Once you have selected a set of SEO keywords (or keyphrases) you’d like to target, there are some simple strategies to keep in mind when using them.

Read below for a quick guide that gives you all the highlights of where you should use your SEO keywords. If you’d like a fully-explained checklist, including examples, download this blog post’s freebie.

1. Focus on targeting one SEO keyword per page.

   While it is totally possible to have more than one SEO keyword on your page, it is easier to effectively emphasize one phrase rather than many. You can include other SEO keywords in your content on a page; just aim to focus on using one phrase the most.

2. SEO keywords should be used early and often in your content.

   Your target keyword should be used in each of the key areas of your page, and I’ll go over those key areas in just a moment. As much as possible, use your target keyword towards the beginning of each of the key areas. This encourages search engines to assign your target term a higher relevancy score than other phrases in your content.

3. Your keyword should be in your URL

   This is the URL to your page or post and is someteimes referred to as your page or post’s permalink.

4. The title of your article should focus on your keyword.

   This may or may not be the same thing as your meta title, which is mentioned later in this article.

5. Some subheadings should include keywords.

   You have 6 types of subheadings. In many platforms, your title will get assigned the most important heading, which is referred to as Heading 1. Normally, you will want to break your page’s content into sections with subheadings that are set up as Heading 2; you can use as many Heading 2 subheads as you would like in your document.

6. Use SEO keywords early in paragraphs helps increase relevancy.

   Search engines look at what phrases begin sections of your page. The earlier you use your SEO keyword in a paragraph, the more relevant that keyword is in that section of content.

7. Image file names should be descriptive.

   Using part or all of your target SEO keyword in the filename of your images can help search engines understand what the image is about. Only include the targeted keyword in your filename when it relates to what the image is.

8. Describe your image.

   Usually, you will have the option to add an ALT description to each image you insert in your page’s content. If the image is related to your SEO keyword, use that keyword in your alt description.

9. Meta titles should be focused.

   If your site’s page appears in search engine results, your listing will usually show your meta title first and then your meta description will follow. Your meta title should include your targeted SEO keyword as early in the title as possible.

10. Meta descriptions help search engines and searchers.

    Your meta description is like a super short (less than 155 characters) commercial that tells the reader what your page is about. Try to use your targeted keyword in it.

11. Did you overdo your keywords?

    After writing your page or post, read it out loud. If it reads funny, you probably need to use your keyword a little less or adjust its placement in some of your sentences and headings.

12. Yoast SEO for WordPress is a valuable helper.

    If you are using WordPress, consider installing the Yoast SEO plugin so you can see if you have used your keyword enough and in the proper places.

13. Give your article a final pass with Grammarly.

    After you’ve written your page, read it out loud, and used the Yoast SEO plugin to grade your work, consider using the free Grammarly.com tool to check your work one more time for grammar usage and misspellings.