using keyword in seo

The main purpose of using keywords in SEO is to help search engines understand the content of a webpage and determine its relevance to search queries. By including relevant keywords in the content of a webpage, website owners can improve the chances that their pages will rank highly in search results for those keywords.

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What are keywords

Keywords in SEO are specific words or phrases that are used be people who use search engines to find anything on the web. Keywords should be placed in a content of a webpage to help search engines understand the subject matter and determine its relevance to search queries.

Using keywords effectively in SEO requires careful research and planning to identify the most relevant and popular keywords for a website’s content and incorporate them into the webpage in a natural and effective way.

Reasons why use keywords:

  1. To improve the visibility and traffic of a website: By including relevant keywords in a webpage, website owners can increase the chances that their pages will rank highly in search results, which can lead to more traffic and visibility for the website.
  2. To attract the right audience: By using keywords that are relevant to the content of a webpage, website owners can attract visitors who are looking for the information or products that the webpage offers.
  3. To improve the user experience: By including relevant keywords in a webpage, website owners can make it easier for users to find the information they’re looking for and improve their overall experience on the site.
  4. To increase the credibility of a website: By using relevant and accurate keywords, website owners can demonstrate to search engines and users that their website is a credible source of information.
  5. To stay competitive: Many websites are competing for the same keywords and search terms, so using keywords effectively can help a website stand out and attract more traffic.

Where to use keywords

Keywords can be used in various elements of a webpage, including the title, headings, and body content. It’s important to use keywords in a natural and relevant way, as overuse or misuse of keywords can actually harm a website’s search rankings.

There are several places where you can include keywords in a WordPress website to improve its search engine optimization (SEO):

  1. Page and post titles: The title of your pages and posts is one of the most important places to include keywords. This is because the title is often used as the headline in search engine results pages (SERPs), so it needs to be relevant and descriptive.
  2. Headings and subheadings: Using headings and subheadings (e.g. H1, H2, H3) in your pages and posts is a good way to break up content and highlight important information. You can also use keywords in these headings to help search engines understand the content of your page.
  3. Meta descriptions: The meta description is a short summary of your page’s content that appears in the SERPs. Including keywords in the meta description can help improve the relevance of your page to search queries.
  4. Alt tags: Alt tags, also known as alt attributes, are used to describe the contents of an image. Including keywords in alt tags can help search engines understand the context of the image and improve its ranking in image search results.
  5. Content: In addition to the above areas, it’s also important to include keywords naturally in the content of your pages and posts. This helps search engines understand the relevance and context of your content.

What you need to know

  1. Keywords can be short or long: While short keywords (also known as short-tail keywords) are more general and have higher search volume, they are also more competitive. Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, are more specific and have lower search volume but may be easier to rank for.
  2. Keywords should be relevant: Using irrelevant or spammy keywords can actually harm a website’s search rankings. It’s important to use keywords that are relevant to the content of a webpage and the products or services being offered.
  3. Keywords should be used naturally: Keyword stuffing, or the practice of cramming as many keywords as possible into a webpage, is a tactic that is discouraged by search engines and can lead to a penalty. It’s important to use keywords naturally and in a way that adds value to the content.
  4. Keywords can change over time: The popularity and relevance of keywords can change over time, so it’s important to regularly review and update a website’s keyword strategy.
  5. Local keywords are important for local businesses: Local businesses should include local keywords, such as the name of their city or region, in their website’s content to attract local customers.

Types of keywords

There are several types of keywords that can be used in SEO and in paid avertising, including the following:

  1. Broad match keywords: These keywords are the most general and include variations of a keyword. For example, “running shoes” as a broad match keyword would also include searches for “jogging shoes” and “athletic shoes.”
  2. Phrase match keywords: These keywords are slightly more specific and include the exact phrase, as well as variations with additional words before or after the phrase. For example, “running shoes” as a phrase match keyword would include searches for “best running shoes for flat feet” and “women’s running shoes on sale.”
  3. Exact match keywords: These keywords are the most specific and include the exact phrase only. For example, “running shoes” as an exact match keyword would only include searches for “running shoes” and not variations like “jogging shoes” or “best running shoes.”
  4. Negative keywords: These keywords are used to exclude certain words from a search campaign. For example, a company selling running shoes may use the negative keyword “free” to exclude searches for “free running shoes.”
  5. Long-tail keywords: These keywords are more specific and consist of three or more words. They have lower search volume but may be easier to rank for due to their specificity.
  6. Local keywords: These keywords include location-specific terms, such as the name of a city or region, and are important for local businesses to attract local customers.

Short and long tail explained

Short-tail keywords

Short-tail keywords are general and have a high search volume, while long-tail keywords are more specific and have a lower search volume.

They are usually made up of one or two words and are more competitive, as they are more commonly used in search queries. For example, “running shoes” and “dog food” are short-tail keywords.

Long-tail keywords

Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, are usually made up of three or more words and are more specific. They have a lower search volume but may be easier to rank for, as they are less competitive. For example, “women’s running shoes for flat feet” and “organic grain-free dog food” are long-tail keywords.

In SEO, it’s often beneficial to use a combination of short-tail and long-tail keywords to attract a range of visitors and improve the chances of ranking highly in search results.

Using keywords effectively in SEO requires careful research and planning. This includes identifying the most relevant and popular keywords for a website’s content and incorporating those keywords into the webpage in a way that is both natural and effective. By doing this, website owners can improve the visibility and traffic of their site in search engine results pages.