While there certainly are effective keyword research tools to use when trying to develop an effective and appropriate keyword list for your website, it is critical to perform research beyond these specific Internet tools in order to be most effective.
You will first need to develop a basic list of keywords that you think are “obvious”. In other words, if you sell cars, you would create a list of words like “cars, automobiles, trucks, car sales, etc.” But, beyond the obvious are terms like “trade-in value, car repair, foreign car reliability, etc.” It is critical to think “outside the box” when approaching your keyword list.
Sometimes, we forget to look in the most obvious places when trying to develop our keywords. For instance, a thesaurus can be an incredibly useful resource when trying to generate an effective list of keywords.
A thesaurus, while limited in its capabilities, does provide the ability to find multiple synonyms for the keywords that you think might be appropriate to employ. Rather than depend on your own limitations, take the time to research synonyms that you may not have otherwise thought of.
You may also want to take a look at the competition. Your competitors will most likely provide you with some of the best keywords out there. Be careful not to directly copy their approach, as this won’t do you any good when trying to top the rankings within your industry, but researching competitors keywords can be a great launching pad as you develop your keyword list and implement an effective, competitive SEO campaign.
Finally, beyond the thesaurus, competition analysis and keyword research tools, you must be strategic. You must invest time and energy into carefully selecting keywords that are realistic to top and will be most effective for targeting your audience.
Think like a customer, not a business owner. You may want to ask family, friends, peers and colleagues, even customers, what they might search for when looking for your business services and/or products. They may come up with very different keywords than you ever would have on your own. Sometimes it can be difficult to step outside of your own thoughts about your business because you eat, sleep and breathe what you do. But what others have to say in terms of keywords is usually much more useful and effective than anything you could ever think of.
Also, think like a search engine, not a website owner. While keywords are subjective, they must also be technically strategic. A search engine, although wise, is not a human. So make sure you are aware of current rankings, popularity of search terms and attainability of keywords. This is where those keyword research tools really do come in handy.
And finally, manage your keyword and SEO efforts on a weekly, if not daily basis. Keywords are like children. They require constant care, management and direction. So take your SEO efforts into your own hands and make sure your keywords are effective and working for you as well. You must be committed to this process if you want it to succeed.
Download my free keyword research report to learn more about why keyword research is vital to creating endless streams of traffic and income.
