Picking Good Keywords
Picking Good Keywords
Getting search engines to recognize and index your Web site can be a problem, as the first part of this chapter makes clear. Another huge problem — one that has little or nothing to do with the technological limitations of search engines — is that many companies have no idea what keywords (the words people are using at search engines to search for Web sites) they should be using. They try to guess the appropriate keywords, without knowing what people are really using in search engines.
I explain keywords in detail, but here’s how to do a quick keyword analysis:
1. Point your browser to https://adwords.google.com/select/
KeywordToolExternal.
You see the Google AdWords Keyword Tool. AdWords is Google’s PPC (pay per click) division.
2. In the search box, type a keyword you think people may use to search for your products or services.
3. In the captcha, or challenge-response box, type the security word shown.
4. Click the Get Keyword Ideas button.
The tool returns a list of keywords, showing you how often that term and related terms are used by people searching on Google and partner sites.
You may find that the keyword you guessed is perfect. Or you may discover better words, or, even if your guess was good, find several other great keywords. A detailed keyword analysis almost always turns up keywords or keyword phrases you need to know about.
Don’t spend a lot of time on this task. See if you can come up with some useful keywords in a few minutes and then move on.
