Keywords are the life blood of search engine optimization (SEO). Your entire website should and must be structured around these keywords for your site to have a prayer in getting noticed by search engines. Many already know this, but the question is, do you really know what a keyword is? Before I got knee-deep into SEO, I didn’t know what a keyword was. I thought I did only to be slapped in the face with how wrong I was.

In its simplest definition, a keyword is a word or phrase that users will type into a search engine to find what they are looking for. For example, if you are looking to buy baby clothes online, wouldn’t you type in “baby clothes” in the search box in Google? Upon doing so, you’d expect a list of search results that includes where you can buy baby clothes online. From there, you may get more specific in your search, such as looking for onesies or baby dresses.

Most people think a keyword is a word or phrase that describes their website, business, or who they are personally. Sometimes this coincides with what a keyword truly is, but you should never assume that it does.

For example, I was asked to look over the meta tags for my parents’ church as they built their new website. Amongst their keywords included the following words and phrases: Jesus Christ, church, angels, holy, and God. If someone is searching for “Jesus Christ” in Google, chances are they aren’t looking for a new church to attend. While the church may be focused around those things, no one will use those keywords with the goal in mind of finding that church.

THAT is what you have to consider when framing your target keywords. Ask yourself what search terms do you want to trigger your website in the top search engine results. Do not ask what your site is about. It takes some practice and some trial and error, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to plan your individual pages’ keywords in a jiffy.

If you’re still unsure about what keywords your website needs, I am more than happy to help! You won’t need a full-fledged SEO plan if keyword research is all you need, and I offer it for one low flat rate. Contact me today and let the brainstorm begin!