SEO Keywords - the starting point

Author: Lee Rixon

When you look at search engine optimisation for a site, probably the most important thing to think about are what keyphrases you want to be found under in the search engines.

If you are selling widgets, then it really won't help you if you get a high listing for another search term, as its not relevant.

Its also important to be very selective about your keywords and phrases. If you decide to target the phrase 'toronto', then you are going to have an uphill climb, as there must be thousands or potentially millions of sites that are indexed for that term. When you are faced with stiff competition for a keyword, then unless you want to spend the rest of your life optimising the site, the chances are that you will be so far down the index, that a potential customer will need a microscope to find you.

So - get specific. Try to put yourself in your customers shoes and ask the question:

If I was looking for whatever it is I sell - then what phrase would I put into the search bar?

Write the phrase down and think about it a bit more. Can I refine it and come up with something even more specific that works?

Once you are happy, try to think of a second keyphrase.

Done that? Ok, now you stop.

You can optimise a site for a two or three keyphrases, but unless you are a word smith superhero that is pretty much your limit. If you try to optimise for more than that - all you will do is end up making a poor job of all of them.

The next thing to start thinking about is how you 'thread' your keyphrases into your content.

We'll talk more about that later....

About the author: Lee is one of the principals at Spinnaker Systems which provides Web related services to the small business owner. Lee can be contacted at lee@spinnakersystems.com and is a regular contributor to the Spinnaker Blog