Our focus in August is on teaching you how to be found online. People tend to be scared of SEO, but it can be your friend if you learn how to use it. SEO is the easiest way to be found more easily online!

 

Think Like a Customer 

 

When deciding what keywords you should include in your online presence, you have to think the way your customers do. If you are putting the words “cars for sale” in all of your posts but people are looking up “automobiles for sale”, you aren’t going to get the attention you might deserve. You can always ask customers how they find you, but it is easiest to try and think like them without asking. Google wants to send people to the best resource for what they are looking for. They are going to send them somewhere that has their keywords. 

 

Look at Your Competition

We don’t often tell you to look at your competition, but in this case, it is relevant. You can download a free chrome extension called Keywords Everywhere. It will tell you other phrases people are searching for related to a phrase you search for. It will pull up on every Google and YouTube search. 

 

Understand Long Tail Keywords

When you post a blog you have the option to add keywords that will help people find you. Shorter keywords such as “SEO” and “keyword” will be less effective because it is less specific. Using keywords such as “How to improve SEO with keywords” or “SEO for business owners” (3-5 word phrases) is much more effective. People are more likely to find and click on a blog with more specific keywords. 

 

Keyword Research Tools

1. Answer The Public is a free tool that you can use once a day. You insert one or two words and it will give you a list of questions that people are asking. 
2. Google Keyword Planner is a free tool, and it is super easy to use. It allows you to research keywords for your search campaigns. 
3. Google Trends is another resource we love to use. It lets you enter multiple keywords. It also allows you to filter by location, search history, and category. It gives you results based on web interest around the keyword and what caused the interest. Sometimes there is a popular trend or article causing searches that you otherwise wouldn’t know about!
4. Tool.io gives you a list of long-term keyword suggestions related to keywords you already have in mind. It is also free and easy to use. 
5. Google Analytics is a must-have. It tells you where your viewers are coming from, which pages they are on, how long they stay on pages, and what words they use to find you. 

 

What can you do to find better keywords? 

If you follow all of the steps in this blog, you are headed in the perfect direction. If you think like a customer, look at your competition, take advantage of long-tail keywords, and use resources to find keywords you will do great. Make sure to analyze and repeat your work for the best success rates!