Three critical factors for picking perfect keywords!

As we all know by now, SEO relies heavily on keywords - the words and phrases used by search engines to determine a website's page rankings. As SEO expert Jeff Quipp writes, "Choosing the right keywords is often the difference between getting found in search and not getting found. As a result, keyword research is the foundation of an effective online marketing strategy."

So how does one begin to research the best keywords for their business' website? Here are three things business owners can keep in mind!

Brand Names
When choosing keywords, people tend to overlook brands names, but those descriptors are vital for boosting SEO!

• What brand names do you sell? 
• What is the name of the company that makes the products you provide? 
• What are some common names or terms used to describe your services? 

Consider these descriptive words, and take into account any variations that people use (such as abbreviations for product names).

Qualifiers
Qualifiers are like brand names in that they are descriptive phrases used for specificity. But qualifiers in this case would be used to identify keywords that are geographically-oriented, or terms that narrow down a field of expertise. A doctor, for instance, would use a qualifier to describe their specialty.

If you consider the nuances of your own industry, you can creatively come up with a keyword to qualify your business.

• A hairstylist with a penchant for color services becomes a "colorist." 
• A photographer who prefers to shoot sporting events becomes a "sports photographer." 

In this way, you're not just separating yourself from the competition; you're also adding valuable SEO qualifiers.

Competitive Edge
Business owners should evaluate their own power as a competitive entity when selecting keywords. By using a tool like the one available for free on Google AdWords to evaluate the competitiveness of certain keywords, businesses can determine whether those keywords are a good fit. Generally, a keyword ranked "highly competitive" - one that is used often - means you've got a tough match against the competition...and that usually means lower page rankings.

This is something to be experimented with and modified as a business' online presence strengthens. When a business thrives online, it becomes a stronger competitive force, so those "highly competitive" keywords might not be so formidable!

Did you know... 
If your business sells to the female demographic, then you certainly will want to evaluate our solution - it's a perfect fit (no puns intended!) According to the Total Beauty Media Group:

• Women spend 20 minutes online researching products before shopping trips.
• Women spend 50 percent more time than men reading content like reviews and ratings about products. 
• Sixty-six percent of women who research products are brand-specific when they search. 
• Thirty-two percent of women said free samples convert them from browser to purchaser! 

That's valuable market research for owners of boutiques or salons that carry specific product lines.

Helpful Hint: 
When evaluating different platforms to help your business target niche markets, always look for companies providing comprehensive solutions and services. Ask if they have add-on services or capabilities and ask for a full disclosure of their costs. What sounded as a great deal at first could come back to cost much, much more.