One of the most important and easiest Search Engine Optimization concepts is keyword placement. SEO Keyword placement refers to the integration of targeted keywords into locations on and off the webpage. Keywords or key phrases are generated to represent the terms that users search for when trying to locate your company and website. A website using the wrong or inaccurate keywords is as equally bad as a website that ignores keywords all together.
Keyword Cloud
Having accurate and descriptive keywords however is only the first part of the equation. Once you establish a list of relevant keywords they then need to be strategically placed throughout the website in order to increase traffic. Each individual page of your website should be optimized for one to three unique keywords. Selecting keywords along with the placement of these keywords is crucial in order to increase your website’s visibility and guide targeted traffic directly to your website. Below are the 10 most important positions to consider when performing keyword placement.
Where to Use Keywords:
- Title Tag
It is recommended that you always place your keywords near the beginning of the title tag. Not using your keywords in the website’s title tag can make it extremely difficult to rank for your targeted keywords. Keyword placement in the title tag is thought to be the most important search engine ranking factors, each page title should be unique to that page and optimized for that specific keyword.
- Meta Description Tag
Although the Meta Description Tag seems to play a very little role in the actual search engine ranking it can still be used to influence potential customers to visit your website. Any keywords that your description tag has in common with the search query will appear bolded in the Search engine results page (SERP). Similar to the title tag each page should also have a unique description tag that targets only 1-2 keywords.
- URL
Having your keywords in the URL will further identify your target audience. A URL that includes your keyword can increase your website’s visibility and also lets your visitor know that they are on the right page. Remember that people don’t like to type long URLS so avoid overloading them with keywords or making them too complicated. It is important to maintain a positive URL structure while taking advantage of the good keyword placement.
- Domain Name
Having your keyword positioned in the domain name may not be a direct ranking factor but it is a huge incentive for website visitors. People surfing the internet seem to be more inclined to visit a website that has a similar web address to the topic that they are searching for. Having a keyword in the domain name works similar to having one in your URL in the sense that it draws in traffic however with the domain name it only makes sense to optimize it for one of your keywords, preferably the most crucial. In addition sometimes it may not be possible to utilize a keyword in the domain name due to the popularity of that keyword.
- Header Tags (h1, h2, h3)
Headers and sub headers are often titles or headlines on the page that you want to stand out. Therefor they are believed to carry more weight than some of the other content on the page. Using keywords at the beginning of your header tags draws more attention to that page because they are bold, outline the content, and loosely reflect the title of the page. Like the previous keyword locations the header tags should be unique and optimized for one keyword to avoid duplicate content and a spam-like appearance.
- Body Copy
It wouldn’t make sense to have a page about a specific topic and not mention that topic throughout the main paragraphs or body copy. Your keyword or key phrase should be used in variations and scattered evenly within your copy. Try to use your keyword within the first sentence of your first paragraph and maintain adequate keyword density throughout the remainder of the page. Spreading your keywords out will create keyword-rich body content however going overboard with your keyword usage will cause the content to appear as spam and lose the flow of the paragraph.
- Navigation and Internal Links
Don’t let your main navigation links go to waste, take full advantage of these keyword placement opportunities. For instance instead of using “Home” supplement with your keywords, for example “SEO Home” or some other variation. When appropriate use your keywords in connection with your main navigation bar. Similar to the main navigation it is also important to use your keywords to link to internal pages. Anytime you have a specific keyword mentioned elsewhere on the website try to link it to the page that is optimized for that keyword.
- Blog
Another important factor for SEO is a Blog, usually a blog will cover a specific topic relevant to the website. This can provide another great opportunity to use your highest priority keyword. Similar to how your navigational bar can incorporate a keyword your blog link and title can now emphasize a keyword, for example “SEO Blog” or “Internet Marketing Blog”.
- Image Files and Alt Attributes
When you include an image you can use a keyword in the file name and description. The same goes for the alt tags. A keyword should only be used for an image name and alt attribute if it is pertinent, otherwise it will seem like keyword stuffing which is frowned upon by search engines.
- Off page
Search Engine Optimization that is performed off page is equally if not more important than any on page optimization. The quantity and quality of inbound links along with the anchor text used for inbound links are crucial to Internet Marketing. Although search engine optimizers can’t always control the anchor text that other websites use for their inbound links there are still a number of incoming links that they have influence over. For example keywords can be used effectively for website or article directory submissions, pay-per-click ads, YouTube video post, social media profiles, and many other locations.
When it comes to your website be sure not to overlook the importance of strategic keyword placement. Successfully identifying your target keywords and utilizing them correctly both on and off the page can be very beneficial to your website and business sales.
Thanks for reading
Dustin
Tags: Internet Marketing, keyword, keyword placement, keywords, Links, search engine, seo, website
