Effective Keyword Research Done Right!

To achieve search engine dominance you can gain an advantage by focusing on keyword research. After working with dozens of clients on competing effectively in a specific niche, I've discovered how powerful the right type of keyword research can be for creating improved rankings and traffic. When competing in a difficult niche, the keywords you select can make the difference between long term success or failure.

To be successful with keyword research you must go beyond the concept of competitiveness. After finding a keyword that doesn't have much competition, the next step is to research the type of traffic you can expect from number one rankings with that keyword. Using the Google keyword tool or other traffic estimation software is a good way to see what type of traffic can be expected. Don't focus on keywords that can't generate enough traffic to make things worthwhile.

After finding a keyword or keyword phrase that isn't all that competitive but receives an sufficient amount of traffic, you should spend time researching your competition for that keyword. An effective technique is to visit each of the top ranked sites, competing for the chosen keyword, and analyze them. Pay particular attention to the Google Page Rank of competing sites and number of inbound links. If sites are well established and have been online for a long time, it may be difficult to achieve a higher ranking.

After you have selected the keywords you want to compete for, it's time to enhance your web pages using the chosen keywords. Begin by enhancing your meta tags, page titles, and copy, including your keywords where appropriate. By including your keywords in this manner, you're indicating to search engines what your web site is about. This allows the engines to rank your site for appropriate keywords. In addition to the on page factors, Google considers off page factors to determine web site ranking. Off page optimization involves generating links from third party websites. Focus your efforts on link building through article directories, web site directories, blogs, social bookmarking sites, and other sites.

Your optimization strategy should include a plan for the continuous creation of inbound links. Build links too slowly and you'll never get the authority needed to achieve the number one ranking. Develop links too quickly and search engines may think you're up to no good. If you want to improve your organic search engine results, begin with keyword research before link building. Having the right keywords makes the difference in your overall optimization results. Update your meta tags and web pages to integrate your keyword phrase, focus on building links over the long term, and you're sure to achieve search engine dominance.

Looking for answers to today's most difficult search engine optimization questions? Visit the marketing forum to get help from today's leading SEO experts. For SEO consulting, visit MySEOmadesimple.com

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