3 common questions about keywords
It’s clear that keywords are very important when trying to attract traffic to your website. In some cases, keywords will be used naturally; the website for a rock climbing gym is inherently going to have the word “climbing” in its content. But in many cases, search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of identifying the best keywords and using them correctly to connect with a target audience. An effort is made to purposefully incorporate these keywords so that the site is more effective than it would be otherwise.
That said, keyword usage strategies change over time, often as Google changes the algorithm. This means that you always need to consider how to use keywords effectively, and updating your tactics is a crucial part of the process. Here are a few common questions people tend to have about using keywords.
What keyword density should you shoot for?
Your keyword density, or the frequency at which you use those keywords, should be relatively low. You likely want to shoot for something around 1 or 2%. It is important to have keywords on the site, but keyword stuffing is prohibited by Google and can actually have a negative impact on your website. If your site has 300 words and 100 of them are keywords, Google would look at it as spam.
Does it matter where you use the keywords?
It does. To start with, it’s good to use keywords in headings or page titles, along with URLs. These are often scanned first by search engines. It’s also good to have keywords up front, such as in the first paragraph. You can then sprinkle a few more keywords through the rest of the content. This is when it’s important to consider your keyword density, though, as you don’t want to accidentally overuse them.
Can you use multiple keywords?
Yes, you can use multiple keywords and many sites do. For instance, some sites are designed with a primary keyword and then a secondary option that is a long-tail keyword. This can get a bit more specific. The main keyword may be something rather generic like “running shoes.” But the long-tail keyword could be “best trail running shoes of 2024.” That specific phrase isn’t going to be used nearly as often, but anyone who does is already predisposed to buy the shoes on the site – so it is a valuable connection to make.
At Content Customs, we have decades of experience writing content, incorporating keywords and performing search engine optimization. Please get in touch with us today to learn how we can help your site succeed.
