| It seems keywords are making the top of SEO | | | | based on your research, visitor data, and site |
| list time and time again. The problem is that some | | | | category. Regardless how general your site is try |
| optimizers do not understand the rightful purpose | | | | to have only one focus audience, this zooms in on |
| of keywords. Keywords should not be solely | | | | your target, makes marketing the site easier, and |
| embedded for the purpose of reaching the top of | | | | more successful. When done eliminating you |
| search engines. Search Engine Optimization should | | | | should have a plentiful of keywords and keyword |
| not be the primary focus of any website. The | | | | phrases. Generally, the goal should be to have at |
| primary and number 1 focus should always be the | | | | least a combination of 100 keywords and |
| visitors. If you create a website for your audience | | | | keyword phrases. This number may be greater |
| and for your visitors then you should rank fairly. I | | | | or lesser depending on your site category/niche |
| can't see why any legitimate website can not | | | | market. Keyword research can be accomplished a |
| rank properly within search engines, after time | | | | number of ways. I would recommend using best |
| and dedication. Search Engine Optimization main | | | | judgment and sticking to your site topic. If your |
| purpose is ranking faster within search engines. | | | | site is about "the rules of playing baseball" then |
| Instead of gaining a good balance of traffic within | | | | anything pertaining to the rules of baseball should |
| 1 or more years, it is possible to gain a good | | | | be included as keywords. Remember think like |
| balance of traffic within 6-9 months with SEO. | | | | your visitors, if you were a visitor looking for 'the |
| Keywords play a major factor in SEO and search | | | | rules of baseball' how would you search...your |
| engines in general, but the question is are | | | | search words would probably be something like |
| keywords for the search engines or the visitors? | | | | "rules of playing baseball"...."baseball playing |
| The visitors are the ones who are trying to find | | | | rules"...."playing baseball rules"....rules of |
| your site by typing in a keyword, but the search | | | | baseball"...."baseball rules"...."how to play |
| engine is the one locating your site and delivering | | | | baseball"...."baseball and the rules"...if your site |
| your site to the visitor based on the searched | | | | contains the 'rules of baseball' then each of those |
| keywords. Therefore I would have to say, | | | | keyword phrases will be sufficient for inclusion into |
| keywords, visitors, and search engines all work | | | | your active keyword list. A few links that can help |
| hand in hand, but if you focus on the visitor and | | | | with keyword research are: NicheBot, |
| not the search engine, then you will reap greater | | | | Wordtracker, Google Keyword Tool, Digital Point |
| rewards. A webmaster should have a plentiful of | | | | Keyword Tool. Some of the main attributes which |
| quality and researched keywords, which becomes | | | | you want to research is how often the keyword |
| the sites core. To receive a good balance of | | | | keyword phrase is searched for within search |
| keywords you need to think like your visitors or | | | | engines, how much competition there is for the |
| know how your visitors think. It boils down to | | | | keyword/keyword phrase, and if you are |
| research and tracking your visitors. Tracking | | | | considering pay-per-click then you would probably |
| visitors on your site is business-wise and is not an | | | | like to know the average cost per click for each |
| unethical practice, it's your website (business). In | | | | keyword/keyword phrase. You should not rely |
| an offline business you are well aware when a | | | | 100% on any of these reports or other reports |
| visitor opens the door to your business and | | | | from any third-party because there are many |
| comes in the store, the same applies online. It | | | | deterrence which may offset the reports, you |
| becomes unethical when you continue to track | | | | should collect data from each of them and derive |
| visitors when they exit your site, when you | | | | a census report which will allow you to make an |
| invade visitors' privacy, or when you intentionally | | | | informed decision. |
| collect personal information about a visitor without | | | | Think about your visitors each step of the way |
| their consent or knowledge. Tracking a visitor | | | | when using keywords. Which keywords will catch |
| within your site does not need to be intense, the | | | | their attention, directly or indirectly? Meaning, if a |
| common web log files are helpful enough. With the | | | | user searches for 'baseball rules' then when the |
| web log files you should be able to track the | | | | search engine searches through billions of web |
| keyword used to find your website, track where | | | | pages...it should pull your web page into the results |
| a visitor came from to find your site (the | | | | because you have a entire website dedicated to |
| referrer), track the total number of unique | | | | baseball rules and the entire site is centered |
| visitors, track the total number of all visitors, | | | | around keywording. When the search engine |
| track how many pages were viewed, track the | | | | crawls through the billions of web pages it should |
| path visitors take within your site, and much | | | | see that your web page title has "baseball rules" |
| more information is available through the web logs. | | | | within the title, your meta-tag description has |
| There are many tools that can translate your raw | | | | "baseball rules" within the description, your |
| web log files into graphical and legible text, such | | | | meta-tag keywords have "baseball rules" within |
| as: Nihuo or Web Log Expert which both offers a | | | | the keywords, the link to the page is titled |
| free log analyzer download as well as an | | | | "baseball_rules.htm", and the content on the web |
| inexpensive analyzer for more detailed stats and | | | | page itself has a proper amount of keyword |
| more features. There are other upscale web log | | | | density, basically, the keyword phrase "baseball |
| analyzers which are mostly for enterprises or | | | | rules" is plastered throughout the web page |
| larger sites but are extremely detailed and | | | | mostly leading towards the top of the page. I |
| rewarding, such as: Web Trends, Deep Matrix, or | | | | know most of what I have just mentioned is |
| Urchin (which has recently been acquired by the | | | | Search Engine Optimization practices and |
| search engine giant 'Google'). Knowing your visitors | | | | techniques, yes, that is true, but in actuality the |
| can only benefit your site. If you have a new | | | | entire process is for the visitors not the search |
| website without any visits then you will not have | | | | engine. If you create your site easier for the |
| the benefit of knowing your visitors and you will | | | | search engine to find then the visitor will also find |
| have to create your visitors habits, by using good | | | | it easier and faster, but at all times it is important |
| judgment and research to determine which | | | | to keep the visitor in mind. Many SEO |
| keywords best suits your site. Your best effort | | | | practitioners would include any keyword about |
| should provide you with at least 250 keywords | | | | baseball such as: "baseball"..."major leagues"...."major |
| and keyword phrases, depending on your site | | | | league baseball"...."minor leagues"...."minor league |
| category. | | | | baseball"...."atlanta braves"...."new york |
| Once you have tracked your visitors and/or have | | | | yankees"...."baseball players"....etc. Those keywords |
| completed researching keywords, you are ready | | | | are for the search engines not the visitors. If a |
| to make informed decisions and begin the process | | | | visitors enters "atlanta braves" as a search |
| of elimination. Many argue to stay away from | | | | keyword and your link is displayed as an result |
| popular or general keywords because the market | | | | the visitor will be disappointed when he clicks on |
| for popular and general keywords is flooded and | | | | your link and does not find any solid information |
| over-crowded, you will never be able to compete. | | | | pertaining to the "atlanta braves"...instead he/she is |
| My sentiments exactly, but remember keywords | | | | greeted with "baseball rules". The visitor will |
| are for visitors, not search engines...so yes, I | | | | immediately back out without referencing your |
| recommend including popular and general | | | | site or indexing it for later retrieval because it |
| keywords as long as the keyword(s) show room | | | | does not pertain to their search quest. Once in a |
| for opportunity. Meaning, it has been used by your | | | | while you may become lucky and get someone |
| visitors...as a solitaire keyword or within a | | | | who stays because it does mention baseball, but |
| keyword phrase. Creating keyword phrases is | | | | if you tracked conversions, it would surely sink, |
| important because at least 95% of internet users | | | | using this method. The better you target your |
| search using keyword phrases, not many use one | | | | visitors the more success you will have on the |
| word. With that said, you should still include a few | | | | web. Properly using keywords to target your |
| solitaire keywords. Use singular and plural | | | | visitors and not the search engines will aid in more |
| expressions for keywords. Once you have | | | | ways than one. It will create a healthy online |
| gathered all your keywords make two lists, one | | | | circuit and greater chance for success. Imagine if |
| list can be titled active keywords...keywords which | | | | each time you search the web...you had a perfect |
| you are currently using or plan to use in the near | | | | search! You only needed to search once, because |
| future. The second list can be titled inactive | | | | exactly what you were looking for was found in |
| keywords...keywords which have been eliminated | | | | the first results. |
| and may never be used. Eliminate keywords | | | | |