How to Properly and Effectively Use Keywords in Content Writing
I have come across many questions from bloggers seeking to know ways at which they can effectively use keywords to enhance their site performance on Search Engine Ranking Pages (SERP). In this article, I am going to discuss deeply on how to properly and effectively use keywords on your website content.
First of all, I would like to explain briefly the concept of keyword and its impact on SEO. Keywords are phrases in a content that signify what an article is all about and its level to which it can be of relevance to web visitors.
Proper keyword usage is one of the key factors search engines and other website audit tools look into before classifying the SEO position of the site. As a cornerstone of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it is important to use keywords effectively throughout your content.
Avoid stuffing keywords in a post; it's a bad SEO practice known by most bloggers as Black Hat SEO Technique. Always ensure to effectively use the White Hat SEO Technique for good and long-lasting results.
Three (3) Tips for Effective Use of Keywords
- Use Long-Tail Keywords
- Explore Search Engine Results Pages (SERP)
- Make Use of Keywords Explorers
Use Long-Tail Keywords:
Long-tail keywords are long phrases with accurate analysis about the description of content. Long-tail keywords normally combine three or more phrases which reflect the accurate web searches from web users.
Avoid using popular long-tail keywords as it will be very difficult for your page to rank for them. Don’t be discouraged by lower search volume with long-tail keywords as they are more effective and often come from attractive prospects and analysis.
Lastly, ensure to include your location when researching for long-tail keywords; it helps provide accurate search demand according to your geographic citing.
Explore Search Engine Results Pages (SERP):
Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) is an algorithm used by search engines to deliver pages to web users. It is advisable to analyze your SERP ranking immediately after deciding on a particular keyword so as to know how competitive the long-tail keyword is and the strength (Page authority, number of backlinks, domain authority, among other factors) of competitors compared to yours before writing on the keyword.
There are many tools on the web which you can use for this audit, such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest, and many others not listed here. These are free online tools with limited uses, and unlimited uses in the case of purchasing their premium services.
Make Use of Keywords Explorers:
Apart from the keyword audit tools listed above, there are two powerful free tools with accurate and unlimited usage: Moz Keyword Explorer and the Google Search Console. You are likely familiar with the Search Console but may not know it also plays a very vital role in long-tail SEO keywords analysis aside from just analyzing traffic.
To use the Search Console, you must be a registered webmaster. Don’t worry about not being eligible to access this free tool simply because you don’t have an account with Search Console; you can easily create an account by clicking here, filling out the required information, and you are good to go.
After successfully creating an account and signing in to the Google Webmaster Account, log in to Search Console and follow the steps below:
- Click on Menu.
- Go to Acquisition.
- Then click on Search Console.
- And lastly, click Queries.
After clicking on Queries, a drop-down list of keywords you are already ranking for in searches will appear along with impressions on each keyword and position ranking. You can use keyword suggestions from external long-tail keyword analyzers to better improve on areas that require attention. Also, make a list of the search terms with the lowest ranking difficulty, and prioritize those in your content.
