It is undeniable how competitive search is. That’s why there is an abundance of digital marketing tactics and strategies that must be employed in order to rank highly. And while it’s true that there is a lot that goes into ranking highly on the SERPs, one thing has been proven time and again: keywords matter. Keywords are your way to tell Google what each page on your site is about, and if used correctly, they are your golden ticket to outranking your competitors.
Use Trial and Error to Find Your Golden Keyword
Every business within every industry has their own golden keyword. The golden keyword is the one that earns you more conversions than any other keyword. In order to find the magic keyword for your company, a phase of trial and error is a must. Try out some keywords that are easier to rank for—the ones with less competition but still a decent volume—but also try out some of the ones with a lot of competition. You never know which one will resonate the most with your audience until you try them out.
One tip we like to use to find the best keywords is to look up the keywords that are popular in your industry right now, and then alter them ever so slightly to make them unique. You can use synonyms or slang words or even just add an extra word or two.
Implement Long-Tail Keywords
Another SEO secret is the power of long-tail keywords. A long-tail keyword is one that doesn’t get searched for as often because it is more specific (e.g. “digital marketing for landscaping companies” instead of just “digital marketing”), but that also means you rank for a more qualified audience. Plus, there is less competition, so it is easier to get the top spot. While Google AdWords Keyword Planner does have tools to help you discover the best long-tail keywords for your niche, there are some other strategies you can use as well:
- Know what makes your brand unique and then use long-tail keywords to highlight these strengths. This will help you reach the people who are looking for exactly what you have to offer.
- Begin typing your main keywords into Google’s search bar, and then see what shows up in its autocomplete feature. These are popular searches that you can target using long-tail keywords.
- At the bottom of the SERPs page is a list of related search terms. See if any of them fit with your company and test them out.
Keep Keywords Natural
This is important, so pay attention: no matter what keywords you choose, you must use them in a natural way on your website. So if the phrase that shows up in your research is not ever used in real-life conversation, change it up so it will fit within your content without standing out. Otherwise, it could be interpreted as keyword stuffing by Google, which as you know, is a big no-no.
Winning in search is complex, but by targeting the correct keywords using these lesser-known strategies, you can get to the finish line above your competition. To learn more about what keywords will work the best for your company, contact Zero Gravity Marketing now.
