SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION ARTICLES

Google 1st Page Placements - How do you select the right keywords?

by Tom Malesic

Keyword selection is probably the most critical step of search engine optimization.

Why would I say this?

First let's make the assumption that you can get a first page Google placement on any keyword that you want. This may or may not be true but we need to start some where. Assuming this, wouldn't it be important to know that people actually go to Google and search for that keyword. You bettcha.

Here's how we start the process.

Step 1. Brain storm on keywords.
Start jotting down what you think people would type in. The bigger the list the better. You will narrow it down later. Write down individual words but also write down phrases. Here's an example: Landscaper, Landscaper Lancaster, Landscape Designer

Step 2. Check out the competition
Now that you have a list of keywords, go to Google and type in some of the keywords that you feel are the best words for you.

Do your competitors show up on the first page? If they do, let's check out what keywords they have thought of. To do this, go to the top of your browser and click on the word View and then select Source. This pulls up a page that looks crazy. It is the code of how the site was programmed. Don't worry what you are looking for is at the top of the page. You are looking for something that looks like this:

<title>Landscape Design & Landscaping | Lancaster, Reading, & Harrisburg | Earth, Turf & Wood </title>
<meta name="keywords" content="landscaper lancaster, landscaping Lancaster......">
<meta name="description" content="Have you been looking for an attractive landscape or hardscape creation?.....">

Look through their keywords. You might find some you had not thought of. So add them to your list.

Step 3. Research your keywords.
We use a website called Wordtracker.com to research our keywords. It allows us to research each keyword to see how popular and competitive it is.

Step 4. Analyze and select your keywords
Look through the report that you now have from wordtracker and select the keywords phrases that are popular and that you feel are most relevant to your business.

After all, why would you waste your time and money getting first page placement on Google for a keyword that no one looks for?

When you've decided on the right keyword phrases, you'll be several steps ahead of many of your competitors and within a short period of time will reap the benefits of your optimization efforts.

If you would like more information on how we can help you with your search engine placements, please call us.

I guarantee that we will get you first page placement on Google or I don't send you a bill.

Thanks - Tom