How to use keywords and phrases for website SEO ( Part II)

The previous post defined SEO and explained the selection of keywords and phrases which I have abbreviated "keys."

Elevate keywords and phrases

Once the keys have been identified, place them in your website where search engine programs will scan and index your website.

If you are not familiar with HTML, tag names like title, alt descriptions, and headings may be confusing. Study your website template program to find options to alter the tags without analyzing the HTML code.

Places to use keys to improve SEO ranking

1. Include them in your title. The title can extend 70 – 75 characters.

2.  Compose a meta description using the keys. This should be a nice paragraph of 30-40 words.

3. Use keys in image alt descriptions. Alt descriptions provide accessibility for screen reader users. These descriptions are scanned by search engines. Images are not scanned.

4. Use keys within headings.

It makes sense that keys would make good headings for webpage content. Use headings to break up long text passages, and improve readability.

5. Use keys in hyperlinks.

To link to another webpage, don’t use “click here.” Use a description for the link. This is better website design as well as giving the search engine another look at your “keys.”

6. Use keys in URLs. The URL is the filename for a webpage. It is created when the page is created and saved.

URL Example 1:

http://www.webstudiosouth.com/vector_art.html

URL Example 2:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/05704928508060427#.UnGQWvlwqSo

Example 1 has a higher SEO ranking than example 2.

Example 2 has no recognizable words. Example 1 could be further improved by expanding words into more descriptive phrases.

If you are upgrading an existing website, file name changes should be made carefully. Any links to that page need to be updated.

7. Place keys strategically within body text.

This content needs to make sense with strategic placement of keys. Writing well for your audience should have priority over the inclusion of keys. 

Of all the keyword and phrases placement options, body text placement is the most powerful for SEO ranking.

I plan to blog more about SEO. See, it's not that mysterious!

This you tube video features a Google executive with great tips on SEO.

What is SEO and how do you do it?

Search Engine Optimization or SEO is website design that maximizes opportunities for search engine programs (some are called Googlebots) to correctly index the site subject matter, and moves the website towards the top of the search engine list for keywords or phrases. Popular search engines are Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

Select keywords and phrases

SEO starts with careful selection of keywords and phrases. This research becomes the foundation of your strategy. For the purpose of this explanation, let’s abbreviate keywords and phrases “keys.”

Produce a list of 10 to 20 keys. Use brainstorming techniques to build the list.

Then narrow down the list to 3-5 keys by performing web searches or interviewing website users.  There are online tools that provide search data for keywords. At this time, most of these services charge a fee or require application for a trial period. This would include wordtracker.com, keyword planner at adwords.google.com or keyworddiscovery.com. If you use these tools, the number of searches by keyword and phrases can help finalize your list.

My next blog entry will explain where to use your keywords and phrases (keys) in your website for SEO.

This you tube video offers a simple definition for SEO.