Optimising your website starts by choosing and identifying the right keyword to target. And this does not mean simply mean using whatever word or phrase that comes into your mind. You have to take account several factors when determining your website’s keywords, phrases, and even descriptions. The most important thing to remember is to put yourself in the shoes of your visitors.

What do web users search for?

Think of the keywords, phrases, and descriptions that you think web users or potential customers would most likely look for using a search engine. Learn to think like an average web user who might be interested in what you or your company is offering but is unaware of your site.

Ask around

You can also ask your friends or colleagues to use a search engine and try to look for information on the topic that your site covers. Take note of what words and phrases they use.

Sneak in competitors’ sites

When creating a new website (or even after), you should see how many other pages match the keywords people would likely search on to find you. The fewer matches found for your search, the easier it will be to get your website among the top results.

When doing keyword research, look after the quality of the matches that appear on search engine’s results page. Your keywords might bring up irrelevant information that your potential audience would have no interest in. Thus, with the best strategy, you could be among the top websites that effectively provide information about the specific topic that they are looking for. By using this strategy, you can significantly increase your website’s traffic.

Learn how users search

Keep in mind that many people will likely use multiple word phrases to find your website, particularly when single words do not provide adequate scope for the search. The syntax for this varies from search engine to search engine, but, generally, phrases are searched for by surrounding them with quotation marks. Therefore, have a list of 2-3 word phrases people are likely to search for.

Use synonymous, plural, misspelled, and other related words

Some web users sometimes misspell their search terms. Others use plurality when searching. Thus, it would be best to consider other variations in your keywords. Product names can also have slight variations so try to come up with various combinations of your product and company name. Include obvious mistakes people are likely to make and then incorporate them so that you pick up traffic you’d otherwise miss.

Get help from analytics

Make use of your website’s statistics log reports by taking note of what search engine and what keywords your visitors used in order to find you. This information can be very helpful in determining what keywords people are already using to find your site.