Soon after (if not before) you delve into the world of internet marketing you’ll begin to learn about the importance of keywords in relation to search engines. Keyword optimization is a vital aspect of getting found online.
The right keywords and the right marketing strategy and you can increase your chances of selling whatever it is you’re selling. How much optimization is enough? Is there such a thing as too much?
Keyword phrases sprinkled liberally into your text can help search engines see your content as relevant to the niche you’re in. This can lead to web browsing individuals who want something.. finding that something on your site.
If you sell widgets, for instance, and your website ranks number one for best widgets or buy widgets online, chances are that you will see some sales. But if there are dozens of widget sellers all vying for that top Google spot, how can you get it?
There are many aspects to SEO (search engine optimisation) and keyword optimizing your content and your online presence is one approach that works as part of an overall internet marketing strategy. Take a look at hints that you’re optimizing too little and take hints that you’re optimizing too much.
Keyword Optimization – Too Little
• Your website traffic reports don’t show keyword searches bringing people to your site as very relevant. If people search for something and the site they land on isn’t giving what they’ve asked for, they won’t buy, of course.
• Your site has been online for quite some time and you’re not getting much traffic. You might not get traffic or high search engine ranking overnight, but after some time and consistent efforts to write content and create links, you should start seeing results for the right keywords.
• You have traffic but it isn’t converting very well. (This could be an indication of attracting the wrong sort of visitor because of ineffective optimization strategies).
• You’ve been optimizing for months and can’t get higher rankings than page 3 or 4. In this case you could be NOT optimizing enough, or you could have chosen ultra competitive keywords that you have very little chance of dominating search engines for, because of competition that has been working at optimizing for those key phrases for years.
Keyword Optimization – Too Much
There is such a thing as over optimizing. Here are some signs:
• Your conversion rate is really low despite high levels of traffic. Is your content so keyword stuffed that it’s rendered ineffective and not helping you sell?
• Are you banned from search engines due too keyword stuffing?
Keyword optimization requires a delicate balance. Sprinkling keyword phrases and related phrases into your content can help. Perform keyword research for the right target phrases, analyse your web statistics to see where traffic is coming from, and study your web copy to tweak for maximum conversion.
And remember, while keywords and keyword optimization are an important part of your internet marketing strategy, they’re just one facet. Once you get people to your site through SEO and keyword strategies, you have to compel them to buy and sell them a really great product. You should also carefully consider your post-sales strategy so you’ll get great word of mouth referrals, referrals, and repeat business, too.
See you at the top of Google!
Sean Rasmussen
SEO Australia Pacific
AussieSEO.com © 2007 - 2010
I find Keyword Optimization really interesting and a real challenge. The idea that you can have too much SEO or too little SEO shows what a balancing act internet marketing is. I imagine it would be a lot of fun when you get it right.
I hope to introduce a clearer internet marketing strategy over the coming weeks.
.-= David Pearse´s last blog ..Targeted Internet Marketing-Market Samurai =-.
Thanks Sean,
I can see Keyword Optimisation would make a huge difference to traffic to your site and also getting more targeted traffic which = more sales.
Regards, Jacqui
.-= Jacqui Emery´s last blog ..2010 Tom Quilty Cup Winner =-.
Hi Sean,
Effective keyword optimization is an integral part of your site’s success. It’s something I’m still learning how to do properly. I’m not getting the rankings I want so you’ve given me a lot to consider.
My problem is definitely too little keyword optimization. Still, I’m grateful that it’s something I can fix.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
Are you working on your off-page SEO as well Jazz? Like building backlinks etc?
Hi Sean,
I’ve been working on building backlinks and I’ve been going after PR 3s, 4s and 5s. They’re not showing up in Market Samurai though and the ones I did have at that level are gone.
I didn’t touch my site for nearly 3 months though so I’m wondering if I’ve gone too hard, too soon? Do I have to go through the sandbox again because my site was stagnant for so long?
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion =-.
The best advice I could give you Jazz, is to keep working on building links at a constant rate (through various avenues), and also publishing content at a constant rate. Doing this will put you in good stead to improve your rankings
Hi Sean,
Thanks for the advice. Okay, I’m off to work on my keywords and write content that people will love. I can definitely publish much more often.
It’s always great to get some extra information about this topic and someone elses perspective. This will help us greatly in our ventures!!!
Thanks Sean
Thanks Sean,
It’s amazing how much difference changing your keywords around can make to how your customers navigate through your webpages & click to your offers.
Keyword optimization can be a tricky balance between including long tail keywords, creating content that makes sense & enticing your customers to buy but can also be a lot of fun!
.-= jeremy´s last blog ..jlagatule- RT -bullhunter Twitter Tips – Get The Most Out Of 140 Characters http-bitly-bwgCWb =-.
Too little or too much, getting keyword optimisation just right is what we all want. Just learning about analysing web statistics so I’ll know how I’m going.
.-= Melanie Braggs´s last blog ..Building Chicken Coops =-.
I think you have previously recommended about 2-3% of keywords in the written section of the blogs and I find it a useful guide to stick to. Anything beyond this really does feel like your pushing it too much.
I find it useful just to write my blog around the keyword and I find that usually I have this amount, if not its only a little under. Its easier to go and add a few more in rather than cutting back and trying to re write my whole blog. Try and read it through first and make sure it sounds like a proper article not just a bunch of over used keywords that sound like they are being over sold!!
.-= Tegan´s last blog ..How can affirmations help change my mindset =-.
Very good advice Tegan,
I find I write this way also. The article must read naturally and you add extra words if needed as well as other words related to your keyword.
Cath
Hi Sean,
Thanks for the useful tips on Keyword Optimization.
I agree, reading your Website traffic stats is a great way to get some insight as to how effective your Keyword Optimization is. I have found depending on the competition for those KW will determine how long it takes to rank highly.
Although I have some #1 and page 1 rankings, my traffic stats are telling me that the traffic is starting to increase, but I need to diversify the KW range to Long tail KW which will convert more.
It definitely make you think trying to interpret what you stats are telling you.
.-= Cade´s last blog ..Stock Market Education =-.
Great straight forward advice. A lot of website owners find it difficult to understand how keywords work and when they do realise how important they are, they often become confused by a variety of advice regarding the density of keywords. Great blog. See you on Twitter!
.-= Leonie´s last blog ..Blog Content Packages =-.
Keyword optimisation is definitely one of those startegies to try to get right.
As with everything though, it should be used in conjunction with all of the other great strategies Sean writes about on his blogs.
Content is still king, so avoid making your article read like an advertisement.
Everyone gets better with practise.
Cath
Hi Sean,
I have learned so much about keywords and keyword optimization in the last 12 month, it’s amazing.
Good keywords are the base for me, so a good article actually gets found by the relevant readers. I am still learning every day, but it’s a lot of fun finding good keywords and creating interesting content
.-= Renee´s last blog ..The Best Way To Get Motivated =-.
Hi Renee,
I love finding good keywords. It took me a while to learn to use Market Samurai but once I did I really started to love keyword research. I still have a long way to go with this as I’m not getting the traffic I want but I think I’m getting better all the time.
.-= Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Sean Rasmussen – Aussie Internet Marketer Making a Difference =-.
Hi Sean
There are 3 areas of internet marketing education that I have grown to really like during this past 12 months and more so from all the wonderful education of this Learn and Earn Competition.
These areas are keyword optimisation, SEO. and niche marketing. Those three areas have sieved to the top in all my learning so far.
This article has taught me that there is a balance with keyword optimisation and that it is important to find that balance to attract SEO and traffic to my site. Thank you for adding more value to my knowledge. (or could it be more knowledge to my value? lol)
Too little or too much – watching that balance is an imperative. Far better to err on too little as the only consequence is less traffic, whereas too much can get you slapped. And, Google is very unforgiving and also somewhat arbitrary and allows no room for redress or reasoning.
Sean is right to point out that KWs are not the only thing – tweaking with content quality and sales strategy are equally as important
Finding the right balance is obviously is one the most important elements .
No one wants to be banned by Google for having too much Keyword Optimisation.
Haha well I would have to agree with you there Rita, I certainly would not like to be banned from Google at all!
.-= jeremy´s last blog ..jlagatule- RT @tonyrobbins For you night owls still upCome be the first to have a sneak peak of R Breakthrough insiders site http-bitly-caSRxw =-.
Having good keyword optimisation is definately something you need to learn if you want people to find you. The trick is having enough keywords in there without putting too many in and making your post sound silly and spammy.
.-= Jackie Stenhouse´s last blog ..Anxiety Separation in Children =-.
The trick is easy to work out – and less is always more! Simply do your latent semantic indexing well and you will have it correct.
1%-2% – is more than enough in a 350 – 500 word article if you have applied LSI
I always thought to much of a good thing was…well, Great. Seems I need to stop dumping keywords over everything, like a cake with all icing and no cake. Analysing my statistics and tweaking sales strategies and reviewing my content, is going to balance and boost my sales, so optimisation and maximization here I come.
If oyu have the Google toolbar – which I recommend anyway – there is a drop down tab for keywords – go to page analysis and then to keyword density.
This gives you stats on KWs and LTKWs – either for your own pages or any page of a competitor.