According to HubSpot, about 71% of online marketers report strategic keyword use was their number one strategy in 2021, and that strategy has only continued in 2024. Using the right keywords in the right places is essential for quality SEO and content marketing. That said, here are a few tips to help set you off on the right foot when it comes to strategic keyword use.
1. Research and More Research
Search engine optimization using strategic keywords requires a lot of research. What worked for your business last month may not work this month. Search engines, like Google, are constantly evolving their algorithms. This means that you routinely need to research strategic keywords and weight their competitiveness against your budget.
The research aspect of the process can be daunting, especially if you are new to SEO. Fortunately, a trusted SEO company has teams that are dedicated to keyword research and analytics, so you can rest assured that you always have someone on top of the right words.
2. Know Your Target Audience
Researching strategic keywords is only part of the research that you will need to do to ensure that you are using keywords that appeal to your audience. Get to know your target audience. Collect data about demographics, buying habits, and more.
Keywords are only as powerful as the appeal to your target audience. Getting to know your audience and fine-tuning your strategic keywords to meet their needs is an essential step in the process. This is because your audience will be typing specific things into search engines to find your products or services.
3. Long Tail and Local
Keywords come in different shapes and forms. For example, long-tail keywords are more specific keywords that have less competition. Local keywords are words that are geared toward a local audience in a specific geographic location.
There is a large learning curve for developing the right keyword strategy. It is not an instant strategy, and it takes time, especially when you first start on your journey. Getting professional help from an SEO company for all or part of the process is strongly recommended.
The beauty of working with a trusted, results-oriented SEO company is that, while they manage your SEO campaign, you can also learn. The right company will be willing to share the process to help you understand how an effective strategy is built. Call Ugly Mug Marketing today to get a professional on your side to navigate the complexity of SEO keywords and find the success with marketing you need.