Questions: What’s The First Step in the Search Engine Optimization Process For Your Website?
A: Off-site optimization
B: Keyword research
C: Writing fresh content
D: Setting an ad budget
Correct Answer:
- Keyword research
Why keyword research is the first search engine optimization process
The Search Engine Optimization or SEO process for your website can be a long-term one, and you won’t be able to see the immediate effects of your work. But the entire SEO process is divided into several steps, and the primary steps you’ll take after launching your new website will have a significant impact on the site’s performance and ranking in the search engines. And the very first step in the SEO process is “Keyword Research”.
The first step of the Search Engine Optimization process for your website is keyword research, as the process always begins with the hunt for important and specific keywords. To optimize your website properly, you’ll have to understand the contemporary search environments and important relevant keywords. It is important for any marketing strategy.
Internet users use various words to find things they are searching for, and these words are considered to be keywords. If anyone is searching for “black sneakers,” they might type “good quality black sneakers” or “affordable black sneakers” in the search bar of a search engine, and these will be then considered as keywords. Keywords can be both long and short. And you need to find out the keywords that are relevant to your business or website.
You’ll be able to know the popular terms people use while searching for relevant products and services, and then strategically include those keywords in the content of your website. It will make your content appear higher on the results page of the search engines. So, now you know that with keyword research you will try to find out the words or terms your target audience use while looking for a service or product you offer, and then plan your content mapping based on that.
If you start optimizing your website without conducting a keyword search, you might miss out on popular keywords used by your target audience, and miss out on the chance to make your content appear before your audience on the search engine results by including those specific keywords in the content. You might also be out of ideas about which direction you need to head your contents. Keyword research will help you head your content strategy in the right direction.
Keyword research will help you kickstart the SEO process for your website, as it will provide you with crucial information you need to optimize your website. For instance, you’ll be able to know your competitors are ranking for which keywords, which keywords you can easily rank for, etc. But most importantly, you’ll be able to understand your business and brand more deeply while researching for related keywords. Also, it will help you understand your audience better, and you will know how they are thinking. It’s important to align with their thoughts rather than your thoughts.
Moreover, if you put specific keywords in your website, Google can rank you based on those, as search engines can rank a website only if they know what the business is. And at the end of the day, proper placing of keywords will drive more traffic to your website, and you’ll have your desired conversions. So, it is important to make your content focusing on the keywords.
Even though keyword research is the first step, it should be an ongoing process, as they are always changing. You should check your keywords frequently to find out your ranking compared to the competitors. So, always make sure to start your SEO process with KW research.
If you want us to do keyword research for your website, book our free consultation service.
