Keywords

The first step to creating a successful search engine optimized website is to determine which keyword combinations will bring you a highly targeted volume of website traffic. You will need to use keyword phrases (called keyword combinations) consisting of 2, 3 or 4 words. Getting a good page rank for single keywords is extremely competitive, difficult and nearly impossible. The average keyword search contains 2.5 words, and polls show that this number is about three words when a user is searching for a product or service.

To help determine the keyword combinations you should focus on, you can utilize a free service such as Overture's "Keyword Suggestion Tool". We have an interface to their tool you can use:

Keyword Research

We also suggest using tools like Word Tracker software.

HINT: Some people use keywords to achieve top 10 search engine positions and get plenty of traffic. Others try to do the same but get nothing. What is the deciding factor for success? The answer to this is quite simple: Successful web marketers select keywords that lots of people are searching on. Unsuccessful web marketers do not!

You need to compile a list of keyword combinations, along with the number of times that combination was searched in the past, and how many web sites are competing for those words. The end result of this formula is what's called a KEI rating (Keyword Efficiency Index). The higher a keyword's index rating, the better chances you have of getting traffic to your site through this keyword.