keyword strategy Archives

Ever wonder why your website isn’t showing up on Google? You’ve got the content, the design’s slick, but still—crickets. You’re missing the key ingredient: a solid keyword strategy.

Let’s cut to the chase. Keyword strategy is the backbone of any successful SEO plan. Without it, you’re shooting in the dark, hoping to hit something.

We’re not about hoping here.

We’re about doing.

And to do it right, you’ve got to understand what a keyword strategy is and how it can make or break your online presence.

Let’s be real—SEO can feel like a minefield. Because without the right keywords, your content gets lost.

Imagine investing time and energy into content that never reaches your target audience. Frustrating, right?

That’s where a solid keyword strategy steps in.

It’s your roadmap, your blueprint to ensure your content not only reaches the right people but also ranks on those golden spots in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Keyword targeting isn’t just about stuffing random words into your content. It’s about understanding what your audience is searching for and delivering exactly that.

What Is a Keyword Strategy, Anyway?

Think of a keyword strategy like the GPS for your website. It guides every piece of content, helping search engines like Google connect the dots. But it’s not just about stuffing keywords into your content and calling it a day.

We’re talking about understanding search intent, using tools like the Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to find high-impact keywords, and making sure those keywords align with what your audience is actually searching for.

Understanding Search Intent

Here’s the deal:

Search intent is everything. Because you need to know what people are really after when they type something into Google. Are they looking for information? Ready to buy something? Or just browsing?

Dr. Marie Haynes, SEO Consultant has been quoted as stating. “Many of the things we have traditionally done in the name of SEO are far less important now. Instead of keyword research, we should be focusing on intent research.”

Understanding this is crucial for nailing your keyword strategy.

There are three main types of search intent:

Navigational: When someone is trying to find a specific website. For example, typing “Facebook login” into the search bar.
Informational: When they’re looking to learn more about a topic, like “how to create a keyword strategy.”
Transactional: When they’re ready to make a purchase, like searching for “buy SEO tools online.”

Align your keywords with these intents, and you’ll attract the right audience, at the right time, with the right content.

Let’s break down an example of search intent:

Imagine you’re in a café, overhearing someone say, “I need to rank higher on Google.”

That’s what they want, right?

But what are they really asking for?

They’re asking for tips, tricks, tools—something to help them rank higher.

That’s search intent.

And if you’re not aligning your keyword strategy with this intent, you’re missing out.

Here’s what you need to do:

Identify the intent behind each keyword: Is it navigational, informational, or transactional?
Choose the right keywords: Choose keywords that match what your audience is looking for.
Avoid fluff: With so much information on the Internet, your audience doesn’t want to have to search for the information they need, so go straight to the point.

Keyword Research Techniques

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

The foundation of any successful keyword strategy is solid keyword research. You can’t just guess what people are searching for. You need data.

And there are some killer tools out there to help:

Google Keyword Planner: This is your bread and butter. It’s free, and it’s straight from the horse’s mouth—Google Keyword Planner.
Ahrefs: If you’re serious about SEO, Ahrefs is a must-have. It digs deep, giving you a treasure trove of keywords.
SEMrush: Another heavy hitter, SEMrush not only helps with keywords but also shows you what your competitors are ranking for.

But how do you actually use these tools?

Simple.

Start with a broad topic—let’s say, ” content marketing.” Plug it into these tools, and they’ll spit out hundreds of related keywords. Some will be high-volume, others low-volume, and some will have high competition, while others won’t.

Your job is to find the sweet spot.

Competitive Keyword Analysis

Let’s get real for a second—if you’re not keeping an eye on your competitors, you’re missing out.

They’re ranking above you for a reason. Understanding why can help you build a better keyword strategy. This is where competitive keyword analysis comes into play.

Think of it as sneaking a peek at their playbook.

What keywords are they ranking for?
Which ones are driving the most traffic?
And more importantly, where are the gaps?

They’ve already done a lot of the hard work for you. Use that to your advantage.

How?

Competitive keyword analysis

Identify Your Top Competitors: With tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, you can see exactly what keywords your competitors are ranking for. This gives you a blueprint of what’s working in your industry. And, also a means to see who’s ranking for the same keywords you want to target.
Find Opportunities: These are the keywords that have high search intent but low competition. They’re the sweet spot for your keyword strategy. But don’t just copy them—learn from them. It’s about learning from them and then doing it better.
Analyse Their Keyword Strategy: Look for gaps in their strategy. Maybe they’re missing out on some killer long-tail keywords or not fully optimizing their content. Look at the keywords they’re ranking for. Pay attention to the ones driving the most traffic.

This isn’t about copying your competitors.

Targeting Long-Tail Keywords

Ever tried ranking for “SEO”?

Good luck with that.

It’s like trying to win the lottery.

Instead, let’s focus on long-tail keywords—those specific phrases that might not get tons of searches but have way less competition.

For example:

“How to create an effective keyword strategy” beats just “keyword strategy.”

“Best tools for keyword research and analysis” beats just “keyword research.”

These long-tail keywords are gold.

Look for long-tail keywords—those are the more specific, lower-competition phrases that people are searching for. They’re often gold mines for attracting targeted traffic.

Another example:

Instead of just targeting “keyword strategy,” you might go for something like “how to create a keyword strategy for small businesses.” It’s more specific, and there’s less competition

They’re specific, less competitive, and they attract visitors who know exactly what they’re looking for.

Optimizing Content with Keywords

Okay, you’ve got your keywords.

Now what?

Time to sprinkle them throughout your content—but strategically.

Here’s how:

Title: Your main keyword should be right up there in the title. It’s the first thing people (and search engines) see.
Headings: Break up your content with headings and subheadings that include your keywords. This not only helps with SEO but also makes your content easier to read.
Introduction: Drop your main keyword in the first few lines. It sets the tone and lets everyone know what your content is about.
Body: Naturally incorporate your keywords into the body of your content. But don’t overdo it—keep it natural and readable.
Conclusion: Wrap things up with your keyword. It’s a neat way to tie everything together.

Remember, keyword strategy is all about balance.

You want to include your keywords enough to signal to search engines that your content is relevant, but not so much that it feels forced or unnatural.

Here’s how to do it right:

Use your primary keyword: in the title, first sentence, and somewhere in the last sentence.
Include secondary keywords naturally throughout your content.
Create keyword-rich sub headers to help with on-page SEO.
Don’t forget the meta descriptions—they’re the unsung heroes of SEO.

And remember—keep it natural. If it feels forced, it probably is. Keep the flow, make it readable, and ensure the keywords serve the content, not the other way around.

Relevant FAQs on Keyword Strategy

Q: How many keywords should I target for each page?

A: Aim for one primary keyword and a couple of secondary keywords. Focus on making them fit naturally into the content.

Q: What’s the difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords?

A: Short-tail keywords are broad and competitive (like “SEO”), while long-tail keywords are more specific and easier to rank for (like “how to create an effective keyword strategy”).

Q: How often should I update my keyword strategy?

A: Regularly. At least every few months. SEO is dynamic, and staying updated ensures your content remains relevant and competitive.

Q: Should I use the same keyword strategy for every page?

A: No. Each page should have its own keyword strategy based on the content, audience, and search intent.

Q: How do I know if my keyword strategy is working?

A: Track your rankings, organic traffic, and conversions. If you’re seeing improvements, your strategy is on point.

Conclusion

So, there you have it.

We’ve gone through what makes a killer keyword strategy, from understanding search intent to optimizing content and keeping tabs on your competitors. Your website’s success hinges on getting this right.

And remember, keyword strategy isn’t just about getting traffic. It’s about getting the right traffic—people who want what you’re offering

Start implementing these strategies today, and you’ll see the difference. Your strategy will not just drive traffic, but drive the right traffic, making all the difference.

By Thaddeus Collins

Thaddeus Collins is a seasoned digital marketer at Inker Street Digital with over a decade of experience in the ever-evolving world of online marketing. Specializing in strategies that drive growth and engagement, Thaddeus has helped numerous businesses scale their online presence through innovative approaches in SEO, and social media marketing.

Sourced from Inker Street

Inker Street Digital provides online guides for entrepreneurs interested in promoting their businesses. For more information about our services visit or social post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Sourced from WebDesignDev

When it comes down to building websites, you can either take it seriously or watch as your investment in your business wilts away. Considering that websites are the primary source of high quality leads for many businesses, it’s important for entrepreneurs to make the right decisions when it comes to creating websites that are optimized for finding new clients.

That said, you may find yourself directing a bulk of your marketing expenditures to establishing your business’ website. But it’s important to realize that a successful website doesn’t end with its launch.

If anything, your website’s success can be gauged by how you’re able to continuously optimize and update it in order to meet your business targets. You should check your website’s analytics to get a better view of how it performs right after implementation. This should lead you towards implementing the right corrective strategies.

When there’s a clear drop in visitors and conversions, you know you will have to take immediate action, so here’s a few things to help you remedy a low performing website.

Check your KPIs

Your KPIs, or key performance indicators, show you how your website is performing in terms of generating interest, acquiring leads, and converting new customers for your business. These come in the form of metrics such as the visitor count, conversion rate, bounce rate, and exit rate, among others.

Being able to set your benchmarks from the start should provide you with a clear view of the goals you should be aiming for. During the initial months, you will have to monitor your metrics and determine which KPIs your business should be focusing on. This should help you set up your goals and, throughout the lifespan of your website, provide you with the numbers for calibrating its specific components.

Basing your success on your KPIs helps you to double down on certain elements that could be improved, discarded, or added to boost your need to meet your initial business goals.

Do a content audit

If there’s one thing you really need to focus on when it comes to improving your website, it’s the content. The information you provide helps educate your audience about the products or services you’re selling, introduce your brand, encourage visitors to take action, help users navigate your webpages, and, of course, help your brand engage the right customers.

In fact, many businesses in both the B2C and B2B sectors see content as integral to the success of their online efforts. People are bound to stay in your website if you provide them with a lot of quality content that’s relevant and entertaining at the same time.

No doubt, if you’re seeing a consistently high bounce rate, you may have to consider improving your web content or overhauling your website altogether. Either way, you will need to know the types of content that will get your audiences hooked on whatever it is you’re selling.

One simple strategy you can utilize for this is a doing content audit. Simply visit the websites of your competitors and assess the type of content that they produce. The aim here is not to replicate what other businesses are doing but to make improvements that they weren’t able to apply. So, when doing a content audit, check for elements like the type of writing style being used for your competitors’ webpages or the color scheme for improving accessibility. Other than that, you might also want to know if they’re able to include videos or engaging graphics in their content.

Making improvements to your website would mean several hours of brainstorming for original ideas. At least through a content audit, you can cut the time it takes for your web development and design team to implement potent changes to your website.

Change your keyword strategy

Content is not the only factor for success. When it comes to maintaining a highly productive website that produces a consistent volume of organic visitors, you will need to check your keyword strategy and see if there’s anything you need to improve along those lines.

Keywords are what make your website visible to the people who are actively looking for the products and services you are selling. A drop in new visitors would mean that your website is not fully optimized for Google’s search engine or it simply didn’t catch up with the most recent changes to search engine algorithms.

Both cases would require you to change your keyword strategy. This would mean coming up with a new list of keywords that can produce the most number of clicks. Research is important, so make sure to work with your web development team to identify the right strategies for improving your online visibility.

Opting for long-tail keywords, improving the readability of your website content, and enhancing the overall design of your website are highly recommended, although you can also focus on more technical improvements such as increasing the loading speed of your webpages, making your website’s interface more navigable and intuitive, and building links through guest-posting. With these strategies in mind, you can improve your website’s searchability and get more organic visits.

Outsource your marketing to industry-specific partners

Improving the performance of your website is something that takes a lot of time and expertise to pull off. If you’re lacking both, you can always outsource your website-building activities to the right service providers.

It helps if you’re able to find an outsourcing partner who is well-versed in the type of industry. For instance, treatment and rehab centers aiming to increase admissions can benefit from agencies like Lead to Recovery, which specializes in SEO, PPC, and other online marketing campaigns that cater to the specific needs of this market.

At any rate, you will have to know if the agency you will be working with has the right people and the right tools to help you gain an advantage within your niche. You should only work with one that has a lot of experience working within your field and using content management systems like WordPress.

Maintaining a successful website is mind-boggling even to seasoned entrepreneurs. With the right strategies in mind, you can continuously improve your website and allow it to generate as much business as expected.