The Key to Finding Good Keywords

August 25, 2004
If you know anything about optimizing your website for the search engines, you know how important it is to choose the right keywords. If you fail to pick the words that you want your site to be found under, you risk untargeted traffic -- or at worst, no traffic at all.

So what's the trick to selecting the right keywords? First, don't use single words; they are way too broad and the competition for them is fierce. Instead, you want to use two or three words strung together, also known as "keyphrases." Studies have shown that most people type in 2- or 3-word combinations when conducting searches; not single words.

Coming up with a list of the most targeted keyphrases for your website is not really that hard. It involves a bit of brainstorming and utilizing the right tools. One of the best methods is to think like your site's visitors, and write down words and phrases that you think they would use when searching for a site such as yours. Be creative.

Another great resource to use is a good "old fashioned" Dictionary and/or a Thesaurus to come up with related or alternate words.

If you find yourself falling short of ideas, look up your competitors online and do a view source on their pages. I'm not telling you to copy what they have; but to study what they are using, as you might see some words or phrases that you hadn't thought of, which you can add to your collection. Remember, stay away from using Trademarks. You don't want any trouble from a high priced Attorney down the road.

If you're trying to target a certain geographic location, make sure to include your city and state in your key-phrase list. This is especially important today, as many of the search engines have branched out into offering "local search" and you want your site to be found when these types of searches are conducted.

Now that you've got a good solid foundation, I'm going to introduce you to some other online tools that you should find helpful in your quest for the right keywords.

1. Overture Search Term Suggestion Tool
   Type a word into this tool and you will find all the combinations of the word that people have searched for in the past month.
    
2. Google AdWords Keyword Suggestions
   This Search Tool allows you to enter a keyword and receive alternative keyword phrase suggestions. While it doesn't tell you how often a word is searched for, it does gives you combinations and alternatives.
    
3. Google Sets
   Though still in its infancy, "Google Sets" is a useful keyword research tool. For example, imagine you are researching keywords for a jewelry Merchant. You enter 3 keywords such as ring, diamond, and necklace. Google then finds more relevant keywords. In this example Google Sets returned a long list including: bracelet, pendant, pearl, pin, gold, platinum, etc.
   Enter some keywords of your own and add any new relevant keywords to your master keyword list.
    
4. Wordtracker
   This tool works better than the previously mentioned tools, but it costs some money. You can, however, get a free trial.
   Wordtracker complies a database of terms and expressions that people use while searching. When you enter keywords, wordtracker tells you how often people search for them. Wordtracker will also tell you how many competing sites use those keywords.
   Wordtracker also helps you identify all keyword combinations in their database that bear any relation to your business or service - many of which you may never have considered.
    
5. Keyword Research Tool - BrainFox
   Enter a keyword and Brainfox will show you related phrases, and bidding history for those keywords.
    
6. Webmaster Toolkit - Keyword Research Tool
   This tool allows you to enter a keyword and specify a search engine. It suggests alternative keyword phrases.
    
7. Keyword Suggestion Tool - 7Search.com
   This keyword Suggestion Tool allows you to query the number of times related keyword phrases were searched at 7search during the previous month. Type in a keyword and 7Search will show you keyword combinations and the number of times they were searched.
    
8. The AdWords Analyzer
   This tool was released in August, 2003. It is an excellent tool that helps you find untapped niches.