Are you making these common Keyword Research Mistakes in your SEO?

Common SEO Keyword Research Mistakes To Avoid

Keyword research is one of the central pillars of an effective local SEO strategy. When you make the right keyword choices, all your traffic generation techniques can be optimized correctly. Primarily, keyword research will be used to influence your SEO decisions. You can, however, use the data to make better choices about content marketing, social media, and video creation. While most marketers will perform a level of keyword research, some mistakes frequently occur. The following errors won't always ruin an SEO campaign, but it helps to avoid them if you want to achieve serious search rankings.

ONLY DOING KEYWORD RESEARCH ONCE

The most intensive period of keyword research will be when you are setting up your site or embarking on a paid advertising campaign. This phase can lead to much useful information that will drive your planning into the future. The search results don't remain stagnant, though, so you need to update your research periodically. An estimated 15 percent of all Google searches per year are brand new, meaning you can find relevant keywords based on trends, product releases, and more. Aim to make keyword research part of your regular schedule.

IGNORING SEARCHER INTENT

Google is focused on searcher intent when they answer a query. In the past, results for a search were often broadly tailored towards a keyword. However, improvements in the algorithm mean the listed pages are now tightly focused around the search intent. If you are targeting a keyword, look at the top results and think for yourself about exactly what a searcher would be looking to find. The content you create, including the title and URL, can then be tailored to deliver a close match.

ONLY TARGETING THE MOST POPULAR KEYWORDS

Most niches will have several broad keywords terms that have a high search volume. These keywords can be enticing as they would bring a great deal of traffic. You may find, though, that these popular terms don't convert particularly well, with searchers having a range of needs. While it can be useful to target these popular terms, also make sure you focus on keywords with moderate or low search volume. The traffic for these terms can add up, and they often convert exceptionally well.

FORGETTING TO ANALYZE THE RESULTS PAGES

Keyword tools are a vital part of your research. A quality tool will provide search terms and related data. Unfortunately, many people take this information and immediately start a campaign. Analyzing the results pages, though, will give much useful information, allowing you to make considered decisions. Go to Google and search for your desired keyword. Look through the first page results, focusing on the type of content that Google is offering and the titles for each page. This research will explain in better detail precisely what you should be doing to rank successfully.

BUILDING MULTIPLE PAGES FOR EACH KEYWORD

As a site develops, it is common to find multiple pages targeting the same keyword. This approach might be by accident or design, but it is unlikely to produce positive results. Google can struggle to understand which page to rank, damaging the chances for either page. Also, other sites might not know which page to link to, so your backlinks are split, and each page receives a lower level of authority. Try to structure your site so that each page has a focus on a particular keyword, providing the most comprehensive information about the term.

Targeting the right keywords can save your business a lot of time and money. Keywords that are too competitive or don't offer any real search volume will not provide the type of returns you want. In most cases, though, these keywords will still require significant effort to gain top rankings. By avoiding the common mistakes, you can focus on the right areas, selecting keywords that are achievable and convert. Fundamentally, keyword research is an integral part of online marketing, so following the right path has to become a significant priority.

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