Enhancing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is by far one of the most common questions I get asked and my favorite strategy for Improving Search Engine Optimization is awareness. I’ll explain what I mean…
Getting people to click on your website is the number one way to improve Search Engine Optimization and by posting more frequently on social media and using email marketing, you’re making great strides in that direction. Another common way to improve SEO is by using keywords and here is a common way to identify keywords that are likely already working in your favor.
First, head on over to wordle.net/create. It’s a website where you paste a bunch of words and it will form a “word cloud” of the most commonly used words there. Then, repeat this exercise with comments on social media, newsletter text, etc. Once you’ve made a few word clouds, you should see common words emerge at a larger size than others. These are the keywords that you are likely ranking on (whether you know it or not). Once you do it for your own organization, you should try this with competitors and complementary businesses too. Maybe they are using a keyword or two that you didn’t think about.
Once you find your keywords and maybe one or two from competitors or complementary businesses, keep a list on a word document. AFTER you write content on social media or email, take a look… are there any words that can be replaced with keywords?
Now, here’s a word of caution. I mentioned replacing words in original content with keywords AFTER you write it for good reason. It becomes obvious quickly when something is written for the SOLE PURPOSE of using keywords…and the bottom line is good content gets clicks. So please resist the temptation to sacrifice quality content with keywords… just look for natural opportunities in the editing process.
For today’s post across your social media channels, use the prompt “I remember…” and from there, make a throwback Thursday post. AFTER you’ve written the post, find opportunities to replace non-keywords with keywords. From here on out, make this a regular part of your content marketing strategy… within reason.
Before I go, Google Keywords is also a great tool, albeit more complex than the strategy above. If you have extra time, you may want to familiarize yourself with it. Links also provide great SEO, so if possible, partner with other organizations and use links. For example, if you’ve sponsored an event for a nonprofit, ask that nonprofit to link to your website… it will help BOTH of your page ranks.
Happy Thursday and I’ll be back tomorrow with more tips!