Using Keywords to Improve your SEO and Get Your Content to the Front Page of Google
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Using Keywords is one of a number of techniques to optimize your SEO Search Results. And it is one of the most important. Here are a few easy things to do while writing your newsletter posts: How to Get Your Substack Articles to Rank Higher on Google.
Keyword Research and Optimization: The Key to Ranking High on Google
Keywords are specific words or phrases that describe the content of your newsletter. They are important because they help search engines understand what your newsletter is about. They are the words that people type into search engines when they are looking for something. Search engines use these words to find relevant content.
Keywords help your newsletter reach the right audience because they match what people are searching for. They also make your newsletter more visible in search results because search engines use keywords, and long tail keywords to rank content.
You can identify good keywords for your newsletter by considering what your audience might be searching for. Keyword research tools (below are a bunch of free tools to use) will help you find popular keywords related to your topic.
You can add keywords to your newsletter in a natural way by including them in your content. It’s important to balance using keywords with writing engaging content so that your newsletter is interesting to read.
You can track how well your keywords are working by using tools that show you how often people are searching for your keywords and how high your newsletter ranks in search results. If your keywords aren’t performing well, you can try changing them.
Here are the key steps to choose the right keywords for your content:
Understand your target audience and their search behavior:
Brainstorm relevant topics and categories for your website and content.
Consider the language and phrases your audience might use when searching.
Conduct keyword research using tools:
Use free keyword research tools like: FREE Backlinko Keyword Research Tool, AHREFs Free Keyword Generator, Answer the Public, Uber Suggest, Keywordtool, Keyword Surfer Chrome Extension, The Reddit Keyword Research Tool, Google Ads Keyword Planner, Google Trends,
SEMRUSH Keyword Magic Tool (Free Plan: 10 keyword searches per day),
Valuable (but Not Free): but one of the best for newsletters/blogs: RankIQ (just $49/mo)
More Valuable SEO: https://www.searchlogistics.com/learn/seo/free-seo-tools/
Analyze metrics like search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty. Install Google Search Console for your Substack Newsletter
Focus on long-tail keywords:
Long-tail keywords (3-4 word phrases) tend to have lower competition and higher conversion rates. Example: Google the phrase “blogger's word counter”
Analyze your competitors' keywords:
Look at the keywords your competitors are targeting and ranking for.
This can provide insights into valuable keywords for your own content.
Consider search intent:
Determine if users are looking for informational, transactional, or navigational content.
Align your keywords with the intent and content of your website.
Prioritize relevance and search volume:
Choose keywords that are both highly relevant to your business and have a decent search volume.
Balance competitive keywords with less competitive ones.
Optimize content around the selected keywords:
Incorporate keywords naturally in titles, headings, meta tags, and body content.
For a 1,000-word post, a recommendation is that you use keywords just once or twice, not including the previous point. Avoid keyword stuffing and maintain a natural, readable flow. Here is a word counter I made that counts the top 4 keywords in your post. https://1app.ca/
Monitor and adjust your keyword strategy over time:
Track keyword rankings and performance using analytics tools and a spreadsheet.
Regularly review and update your keyword selection as search trends evolve.
By following these steps, you can effectively research and choose the right keywords to improve the visibility and ranking of your content on search engines. And good SEO takes time…
Definitions with Examples
1 - Long tail keywords are longer (than a single word) and more specific phrases that people use when searching online. They help websites attract visitors who are looking for very particular information, products, or services, rather than just general topics. Here are two examples of long tail keywords:
"Blogger’s Word Counter"
"Organic vegan restaurants with gluten-free options in Los Angeles"
2 - LSI (latent semantic indexing) keywords are words or phrases related to the main topic you're searching for. They help search engines understand the context of your search better. For example, if you're searching for "healthy recipes," LSI keywords could include terms like "nutritious meals" or "low-fat cooking." These related words make search results more accurate and helpful.
3 - Search Intent Analysis Search Intent Analysis is about understanding why someone is searching for something online. Here are the four main types:
Informational Intent: When someone is looking for information on a topic, like "how to tie a tie."
Navigational Intent: When someone is searching for a specific website or page, such as "Facebook login."
Transactional Intent: When someone wants to buy something or take an action, like "buy iPhone 13" or "book a flight to Paris."
Commercial Investigation Intent: When someone is researching products or services but isn't ready to buy yet, such as "best DSLR cameras” or “best pod coffee maker”
4 - A Keyword Cluster is a group of words or phrases that are related to each other and focus on the same main topic. They help organize and categorize keywords for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes, making it easier for people to find information online.
Here are a few articles about SEO and keywords.
1. 64 FREE SEO TOOLS THAT ARE WORTH USING IN 2024
2. Use Keyword Research to Enhance Content Creation
3. Your step-by-step guide to content marketing keyword research