Search Engine Optimization For Beginners-Keywords-Meta Tags-Titles

Search Engine Optimization For Beginners-Using Keywords, Meta Tags, And Titles

Search engine optimization is a crucial tool to any webmaster. Having the knowledge of SEO can be the difference between success and failure. The goal of search engine optimization is to increase your search engine rankings, page rankings, build organic traffic, and create interest around your products or services. You want future customers or visitors to find your website/blog by searching through the search engines, natural traffic. The goal is to rank somewhere on the first page of Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other search engines. By doing so, you'll gain customers that are looking exactly for what you have to offer. More traffic equals leads, equals sales, equal revenue, which equals profit. Remember, every visitor matters. I know Google claims 67% of all searches, however, a sale is a sale. Optimize your website for ALL search engines.

 Search Engine Optimization-Using Keywords

Using keywords properly is a major search engine optimization technique. Keywords tell the search engines what each page is about. The search engine uses these keywords to reference the value of your page or website. What's a keyword? A keyword is a word or group of words that are associated to the content of your website. For example, if you write about tattoos, tattoo would be considered a keyword. Any word or group of words related to tattoos may be considered as a keyword, such as tattoo designs, tattoo pictures, or Celtic tattoos. You want to place these keywords within your content.

If you're looking for keywords, your best tool is the Google Adwords Keyword Tool. This tool allows you to look up a specific keyword and allows you to see how many times it was searched for during a month span. Google's keyword tool will also list relevant keywords that you may wish to use. This tool explains the level of competition for the keyword also, which is ranked in three fields. Low competition, medium competition, and high competition fields display for each keyword or keyword grouping. If a specific keyword is ranked low, this means that the specific keyword is not used much. If it is ranked high, this means that the chosen keyword is used by a lot of other authors. You want your keywords to rank low because this gives you a better chance to rank for the keyword.

You want to make sure that you try your best to use a low competition keyword that gets a high number of searches. The higher the monthly searches, the better your chance is of getting ranked for the keyword. If you find a low competition keyword that only gets 100 monthly searches, it's probably not worth your time using. However, if it's ranked low with 10,000 monthly searches, you'd want to apply the keyword to your content. You can experiment with different keywords until you find keywords that work for your website/blog.

Using Keywords In Your Content

You have to be careful how you use keywords in your content. If you use to many keywords, it can hurt your website/blog rankings. Most webmasters try to keep their keyword density around 3%. So, if you wrote 100 words, you'd use your keyword 3 times. If possible, you should always try to keep it below 5%.

Placement of your keywords is also very important. Keywords should be used in your content, title, sub-titles, meta tags, and tags. Always use a keyword or keyword group in these area fields. If your keyword is "NFL Coaches," you may choose a title like "Best NFL Coaches" or "Top Ten NFL Coaches Of All Time." You want to use your keywords in your tags and sub-titles also. When Google or other search engines crawl your website/blog, your keywords are one factor that determines where you'll rank in the search engines.

When search engines crawl a page, they'll place the highest value of your content first. This means that keyword placement at the top of the page is the most important. You want to use your best keywords first. Make sure you use bold for all your keywords, which helps the search engine find your keywords easier. Now, your first sub-title or sub-heading is going to be important, so use your best keywords here. You can use the example below for a reference.


Search Engine Optimization   Sub-Title/Heading

Search engine optimization allows webmasters to rank their websites high in search engines. Using proper search engine optimization techniques can be the difference between a first page rank and not being ranked at all.  Paragraph

As you can see, all my keywords are bold. I have my keyword in the sub-title and I used multiple keywords in my paragraph. Although search engines value the content at the top, the rest of your article is still important. Make sure that you use these same search engine techniques throughout your article.


Meta Tags, Tags, Labels

Meta tags or labels are also very important. These may also be referred to as keywords. On most content websites, you'll have an area where you apply meta tags, tags, labels, or keywords. These labels are going to be the same keywords that you used and highlighted in your article. For example, refer back to the example above. Every group of keywords that I used above would be listed in the label section. Descriptions are also important. If your site offers a description option, make sure you use your keywords in it. Remember, don't over do it, too many keywords can hurt your website.

Make sure you practice with the Google Adwords Keyword Tool. You can find this free tool here. Google is planning on removing this tool soon, but you can access another keyword tool at Google's Webmaster Tools. If you missed our first article on search engine optimization for beginners, just click here.. Make sure you stay tuned and look for our 3rd chapter very soon.


Hale Associations offers several search engine optimization services. For a free consult, please call us at 1-304-752-3433 and hear how we can help your website. We offer freelance search engine optimization services to individuals and corporations. Call now or email haleassociations@gmail.com for your free consult. We work around budgets and accept monthly payments! No job too big or small.