Dos and Don'ts of Keyword Strategy for Beginners & Pros

Keyword strategy is an essential part of digital marketing, especially for those who are just starting. It is one of the primary ways to improve website traffic and online visibility. As a beginner, you may find it challenging to create a keyword strategy that works for your website. 

However, by following some do's and don'ts, you can develop an effective keyword strategy that helps you achieve your online goals. In this article, we will explore the psychological aspects of keyword strategy and provide some tips for beginners to follow.

Do: Understand Your Target Audience

The first and foremost thing to do when creating a keyword strategy is to understand your target audience. You need to know who your potential customers are, what they are looking for, and how they search for it. Understanding your audience's mindset and behavior can help you develop a list of relevant keywords that resonate with them.

You can use various tools, such as Google Analytics, to gain insights into your audience's demographics, interests, and online behavior. You can also conduct surveys or use social media platforms to get to know your target audience better. By understanding your audience, you can create a keyword strategy that matches their needs and preferences.

Don't: Stuff Your Content with Keywords

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is stuffing their content with keywords. Keyword stuffing is a black hat SEO technique that can harm your website's ranking and reputation. It makes your content look spammy and unreadable, which can lead to a high bounce rate and low engagement.

Keyword stuffing can also affect your website's user experience. Visitors may find it difficult to navigate through your website, find the information they are looking for, or complete a task. This can lead to frustration, which can drive them away from your website.

Do: Use Long-tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are specific phrases that contain three or more words. They are more precise and descriptive than generic keywords, making them more likely to attract qualified leads. Long-tail keywords also have lower competition, which means you have a better chance of ranking for them.

Using long-tail keywords can help you target specific niches and audiences. For example, instead of using the generic keyword "shoes," you can use a long-tail keyword like "women's running shoes" or "men's dress shoes." This can help you attract customers who are interested in those specific types of shoes.

Don't: Neglect Keyword Research

Keyword research is the foundation of a successful keyword strategy. It involves finding relevant keywords that match your website's content and your audience's search queries. Keyword research can help you identify high-volume keywords, low-competition keywords, and long-tail keywords.

Neglecting keyword research can lead to a weak keyword strategy that fails to attract the right audience. You may end up targeting irrelevant keywords or missing out on high-traffic keywords that your competitors are using.

Do: Optimize Your Meta Tags

Meta tags are HTML tags that provide information about your website's content to search engines. They include the title tag, description tag, and header tags. Optimizing your meta tags can help search engines understand your content better, which can lead to higher rankings and more traffic.

When optimizing your meta tags, make sure to include relevant keywords in them. However, don't overdo it or use irrelevant keywords. Your meta tags should be concise, descriptive, and engaging. They should also match your website's content and your audience's search queries.

Don't: Ignore User Intent

User intent refers to the reason behind a user's search query. It can be informational, navigational, or transactional. Ignoring user intent can lead to a keyword strategy that doesn't meet your audience's needs or expectations.

To understand user intent, put yourself in your audience's shoes. Ask yourself what they are looking for and why they are searching for it. Then, create content that matches their intent. For example, if someone searches for "best running shoes for beginners," their intent is likely to find a recommendation for running shoes that are suitable for beginners. By creating content that matches their intent, you can improve your website's user experience and increase your chances of converting visitors into customers.

Do: Monitor Your Keyword Performance

Keyword strategy is not a set-it-and-forget-it process. It requires constant monitoring and optimization. By monitoring your keyword performance, you can identify which keywords are working and which ones are not. You can then adjust your keyword strategy accordingly.

There are various tools you can use to monitor your keyword performance, such as Google Analytics and SEMrush. These tools can provide insights into your website's traffic, ranking, and engagement. By analyzing this data, you can identify areas for improvement and adjust your keyword strategy to meet your goals.

Don't: Use Keywords that Are Too Broad

Using broad keywords can lead to a keyword strategy that is too general and competitive. For example, using the keyword "shoes" may attract a lot of traffic, but it may not be relevant to your website's content or your audience's search queries. This can lead to a high bounce rate and low engagement.

Instead, use keywords that are more specific and targeted. This can help you attract qualified leads and improve your website's user experience. For example, using the keyword "running shoes" may be too broad. Instead, using the keyword "women's running shoes" can help you attract a more specific audience.

Do: Create Quality Content

Creating quality content is essential for a successful keyword strategy. Your content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your audience's needs. It should also match your keywords and provide value to your visitors.

By creating quality content, you can improve your website's user experience and increase your chances of converting visitors into customers. Quality content can also help you attract backlinks, which can improve your website's authority and ranking.

Don't: Overuse Exact Match Keywords

Exact match keywords are keywords that match a user's search query exactly. While they can be useful for targeting specific search queries, overusing them can lead to a keyword strategy that looks spammy and unnatural.

Instead, use variations of your keywords, such as synonyms and related terms. This can help you create content that is natural and engaging, while still targeting relevant keywords. For example, instead of using the exact match keyword "women's running shoes," you can use variations like "ladies' running shoes" or "running shoes for women."

Conclusion

Keyword strategy is a crucial aspect of digital marketing, especially for beginners. By following the do's and don'ts of keyword strategy, you can create a strategy that works for your website and your audience. Understanding your target audience, using long-tail keywords, optimizing your meta tags, and creating quality content are just a few of the things you can do to improve your keyword strategy. On the other hand, neglecting keyword research, using broad keywords, overusing exact match keywords, and ignoring user intent are some of the mistakes you should avoid. By implementing these tips, you can create a successful keyword strategy that helps you achieve your online goals.