First, remember that you need to choose a different keyword phrase for every page of your site.
What is a "Keyword Phrase"?
"Keyword phrase" means the full question, or just part of it, that someone types into Google.
Examples:
• cheesecake recipes
• vegan blueberry cheesecake recipes
• buy blue suede shoes
• how to clean blue suede shoes
• best noodles in tokyo
• best noodles tokyo
Key Points:
- Being specific: "vegan raspberry cheesecake recipes" is more specific, and will be easier to rank for, than "cheesecake recipes".
- Why are they searching?: Someone looking up "buy blue suede shoes" wants to purchase them. Someone looking up "how to clean blue suede shoes" wants to know how to take care of them.
- Tiny details matter: "best noodles in tokyo" and "best noodles tokyo" are not the same, and POP's advice will be different depending on your choice.
Choosing a Keyword: 4 Questions to Ask
1. Are Many People Searching For It?
If no one is searching for the phrase on Google, using POP to optimize your page for it won't help.
2. Will It Help My Business?
If people searching for it only want free information, will it help you if they visit your site?
3. Does It Match My Page?
The keyword should fit what your page is about to be useful for your visitors.
4. Is It Too Competitive?
POP has great advice, but some keywords are so popular that large companies spend a lot of money to get to the top of Google for them. Be realistic!
Local Tip:
If you have a local business, adding your city to the keyword phrase can help.
How Do I Answer These Questions?
Use these free tools to help you pick your keyword phrase:
? Google Keyword Planner
The best free tool: It offers the most detailed information, and you get unlimited free use. You will need to create a Google Ads account to use it.
? Answer The Public
A great visual tool to explore keywords. You can use it 3 times a day for free.
? AlsoAsked
This tool finds the questions which appear in Google's "People also ask" section.
? Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator
The free version is limited, but you can discover new keywords quickly. Copy them to Google's Keyword Planner for more information.