Importance of keyword selection

One of the most crucial things to decide when first building a website is what keywords do you want people to use to find your site. I usually start by using the search term suggestion tool which tells you what people are already searching for. Simply type one word like horse and hundreds of horse-related keywords will come up sorted in order of searches for the previous month. While the search term suggestion tool only provides a glimpse from one search engine, it is still quite valuable information.

After you decide on a few keyword phrases to focus on then I like to start by purchasing a domain name with at least one of your focus keywords in the domain, like HorseTrainingTips.com. I like to break down the keywords into a few categories. First, you need to have a focus keyword phrase that will be your main goal in the searches. Your main keyword will be in the title tags, domain name, sub-page names, directory names and anywhere you can get away with it.

Second, you should choose a few secondary keyword phrases that will be located on the main pages of your site besides the home page. These are the secondary focus keywords that you hope to obtain good rankings for in Google and other search engines. On these pages the title tags and content will reflect the secondary keywords chosen as well as the main keyword phrase. When writing contet or articles on your web site these keywords should always be kept in mind.

Last, you will find that there are dozens of other good keywords that apply but do not warrant mention on the home page. These supplemental keywords and keyword phrases should be placed carefully in second and third level pages. Ideally you would have one web page for each keyword or phrase that you want to focus on. When it is not possible to devote one page of content to a specific keyword or phrase, you can use them sparingly on other pages.

The key to building a search engine friendly website is to do ample research before you even purchase your domain name. The keyword research and gems that you will find will guide you in the contruction of your new web site. If you take the time to find the keywords that will help people find you on the web, you will reap the rewards of free organic search engine traffic for years to come.

Contributed by Jon Lee, editor of 100 Best Free Web Space Services.

Related Article: Web site appearance >>