03 May Punch Up Your Copy (and Search Ranking) with SEO Keywords

By know, the importance of search rankings is common knowledge. If you want your audience to find you on the web, you’ve got to pay attention to optimizing your site. But implementing SEO can be a daunting task for those who don’t know much about programming. In fact, we always recommend seeking the help of an SEO professional to take full advantage of all the benefits of optimization. There is, however, a more accessible way to get the SEO ball rolling—add keywords to your copy. It’s one of the simplest things you can do to help boost your rankings. You don’t need a programmer. You won’t have to learn the complexities of back-end coding. With just a little thought and research, you can make an impact—and here’s how.

Keywords Are Your Friends

Nearly everyone knows how to use a search engine like Google or Yahoo. You type in a few words that you think best describe what you’re looking for, then you let the search engine do its thing. Search engines find what you’re looking for by seeking out those words on relevant websites. So to stack the odds in your favor, make sure those popular search terms—whatever your audience might be looking for—are included on your site.

For instance, if you’re writing about Cardiac Surgery, those words most likely will appear in your copy somewhere. But think about what other words someone might use when doing a search. Terms like “heart operation” or “chest pain” could bring people interested in the same subject to your page. Including your location is also important, as it further helps searchers narrow their search to specific geographic areas.

Keep It Natural

Of course, you don’t want to go overboard. Including a few key words in your copy in a natural way that doesn’t affect the style and flow is one thing. Littering your copy with awkwardly placed phrases obviously put there to attract web hits is quite another. Over-use of keywords can actually hurt your credibility, with readers and search engines alike. Readers want a simple, straightforward message; search engines can often tell when they’re being tricked into landing on your page. Ideally you want to include your keywords in ways that go virtually unnoticed by readers, and in turn don’t cause the search engines to red flag your site for black hat tactics.

While there’s no guarantee the inclusion of keywords will make your ranking go up, it’s still a great first step to optimization. At Quantum, we always keep keywords in mind when crafting copy for our clients. We want your copy to sell the benefits of your business, as well as be an active tool for drawing your audience to your site.

If you want to learn more about keywords, optimization or any other digital marketing method, get in touch with us. We’re always excited to hear from you!