A topic vastly underrated, though indispensable in any search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. But what are keywords, and why do we need them? What is their importance in a digital marketing campaign? How keywords or key phrases are selected, and what are their distinct types? These are a few questions of web owners who want an SEO to push their site(s) to the top of SERPs. To be more precise, for achieving a top 10 ranking in Google.

First, you need an SEO expert for digital branding or internet marketing. An agency with rich expertise in keyword research, competitor analysis, and keyword optimization, is the right choice. If you are a local business based out of Tampa Bay, FL, there are a few geeks specializing in SEO & SMM services. You can get help from them in areas like keyword research, implementation, and optimization.

What are SEO Keywords? From a Layman’s Point of View

FYI, they can be a single word or short phrases describing a product, service, business, profession, issue, ailment, remedy, cure, and whatnot. People search for information in popular search engines like Google by using keywords. Upon typing a key phrase in the search box of Google, the search engine provides you with a list of relevant answers with numerous options, against your query.

If a keyword is “ethically” optimized on a website’s home page, landing page, or service page, the search engine’s algorithm guides a user or searcher to your site. This is where SEO comes into the scene, optimizing a keyword or phrase accordingly. It provides a better chance of getting found in SERPs. By “you”, I mean your website, online business, or brand. This is the importance of keywords in search engine optimization which cannot be ignored.

The Direct Relation between SEO and Keyword Search

First, let’s understand what SEO is in a nutshell. It is a digital/online marketing strategy to bolster a website’s presence in popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. For what and why? So that an increasing number of web users and surfers notice you, your brand, company, business, institution, or group, and become loyal customers or followers. The basic idea is to generate new leads, convert prospects into customers, and drive sales.

Search engine optimization or SEO consists of various strategies. The two important aspects are On-Page & Off-page SEO. The first pays attention to the website, by optimizing its pages, whereas the latter emphasizes activities that help an SEO campaign. And, to perform a digital marketing campaign, you require keywords. Without a proper selection of keywords, your online business promotion is doomed.

Proper selection of ‘high search volume’ keywords helps businesses get found in search engines, whenever a user types it in Google’s search box. If your web page or site is effectively optimized with relevant keywords, the search or query takes the user to your website. This is the direct relation between SEO and keyword search in digital marketing.

Importance of Keywords in SEO and Local Search

When your prospects are searching for information about products, and services in Google, it is keywords and key phrases that guide the search engine’s algorithm to the relevant website(s). If your niche is cleverly optimized with both short-tail & long-tail keywords considering your business needs, there’s a greater possibility of prospects finding you, or your brand.

Long-tail keywords are post-fixed with names of cities, towns, countries, geographical regions, or something else. Whereas, short-tail keywords are concise and crisp, consisting only of single or double words. For example, custom home remodeling services in Tampa Bay, FL, affordable digital marketing agency in Palm Harbor, FL, etc. are the long-tail ones.

Short-tail keyword examples are SEO services, SEO agency, digital marketing company, SEO expert, car mechanic, ADU contractor, home remodel, kitchen renovation, bath remodel, etc. By intelligently and wisely blending these two types, your site can achieve the best organic rankings in Google. There’s something more to SEO than just keywords.

Why are Keywords Important in SEO? An Expert’s Perspective

We already know what are keywords, and their types. Now, let’s understand why keywords are important in SEO from the perspective of a digital marketing expert. As a website owner, you’re able to:

Identify your target audience, and implement the language of your prospects through proper selection of keywords.
Create engaging and immersive content through relevant key phrases.
Make Google’s algorithm understand your page or site is relevant to queries made using certain keywords.
Enhance SE rankings by helping Google’s ranking algorithm identify what your website’s content is all about, and for whom it is intended.
Generate content (text) with relevant key phrases that are the first choice of customers when searching for any information.
Drive visitor traffic to desired web pages, and convert prospects through improved user experience.
Effectively reach out to a target audience, reduce bounce rate, and increase the time spent by users on a page.
Increase conversion rate, as your visitors are more likely to convert when finding your site via organic search.

Keywords help identify your target audience. With the latest keyword research tools you learn about search volume, keyword density, competition, geography, and other aspects. Therefore, keyword research, along with competitor analysis forms the bedrock of any SEO activity. Other strategies like link building, backlinks creation, content generation, page loading speed optimization, Meta Tags, ALT-Text, online reputation management, and more are equally important.

Why is Keyword Research Essential?

It forms the backbone of any search engine optimization activity. You must know which key phrases have high search volumes and low competition. Understand what keyword density is, and how to select the best keywords that can positively impact your organic rankings and SEO strategies. With the help of tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMRush, Ahrefs, etc. you can pick the best keywords for your local or global brand.

After you’ve identified the subject and topic of your website, go on to select the right combination of key phrases that have a good search volume. If you incorporate and optimize those keywords for your site, search engine ranking automatically shoots up. It is no wonder why all SEO experts emphasize keyword research before jumping into a digital marketing campaign.

Brainstorm different sets of keywords, use the latest tools, and refine your list, before shortlisting the best. Learn what your customers use while performing a query. If you’re a local business, try using long-tail keywords, with the name of the suburb, town, or locality for better reach.

Keywords Matter

In the realm of SEO, keywords are one element or component that cannot be done without. They serve a distinct purpose. It guides a search engine algorithm into showing the relevant results against certain queries users make. When a user types a word or phrase in the search box, the algorithm first makes a list of all the relevant sites that have ethically optimized their pages with the different combinations of keywords and thereby shows the results.

The site that has an optimal keyword count without any unnecessary or forced usage is the one that appears first. Other factors help a site appear at the top of organic search results. Keyword selection and optimization are a couple of them. You can now understand why keywords are important in SEO and an indispensable part of this digital marketing strategy.

If you want to know more about keywords and their significance in SEO, contact a premier SEO company in Tampa like VSF Marketing that has years of experience. Call now for FREE quotes, and schedule an expert consultation to learn about their service offerings.

What are Keywords? Understanding their Importance in SEO