Three Big Keyword Research Mistakes to Avoid

08-26-11 - Posted By: Brent Barnhart in SEO

It’s common knowledge that search engines dominate how users are finding products and services online today, especially through Google who clearly dominates the search engine space. The process of how a user is able to find what they’re looking for has many moving pieces, and when it comes to search engines, keywords represent the most significant part of the puzzle. Site owners want nothing more but to know what keywords they should target and how to get those users into their respective funnels once they’ve clicked the “search” button.

Of course, it’s all much easier said than done. Many small business owners running their own websites make the error of playing a guessing game when it comes to keyword research. This unfortunately common practice can spell disaster for small business owners who are steering their sites in the complete wrong direction in regards to Google search traffic. Your business needs to be on-target when it comes to keyword research, as almost there and pretty close simply won’t always cut it in the midst of fierce competition. Think of it this way; if you aren’t taking the proper steps towards being a major player in your industry through search traffic, somebody else will.

So, what exactly do you need to know when it comes to conducting keyword research for your business’ site?

Don’t Think Big; Think Smart

There’s nothing wrong with “thinking big” when it comes to your business. This can get you into trouble, however, when it comes to keyword research. Some keywords are simply going to be dominated by huge brands and sites that have been around much longer than you have. A local plumbing business trying to get on the first page of Google for “plumber” isn’t going to happen. To try to go after such a desired keyword would be nothing more than a futile exercise and wasted time. You don’t necessarily have to “think small” when it comes to keywords, but rather think smart. Going after long-tail keywords and keywords such by local markets represent a much more viable strategy for businesses get now getting involved with SEO.

Don’t Make Assumptions

Never assume, especially when it comes to keyword research. Remember the guessing game mentioned earlier? It’s tempting to play, but will inevitably come back to haunt you. Guessing is gambling, and regardless of how well you’ve been in business or think you know your audience, you really have no idea how they search until you do the proper research. Such behavior is not something that can simply be assumed, but is rather discovered through looking at the hard facts and numbers. The success of your site is too important to simply leave to a gamble.

Don’t Stop Working

Ranking in Google takes quite a lot of work and it doesn’t happen overnight. Likewise, you simply can’t stop working on SEO once you’ve started to find success. Just because you managed to get on the first page on Google for your keyword doesn’t mean that you’ll stay there forever. You should do what you can to continue to dominate your keywords, either through content, marketing, or whatever other means you have in place. Checking your analytics is absolutely essential to continuing success and tracking your progress to see if your efforts are really paying off. Through analytics you may also understand what’s working, what’s not working, and where to better focus your efforts. You may very well surprise yourself and find new opportunities when it comes to keywords.

Keyword research can be complicated for small businesses, but it doesn’t have to be rocket science. As long as you’re avoiding common keyword research mistakes, you’ll be on-target to a more-optimized site with targeted traffic that’s ready to spend.

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