There’s so much competition in the online business world, especially regarding SEO. Since 32% of clicks go to the top-ranking pages on Google search engines, brands now understand they need to boost their SEO efforts. An easy way to do this is by creating a better keyword ranking strategy.
How does a search term result in more website traffic? How do you find ranking keywords and optimize them in your content? We will answer all of these keyword ranking questions and more.
What Is Keyword Ranking?
When one enters a search query in Google or Bing, they enter a keyword. To get more organic website traffic, you can optimize your content for these keywords. But to get the best results, you’ll have to use the right keywords. SEO marketers use criteria to decide which keywords to use, which we will explain in the next section.
Since 65% of users click on organic search engine results, using keyword ranking strategies will improve your chances of gaining website traffic. But understand that there are a few tactics when choosing the right keywords. In addition to using the metrics we will discuss next, always consider user intent to ensure searchers will click your link.
What to Look for in a Keyword
Your SEO professional will take many factors into consideration when choosing keywords for your content. But the three main factors they will consider include search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC.
Search Volume
Search volume indicates how many users searched that keyword. These searches are measured over a course of time, usually one month.
But don’t only jump to the high-traffic keywords. You could still be optimizing your content for the wrong keyword, and you won’t get the desired results. This commonly happens when marketers don’t consider the next two factors.
At the same time, some industries get lower-ranking keywords because their market is less competitive. But when users search these niche keywords, your website will rank higher on Google.
Keyword Difficulty
Difficulty is a metric that shows the competitiveness of a keyword. Most keyword platforms express keyword difficulty as a number; the higher the number, the more difficult it will be to rank for that keyword. The answer why is simple—if other businesses are using a high-difficulty keyword, it will be more difficult to rank for that term. The key is to use a high-traffic keyword while using one that has low competition.
CPC
Cost-per-click (CPC) is a metric used by paid marketers. If you’re investing in a pay-per-click (PPC) campaign, the CPC is how much you’ll pay when a user clicks your link. Businesses usually set a budget when creating a PPC campaign, which is why CPC is integral to any paid strategy.
What if you’re not investing in a PPC campaign? You should still pay attention to this metric. The higher the CPC, the more likely your content will convert. The high cost means other competitors are willing to spend more on that keyword since they will get a better ROI.
What is a high CPC? Keyword CPCs can range between $1 to $8, and average CPC amounts vary by industry. Research the average CPC for your industry and try to find keywords worth more for your organic search rankings.
Tactics When Using Ranking Keywords
Now that you know the basics of ranking keywords, it’s time to put this knowledge to use. Here are some common tactics when optimizing your content for high-quality keywords.
Use Keywords in Metadata
Metadata appears on a Google search result, usually including the title and description. Always use your primary keyword (PKW) in these fields. This strategy will not only land you on the first page of Google—the primary keyword is the first word users will likely see, pulling them into your blog even more.
There are other metadata fields that you should focus on, such as the URL and image alt tags. For example, blog posts with shorter URLs will more than likely be in the top position of Google. A good way to cut down URL length is by only using the keyword in the URL.
Write Content for Readers
Even though SEO tactics will drive you up on the SERPs page, you’ll experience the most benefits when you write content for readers. Optimizing your content for humans will keep readers on your page longer and can even entice them to click on additional pages. This will satisfy key performance metrics, such as page click-through rate (CTR) and total time on the page.
How do you write content for readers? High-quality content means your writing is engaging. You’ll not only want to provide accurate information but will need to write clearly, using layman’s terms and avoiding industry jargon. Your blog should cover various topics in your niche to educate readers.
Your content should also be skimmable so readers can read the areas that interest them. You can do this by separating your content with headers, writing short paragraphs, using images and media, and using bulleted or numbered lists.
Create an FAQ Section
Did you know that users have asked Google more than one billion questions? Adding an FAQ section is a good way to diversify your content with high-quality keywords. There are a few ways to know which questions to answer. When typing in your keyword on Google, you will see a “People Also Ask” section. You can always start with those questions. It’s also helpful to search for the questions your own customers ask and the questions that your competitors are posting.
Keyword Ranking Can Deliver Excellent SEO Results
Keyword ranking is one of the most effective SEO strategies, but it isn’t the only one. Google’s algorithms also look for authority, credibility, authenticity, and more. If you’re using high-quality keywords in your content but are still not getting the desired results, it may be time to hire a professional.
Our company has increased organic traffic for various businesses, from local companies to larger markets. We offer a range of technical and content SEO strategies, and we always stay on top of Google algorithm changes.
Contact us if you’re interested in our services.
