Deciding what keywords to use is the first and foremost part of any SEO strategy. And that makes it the foundation upon which everything stands up. The scope to falter is next to none. That makes the whole process of researching, analysing, and repeat the whole process over and over again all the more daunting, understandably so. If you are overwhelmed by the thought of setting your keyword strategy straight, here are some important keyword mistakes that you need to avoid through and through in order to get higher rankings for your website.
1. Ignoring User Intent
When it comes to SEO, ignoring User Intent is a cardinal sin for which there is no forgiveness. Relying only on search volume and overlooking the why the users are actually searching about it can put a huge dampener on your SEO growth. Make it a point understand in a deeper what users are looking for when they come to your page and your keyword strategy will be all the more better for it.
2. Looking to Rank a Page with just One Keyword
That’s one fine way of limiting your SEO strategy. Over the past couple of years, Google has evolved to a point where it can understand the context of the search so it can present better results to the searcher. Using related terms for the target keyword phrase is a sureshot way of increasing the chances of landing a page on the first page of SERPs.
3. Targeting Keyword No One is Searching For
Honestly, why would you even think about ranking a keyword phrase that no one is looking for? You might even succeed at ranking it at the top of the first page but then again, if nobody is even looking for it, where would the traffic come for. It is simple logic that a keyword no one is searching for ignores user intent entirely. And if there user intent is not the focus, why even bother?
4. Targeting Keywords with High-volume Only
If you are only choosing high-volume keywords to target thinking they will bring in more traffic and better rankings, you are missing the point. High-volume keywords are also highly competitive and often extremely saturated, making it harder for you to rank a page or even get decent amounts of traffic. Worse, high-volume keywords often tend to overlook user intent and that is a big minus.
5. Targeting the Exact Same Keyword Phrase
When a user searches for a phrase, Google returns results for the related keywords phrases as well. If you are choosing to rank the exact keyword phrase that is either being used by your competitor or is something you want to rigidly target, you are limiting yourself in more than one ways. Include more than one related keyword phrases for traffic inflow from multiple channels.
6. Targeting the Exact Same Keyword Phrase on More than One Page
If you are using the same keyword phrase on two of your pages, Google won’t know which of the two pages to show in the search results. A user may search for something and see one of your pages that is deviating from what he or she is looking for. This is called Keyword Cannibalisation, and it will start eating your traffic and subsequent rankings.
7. Not Targeting Enough Long-tail Keywords
Because long-tail keywords often have a lower search volume or are difficult to remember, customers, and worse, SEO experts tend to ignore them. Data, on the other hand, suggests that long-tail keywords are not only easier to rank but also have higher chances of conversions. Keep healthy amounts of long-tail keywords into the mix for maximum benefits.
8. Not Performing Competitors’ Keywords Analysis
An in-depth analysis of keywords from your competition can bring to light some pretty useful insights. For instance, what are the keywords that are common but are ranking above you, or keywords you haven’t even considered yet but you definitely should. It can also highlight the kind of content you should be aiming for while trying to rank keywords.
9. Letting Clients Take the Call on Target Keywords
Customer is always right. But not when it comes to seeding keywords for fruitful growth. Clients, more often than not, are simply unaware of the intricacies of keyword ranking process and want to rank keywords that are either too broad or highly competitive. And worse, they don’t match user intent. Make your clients the starting point, but you take the final call.