For years, SEO experts have been touting keywords as the key to getting your website noticed. But in the age of AI and machine learning, do keywords still matter for SEO?
Yes, keywords still matter for SEO, and will continue to be important forever. Keywords are what differentiate one blog from the other, and their natural usage can help your blogs rank higher for their related queries.
With that said, let’s look at how keywords can still be used to boost your SEO efforts.
Why Do Keywords Matters in SEO?
Keywords can still have a powerful impact on your SEO efforts, as many search engines still use them to determine the relevance of web pages. When it comes down to it, keywords are simply words or phrases people use to search for something.
If you want your site to appear in the SERPs (search engine results pages), ensuring it is optimized with keywords is still necessary. By including the right keywords on your site, you signal to search engines that you have content relevant to what people are looking for.
How to Use Keywords for SEO?
As an SEO expert, I recommend following the “less is more” approach regarding keyword usage. When optimizing your site for SEO, ensure you have a few high-value keywords relevant to your content and use them judiciously throughout your web pages.
Also, don’t forget about long-tail keywords! These longer terms can help you get found by people looking for solutions to their problems. According to Word Stream, almost 50% of keywords contain 4 or more words.
Here is how I have been using keywords, and below are top strategies that you can use to get the most out of keywords for your SEO efforts:
- Research relevant keywords and use them in page titles, meta descriptions, headings, and throughout your content.
- Don’t overuse keywords (Google considers this “keyword stuffing”). Instead, try to use keywords naturally throughout the content.
- Use long-tail keyword variations to target niche audiences and topics.
- Update your keywords regularly to ensure your content is relevant and up-to-date.
- Monitor search engine rankings for specific keywords to track your SEO efforts’ progress.
Finding the Right Keywords
Before optimizing your website for SEO, you need to find the right keywords. Many tools can help you with keyword research, such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner, KW Finder, or other premium tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and so on!
I would recommend thoroughly searching short and long-tail keywords to get an idea of what people are searching for related to your topic. Once you find a list of relevant keywords, you can optimize your site.
Before starting your keyword, ask yourself these questions:
- How is my target audience searching for this topic?
- What words or phrases can I use to describe the content on my site best?
- Are there any interesting long-tail variations that I could use?
You only want targeted traffic, leads, and sales from organic search engine results. So, depending on your industry and target audience, keywords can still be a great way to get found in the SERPs and boost your SEO efforts.
If you don’t have time to find the right keywords and optimize your website for SEO, you can always hire an SEO expert like me.
I am an SEO specialist certified by the University of California, Davis. I have been helping businesses create effective SEO campaigns for over five years. My journey started in 2019, and I continuously refined my expertise.
Whether you are looking for SEO consulting or website audit, I have got you covered. If you want to learn more about my services, Contact Me today. I am always open to discussing opportunities and helping businesses grow online.
Final Notes
Keywords still play an important role in SEO, but they are not what they used to be. Search engines focus more on user intent, so just including the right keywords in your content is not enough.
Remember, SEO is not just about keywords. It’s about creating a great user experience and satisfying your audience’s needs. As an SEO specialist, I can help you create an effective SEO strategy that considers keyword research and other factors like content optimization, link building, and technical SEO.
Let me know if you have any questions related to SEO, I’d be happy to help.
