Building Your Own Business Website: Keyword Research

Introduction to Keywords

• Keywords are essential for your website to be found online based on the services provided in your local market.
• The lecture focuses on basic keyword research techniques for those starting their business websites.

Importance of Keywords

• Helps in ranking your business for searches related to your service.
• It’s crucial to think logically about keywords—often they are straightforward based on service and location:
  • Example Keywords:
    • Junk Removal in Paso Robles, CA
    • Roofing in Fresno, CA
    • Plumbers in St. George, UT

Keyword Research Basics

• Start by identifying main keywords related to your business and location.
• Example: If you're a junk removal business in Paso Robles, your main keyword would be “junk removal Paso Robles.”
• Explore different keyword variations and deeper topics when building more substantial content for larger websites.

Tools for Keyword Research

1. Keywords Everywhere

• A paid tool (approx. $72 per year) that integrates into Google Chrome.
• Provides keyword search volume and other data.
• Useful for finding search terms relevant to your business.
• Example Use:
  • Searching for "Home Remodeling" in San Ramon gives a search volume of 60 searches/month.

2. Other Suggested Keywords

• Keywords Everywhere will suggest other related keywords based on user searches.
  • Example searches for Home Remodeling should include keywords for different services like bathroom remodels, kitchen remodels, etc.

3. Ahrefs (Free SEO Tools)

• Allows checking competitors and their traffic to find effective keywords they are ranked against.
• Example: For a plumber in St. George, insights about search volume and traffic can be gathered.

Keyword Strategy

• Homepage should primarily focus on the main service keyword.
• Structure content around services offered and ensure to include relevant keywords naturally.
• Create specific pages for various services to enhance the site’s chances for ranking.
• Example Pages:
  • Plumbing services
  • Tree services in Santa Barbara

Content Creation

• Write content as if speaking directly to potential customers; this includes answering commonly asked questions about services.
• Produce quality content that addresses customer needs, not just to satisfy SEO metrics.

Addressing Competition

• Keep an eye on competitors’ keywords and traffic—this can help refine your website strategy.
• If competitors are running ads, it indicates the keyword is valuable and potentially profitable to pursue.

Conclusion

• Keyword research isn't overly complicated; it's about thinking sensibly about what people search for regarding your services.
• Focus on building trust with Google and producing human-friendly content to improve your search visibility.