SEO Keywords 101: How to Help Your Website Pages Rank High on Search Engines

We just want to build relationships with our

customers and clients, and serve them by solving their problems and keep them happy and loyal, right?

Marketing is a metaphysical dilemma as uncomfortable as those cute pants you thought you could finally fit, but as the day drags on, they start cutting off blood supply to your upper body, and you're so annoyed you want to rip them off right in front of everybody and throw them in the trash. You'll feel relief, but now you have a bigger problem! Like those annoying, uncomfortable pants, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) keywords can be stressful and uncomfortable to deal with, but they serve a real, necessary purpose. It's a relief to decide to chuck them and move on, but your audience may not find you...and that's a bigger problem.

Once you understand the basics, it's not so daunting, and the more you practice using SEO keywords, the more "comfortable" it becomes.

Why SEO Keywords Work

Google specifically processes more than 63, 000 searches per second, and as your competition closes rank, you drown in the world wide web sea.

Keywords are one of your best allies! They help you get found organically on search engines - like the almighty powerful Google. Simply stated, search engines match words phrases your target audience types in the query with the industry-specific words and phrases on your website pages, so you can be found. Keywords, used appropriately, can help you rank higher in an organic search.

How to Find the Right Keywords

> Make a list of industry-specific keyword phrases (25 to infinity) your audience might type to find your website (long-tail keywords are more specific and help you target your audience).

> Type your list of keyword phrases into a free research tool (click here for a great list of options). Choose phrases for each page of your site and see which ones are the most popular for each of your pages. This way they get individual optimization on search engines.

> Integrate the most popular and appropriate long-tail keyword phrases into your pages, social media, blogs, and newsletters in a way that's organic and natural to readers.

> Add keyword phrases into your URL, meta descriptions, and page titles. If you're a local business, be sure to work the info into these elements.

5 Basic SEO Best Practices

1. Don't stuff your space! You want to write for your readers first. Keyword stuffing exhausts your readers and they won't stick around. Not to mention Google's algorithm will crawl right past your website. One school of thought for keywords is for every 100 words on a page, your "keyword density" should be between 3 and 11 percent.

2. Add links to relevant posts and pages within your website - landing pages, blogs, newsletters, and offerings.

3. Add external links to relevant beauty, grooming, spa, or personal care info on other websites or companies with which you have a partnership. By the way that's a thing! Check out this ever-increasing business practice here.

4. Refresh your keywords at least once per month. Be sure you're "up" on the latest keyword queries. (time-consuming...I know).