Keyword Strategy for Small Businesses

How to Create a Killer Keyword Strategy for Your Small Business

Are you a small business owner looking to get more customers from search engines? Having a good keyword strategy is key. Let's talk about how to find the right keywords to help your business show up when people search online.

Why Keywords Matter for Small Businesses

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into search engines when looking for something. As a small business, you want to use the keywords your customers are searching for. This helps your website show up in search results.

Using the right keywords can:

- Bring more visitors to your website

- Help you reach customers ready to buy

- Make your marketing more effective

- Put you ahead of competitors

Let's look at how to create a keyword strategy that works for your small business.

How to Find the Right Keywords

Start with Brainstorming

The first step is to think like your customers. What words would they use to find your business? Make a list of:

- Your products or services

- Problems you solve

- Questions customers ask

- Your location

For example, a local bakery might start with keywords like:

- Fresh baked goods

- Birthday cakes

- Best cookies in [city name]

- Gluten-free desserts

Use Keyword Research Tools

Next, use free online tools to expand your keyword list:

- Google Keyword Planner

- Answer the Public

- Ubersuggest

These tools show you related keywords and how often they're searched. Look for keywords with decent search volume that match what you offer.

Check Out Competitors

See what keywords your competitors rank for. Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs can show you this info. You may find keyword ideas you hadn't thought of.

Think Local

For local businesses, add your city or area to keywords. "Plumber in Chicago" is better than just "plumber" if you serve Chicago.

Choosing the Best Keywords

Now that you have a big list, it's time to narrow it down. Here's how to pick the best keywords for your business:

Look at Search Volume

Search volume shows how many times a keyword is searched each month. Higher is generally better, but super high volume keywords are often very competitive.

For small businesses, keywords with 100-1000 monthly searches can be a sweet spot. They have decent volume but may be easier to rank for.

Consider Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty tells you how hard it would be to rank on the first page of search results. As a small business, focus on lower difficulty keywords at first.

Match User Intent

Think about what someone searching that keyword is looking for. Does your content match their needs? Keywords that align with what you offer are best.

Mix Short and Long-Tail Keywords

Short keywords (1-2 words) often have high search volume but are very competitive. Long-tail keywords (3+ words) are more specific and usually easier to rank for.

Use a mix of both. Long-tail keywords can help you get quicker wins while you work on ranking for tougher short keywords.

How to Use Keywords Effectively

Once you've chosen your keywords, here's how to use them:

Optimize Your Website

Use your main keywords in important places on your website:

- Page titles

- Headers (H1, H2, etc.)

- First paragraph of content

- Image alt text

- Meta descriptions

Don't overdo it though. Use keywords naturally where they make sense.

Create Helpful Content

Write blog posts, articles, and other content around your keywords. Focus on giving helpful info to your readers. Search engines like content that answers people's questions.

Use Keywords in Titles

Your page titles are super important for SEO. Include your main keyword near the start of the title when possible.

Optimize for Local Search

If you serve local customers, use location-based keywords. Also claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.

Track Your Results

Keep an eye on how your keywords are performing:

- Check your search rankings regularly

- Look at website traffic in Google Analytics

- See which keywords bring in customers

Adjust your strategy based on what's working. SEO takes time, so be patient and keep improving.

Conclusion

A good keyword strategy can help your small business get found online. Start by brainstorming and researching keywords your customers use. Choose a mix of keywords that match your business and aren't too competitive. Then use those keywords in your website content and track how they perform.

With the right keywords, you can attract more customers and grow your business through search engines. Keep learning and tweaking your approach for the best results.

FAQs

1. How many keywords should a small business focus on?

Start with 10-20 core keywords, then expand from there as you create more content.

2. How often should I update my keyword strategy?

Review your keywords every 3-6 months. Search trends change, so stay on top of what people are looking for.

3. Do I need to pay for keyword research tools?

No, you can start with free tools. Paid tools offer more data but aren't necessary for most small businesses.

4. What if my competitors are using the same keywords?

Don't worry - there's room for multiple businesses. Focus on creating better content and user experience around those keywords.

5. How long does it take to see results from keyword optimization?

It varies, but expect to see some improvement in 3-6 months. Big changes may take 6-12 months or more.

Key Data Points

1. 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine (BrightEdge)

2. The first 5 organic results in Google get 67.6% of all clicks (Zero Limit Web)

3. 50% of search queries are four words or longer (WordStream)

4. 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information (GoGulf)

5. Websites with a blog have 434% more indexed pages than those without (Tech Client)