| Let's talk about the very basics of SEO for a | | | | lot of quilts). The next step is to take the Google |
| minute. When you have a new site that you need | | | | volume of each phrase by searching each phrase |
| to do some optimization for, what is the first | | | | in Google. I then take the Google volume and |
| thing that you need to do? The title of this post | | | | divide that by the search volume to find a ratio. I |
| gives it away. You need to research your | | | | then sort the keywords by ratio from smallest to |
| keywords. This means, you need to decide on | | | | largest. |
| the keyword phrases that you want to rank for, | | | | This gives us a somewhat scientific method in |
| and then use current search statistics to decide | | | | finding a nice combination of search volume and |
| exactly which phrases you are going to target. In | | | | search competition. The most ideal keywords will |
| order to show exactly how I do this, I am going | | | | be those with a lot of searches and little |
| to give you an example with my mother's | | | | competition for those keywords. However, the |
| crafting website. The site still needs to be | | | | keywords we decide to use also are based on |
| reworked, however this will give us a good head | | | | the resources we have for future SEO work. If |
| start on the SEO portion of it. | | | | you have the resources to put everything you |
| To start, I'm just going to name off as many | | | | can at this website, then you might as well use |
| keyword phrases that come to my head. I say | | | | the keywords with the most search volume |
| the word "phrases" because one word terms | | | | because the effort will eventually pay off. If you |
| generally are more difficult to rank for, and many | | | | want to see rankings right away, then you should |
| people aren't searching for one word terms such | | | | choose the keywords with lower Google volume. |
| as "patterns." | | | | For example, the keyword "primitive craft |
| To start, I'm thinking about using these | | | | patterns" would be a good term because it could |
| keywords:craft patterns | | | | get ranked for quickly and it does have 1300 |
| Christmas patterns | | | | monthly searches. Think about getting the 1st |
| Christmas craft patternsholiday patternsholiday | | | | result in Google for this term in the next month |
| craft patternsanimal patternsanimal craft | | | | or two. That would mean 1300 people finding your |
| patternsquilt patternscute patternsadorable | | | | website and reading your title and description. |
| patterns | | | | In this situation, I like to focus both on some long |
| There. That is a good list. I just named off | | | | phrases as well as the short phrases, and match |
| everything that came to my head. Another good | | | | them up. For example, I really like the term |
| strategy would be to look over the site for | | | | "primitive craft patterns" as well as just "craft |
| keyword phrases already being used. This is a | | | | patterns." What I can at first is focus my efforts |
| brainstorming session, so take anything and | | | | on just "primitive craft patterns" and rank for |
| everything you can think of. Another good tip | | | | that quickly. While I am doing that, the term |
| would be to look at your competitor's website. | | | | "craft patterns" will be helped and we should see |
| View the source code and find the META | | | | some traction on that keyword because of the |
| Keywords section of the code. This section should | | | | similarity. Once we rank well for "primitive craft |
| be a good representation of what keywords your | | | | patterns," I can drop "primitive" from my SEO |
| competitor is looking to rank for. This spy work | | | | efforts, and I already have that head start on my |
| can really help you against the competition. | | | | main term of "craft patterns." I can do this same |
| Once we have the keywords, we are going to | | | | thing for my other keywords such as "Christmas |
| use the Google AdWords tool. I'm going to copy | | | | craft patterns" or "Christmas quilt patterns." |
| and paste our list into this tool (making sure to | | | | Finally, I find it is a good idea to pick maybe three |
| keep 'Use Synonyms' checked) and sort the | | | | or four actual keyword phrases. We only have so |
| results by Global Monthly Search Volume. | | | | much space on the website, and we don't want |
| What this tool does is tell me what the search | | | | to dilute our SEO resources over many |
| volume of the terms I entered in are, as well as | | | | keywords. I will use the rest of this list though. I |
| other terms I might have missed. We always | | | | always need a good amount of keywords to |
| want to use the Global Monthly Search Volume, | | | | track rankings. As we start to gain traction on our |
| because it has an overall look at the keyword | | | | main keywords, we should see success on those |
| instead of just by the month. | | | | longer keyword phrases. |
| From here, I will take all of the relevant results | | | | I hope this guide will be helpful to all of you as |
| and list them in an spreadsheet along with their | | | | you get started on your next SEO project. I will |
| monthly search volume. I am throwing out all the | | | | update this guide as I learn better techniques and |
| free patterns (these patterns aren't free) as well | | | | find out new strategies. |
| as many of the quilting keywords (we don't sell a | | | | |