Picking Keywords for Your Site

May 17, 2009

Determining how to use keywords can seem daunting.  First you have to determine which keywords your target market might use to find your services or products.  Then you need to research to make sure you have keywords that are being searched for, and finally, determining your keywords and phrases based on search criteria.

Now what?

I recommend using your site map.  By having a diagram of your entire web site, you can easily determine where to use each of your keywords and key phrases.  Here’s how it works:

1. Put your higher level keywords on the higher level pages.  These keywords are the most broad, such as leadership versus executive leadership training.  Your higher level pages would include your home page, and then any page that describes overall areas such as services, broad products, etc.
2. Use your more detailed keywords and phrases for secondary pages.  These would be pages that go into more detail about services or products.  For example, this is where you might use leadership training.
3. Use your key phrases to any page that describes a very specific product or service.  These are pages that typically only cover one subject or product, and do so in great detail. Think of these pages as the place where your buyers will want to go to understand in great detail what you are offering them. These pages are appropriate for a long-tail search phrase.

By outlining each of your keywords and phrases on your site map before you begin actually optimizing your web content, you will find it much easier to develop the site. The map gives you a reference point, and allows you to make sure you stay on task regarding your keywords.  Plus, your content will definitely stay on-point.

Writing Exercise – Let’s Use Color

May 1, 2009

I have found one of the best ways for me to keep writing is to mix it up a bit.  What I mean by that is I write blog posts, articles web pages, journalistic articles, research papers, speeches…whatever I can to learn a variety of writing styles.  Plus, I also do some personal writing where I just allow my own ideas and feelings to flow.

Why?

Because, I have learned that by writing about multiple topics and using various styles helps your writing style, helps you find your best voice, and keeps you from getting bored.  For me boredom is the kiss of death!  I’m more like my border collies – if I’m bored I will get into trouble.

So, I’m going to share one of the exercises I did in a writing group recently. It was very interesting because everyone in the room handled the same topic very differently.  If you know other people who like to write, then I recommend doing this together, and reading your results out loud.  There is no right or wrong way to do this, so no pressure.  But you will enjoy the experience much more by sharing with others.

Here goes…write about the color blue.  It does not matter how you decide to use it (a color, emotion, etc) and just free write.  Don’t edit yourself or try to make it perfect.  Just use blue and write until you feel you have thoroughly covered your topic.  It can be a couple of sentences, but a paragraph is best.  I’ll share mine below.  Hope you’ll share as well!

I watch my niece’s focus intensify as she strains to pick up a Cheerio. She’s so little and her fingers don’t always work the way she wants, so that Cheerio is not only her snack, but right now her nemesis.  She furrows her little brow, her lips turn blue, or almost purple, from pursing them so tight, and she makes this crazy little grunting noise.  I hold my breath so I do not laugh while she works so hard at picking up the Cheerio until finally – success!  She pops the annoying little circle in her mouth, and beams at me, her bright blue eyes full of life and joy…until the next Cheerio.

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