Karl Kasca

Here's a powerful way to use the new Google Search-based Keyword Tool to Optimize your website. This method will easily show you which keywords are best for your site. Benefit: This is a free way to raise your site in the search engine results.

Strategy

Example

Action Steps

1. Search "Google AdWords Keyword Tool" for:



1. Descriptive words or phrases, e.g,: pasadena assisted living - to find keywords related to search terms as well as additional keyword to consider.



1. Website content, e.g., http://www.villagardens.org - to find keyword groupings



1. - For both of these searches, be sure to click on "Local Search" to rank (downsort) the number of searches per month.
   



2. Search "Google Search-based Keyword Tool"



1. Word or phrase, e.g., pasadena assisted living or



1. Several words/phrases, e.g., pasadena, assisted living (separated by commas) - to find categories



1. - This brings up Categories for the search as well (e.g., Home & Garden, Real Estate, etc.).



1. - Note that prices for the Suggested bids for the Google AdWords are shown (e.g., $3.19), as well as the number of monthly searches.



1. Website, e.g., www.villagardens.org



1. - This is great because you find out not only the info you did in the search above (number and prices), but also which keywords/phrases are used on YOUR website, as well as on which pages of your website they occur!



1. Note: Hover over the keywords to view the full keyword phrase (usually at the bottom of your browser window).



2. Note: And FYI (for your information) the results will be stronger if you log-in using your Google AdWords account. (We'll have upcoming articles on Google AdWords, from the basics on up).



3. IMPORTANT: Export the results of your keyword and/or website searches to a spreadsheet, e.g., MS-Excel. (see Video).



1. Then you can further "slice-and-dice" the results by sorting by different columns to see things like:



1. Alphabetized listing of keywords.



2. Number of monthly search (most/least).



3. Compeitition



4. Suggested bid (for your Google Ad to be in the top 3 ads).



5. Webpage Titles and/or Webpage URLS



6. Categories
   



3. Next, do a Google search for the main keyword/phrase you've identified, e.g., pasadena assisted living.



1. - Note the "Sponsored Links" (Google AdWords results) at the top and right-side of the webpage.



1. - Then note the "Local business results for assisted living near Pasadena, CA".



1. VERY IMPORTANT: You should get a listing for both your business/website at: 1) Google's Local Business Center, as well as 2) a Google Profile for your business.



1. - This will help to assure your business will be found in Google's local business results. Note that at the time of this writing, our example company's site (Villa Gardens) is *not* shown on the first page/group of listings (see Video). More are listed at a link, but the chances of someone clicking and going there is small.



1. - Also, note that the first "organic"/natural search result is for Regency Park Senior Living and that Villa Gardens isn't even on the first page of search results (see Video).



1. Now we know the main web search competitor (if not business competitor) for Villa Gardens.
   



4. Competitors: One thing you could do is to go back to either or both of Google AdWords Keyword & Search-based tools (above) and run their competitors website to see what you can find out about the keywords they're using on their website.



1. - This is good "due diligence" and you should do it (for several of your/Villa Gardens' web search competitors).
   



5. Spyfu: But we can also run our site on Spyfu.com:



1. Run your site (e.g., villagardens.org) on Spyfu.



1. - Note that at the time of this writing Villa Gardens didn't have any Google AdWords or AdWord campaigns. (see Video).



1. Run your competitors site (e.g., Regency Park) on Spyfu.



1. - Note that (at the time of this writing) Regency Park has a Daily Ad Budget of $0.49 - $0.84 and has been running Google AdWords campaigns since August, 2008 (about a year) from the graph displayed on Spyfu. (See Video).



1. - Regency Park's most recent AdWord campaign is for "pasadena homes" (at the time of this writing - see Video).
   



6. IMPORTANT: Website Optimization:



1. Now knowing everything you know about the best/most likely keywords/phrases for your major competitors (Regency Park, etc.) as well as the keywords you're using on your site (Villa Gardens) you can go back to your website and webpages and insert and/or delete or modify the keywords and phrases on all of your webpages so you can have the most "organically"/naturally optimized site possible, given the info you've gained from the tools and techniques in the Action Steps above.
   



7. IMPORTANT: "Rinse and Repeat" (just like shampoo!)
   



1. It's also important that you go back from time to time and re-do the Actions Steps/analysis above and the Re-Optimize your website as needed to assure your site will stay as high as possible in the Google's search results.
   



8. This isn't all there is to website optimization (Search Engine Optimization), see our other articles on SEO, but it should definitely help your site in the search results. :)

Video on Using the Google Search-based Keyword Tool to Optimize your Website

- Remember: You can fast-forward the Video by pulling the slider to the right until you find the info you want/need. :)

Resources

See "Related Articles" below for other articles you may find helpful for your Keyword research for Titles as well as website content.


ARTICLE DATE: 2009-08-11
REVISED DATE:

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