Google makes thousands of tweaks to its algorithm throughout the year and several major updates every year. SEO is a long-term strategy that requires ongoing maintenance and adaptation to changes in search engine algorithms and user behavior.

How can you win the SEO game? Here are some of the foundational things you need to pay attention to if you want to improve your search engine optimization and improve organic results.

Learn About Key SEO Strategies

The book by StrongerContent.com CEO Paul Dughi covers the essentials areas you need to master to produce effective search engine optimization, including:

1. Keyword Research
2. On-Page Optimization
3. Off-Page Optimization
4. Local SEO
5. Technical SEO
6. Content Marketing & SEO
7. Content Promotion & SEO
8. Measurement and Optimization
9. Advanced SEO Strategies
10. Case Studies and Key Takeaways

You can read chapter one here:

Keyword Research

Keyword research is an essential component of any SEO strategy. It is the foundation upon which your website’s content and optimization are built.

The Importance of Keywords

Keywords are the words and phrases that people use to search for information, products, or services on search engines like Google or Bing. The right keywords are critical to the success of your SEO strategy. When people search for something online, they usually use specific words or phrases that are relevant to their query.

By identifying the keywords that your target audience is using, you can optimize your website’s content and structure to ensure that it appears at the top of the search engine results page (SERP) for those queries.

Finding the Right Keywords

To find the right keywords for your website, you need to understand your target audience and the type of information they are looking for. You can start by brainstorming a list of potential keywords and then using keyword research tools to identify which ones are the most relevant and valuable.

Keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush can help you identify the most popular and relevant keywords for your website. These tools will provide you with insights into the search volume, competition, and cost-per-click (CPC) of different keywords. By analyzing this data, you can identify the keywords that are most relevant to your business, have a high search volume, and have low competition.

Finding the best-performing keywords that will drive conversions requires a combination of keyword research, data analysis, and testing. Here are some tips for finding the best-performing keywords for your website:

1. Start with a seed list of relevant keywords – Begin by creating a list of relevant keywords that are related to your business and products or services.
2. Analyze the search volume and competition – Use keyword research tools to analyze the search volume and competition for each keyword on your list. Look for keywords with a high search volume and low competition, as these are more likely to drive conversions.
3. Focus on long-tail keywords – Long-tail keywords are more specific and targeted than generic keywords, which means they are more likely to drive conversions. Focus on long-tail keywords that are relevant to your business and have a high search volume.
4. Analyze your website’s data – Use website analytics tools like Google Analytics to analyze the keywords that are driving traffic and conversions to your website. Look for patterns and trends in the data to identify the keywords that are most effective at driving conversions.
5. Test and optimize – Once you have identified the keywords that are most effective at driving conversions, test and optimize your website’s content and structure to maximize their impact. A/B testing can help you determine which variations of your website’s content and structure are most effective at driving conversions.
6. Monitor and adjust – Continuously monitor your website’s data and adjust your strategy as needed. As search trends and consumer behavior change, your keyword strategy may need to be updated to remain effective.

Keyword Discovery Plugins for WordPress Users

WordPress users can deploy various plugins to help with keyword discovery, which is a crucial component of effective onsite SEO. These plugins can help users identify high-traffic keywords related to their content and optimize their pages accordingly. Here are some popular WordPress plugins that can aid in keyword discovery:

1. Yoast SEO: This is one of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress. It has a feature called “focus keyword” that allows users to enter a keyword and get suggestions for related keywords. The plugin also provides an analysis of the page’s content and suggests improvements to improve its relevance for the target keyword.
2. SEMrush: SEMrush is a powerful SEO tool that offers an SEO Writing Assistant plugin for WordPress. This plugin provides real-time suggestions on how to optimize your content for a target keyword, including guidance on keyword density, readability, and more.
3. Google Keyword Planner: This is a free tool provided by Google that allows users to find keywords related to their content. The plugin connects with the Google Keyword Planner API and provides a list of related keywords and their search volume.
4. Keyword Tool: This plugin provides users with keyword suggestions based on a topic or keyword phrase. It pulls data from Google, Bing, YouTube, and other sources to provide a comprehensive list of potential keywords.
5. Rank Math: This is another popular SEO plugin for WordPress. It has a feature called “Keyword Suggestions” that provides a list of related keywords and their search volume. The plugin also provides an analysis of the page’s content and suggests improvements to optimize for the target keyword.

By deploying these plugins, WordPress users can gain valuable insights into the keywords that are most relevant to their content and optimize their pages to rank higher in search engine results pages.

Long-tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that people use to search for information. They are usually less competitive than shorter keywords because they are more specific and targeted. Long-tail keywords are essential for businesses that operate in niche markets or have specialized products or services. For example, if you sell handmade jewelry, a long-tail keyword like “handmade silver bracelets for women” would be more effective than a generic keyword like “bracelets.”

Here are some reasons why long-tail keywords are important for your SEO strategy:

1. Less competition: Generic keywords tend to have a lot of competition, making it difficult for your website to rank for them. Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, have less competition and are easier to rank for. By focusing on long-tail keywords, you can increase your chances of ranking higher in search results and driving more traffic to your website.
2. Higher conversion rate: Long-tail keywords are more specific and targeted, which means they attract users who are looking for something specific. These users are often further down the sales funnel and are more likely to convert into paying customers. By targeting long-tail keywords, you can increase your chances of driving high-quality traffic to your website and boosting your conversion rate.
3. Improved user experience: By targeting long-tail keywords, you can create more targeted and relevant content for your users. This improves the user experience and makes it more likely that users will stay on your website and engage with your content.

Here are some tips for finding and using long-tail keywords in your SEO strategy:

1. Look for keywords that are specific and targeted to your niche.
2. When targeting long-tail keywords, it’s important to focus on user intent. What are users looking for when they search for these keywords? What questions are they trying to answer? By understanding user intent, you can create content that meets their needs and drives conversions.
3. Once you’ve identified relevant long-tail keywords, use them in your website’s content, including blog posts, product descriptions, and landing pages. Be sure to use the keywords naturally and organically, without stuffing them into your content.
4. Continuously monitor your website’s data and adjust your strategy as needed. As search trends and consumer behavior change, your keyword strategy may need to be updated to remain effective.

Real-world Examples of How to Use Keywords

Here are some real-world examples of how to use keywords to improve your website’s search engine ranking:

1. Use keywords in your website’s content – Incorporate keywords into your website’s content, including blog posts, product descriptions, and landing pages. Make sure that the keywords are relevant to the content and flow naturally.
2. Use keywords in your website’s meta titles and descriptions – Meta titles and descriptions appear in the search engine results page (SERP) and can influence whether someone clicks through to your website. Use relevant keywords in your meta titles and descriptions to improve your click-through rate.
3. Use keywords in your website’s URL – Your website’s URL is another opportunity to incorporate relevant keywords. For example, if you sell organic coffee, your URL could be something like “www.yourwebsite.com/organic-coffee.”
4. Use keywords in your website’s internal linking – Internal linking helps search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of your website. By using relevant keywords in your internal linking, you can help search engines understand the context and relevance of your content.

The full text is available on Amazon as either a hard copy or eBook for Kindle readers.