| Choosing your primary keywords may be one of the | | | | Your secondary keywords can be a little more |
| most difficult parts of good SEO. It is also, however, | | | | flexible than your primary keyword or keyword |
| one of the most important. When you begin | | | | phrase. Pick the words people are most likely to use |
| optimizing your website for search engines, you will | | | | when searching for your product or information. You |
| need to choose one primary keyword or keyword | | | | should ideally have between four and six secondary |
| phrase, and four to six secondary keywords. | | | | keywords, but if necessary, pick as many as ten. |
| These keywords are going to be essential later on. | | | | Don't go above ten, as too many keywords end up |
| You won't just use them for a single page on your | | | | diluting the importance of any of your keywords. |
| website. Instead, they should feature prominently on | | | | Look for a blend of general and specific secondary |
| each page of your website, in any website-related | | | | keywords. Better yet, make one or two of them |
| blogs, in any website-related newsletters, and in any | | | | keyphrases, such as "handcrafted knit scarves" that |
| website-related press releases. SEO goes beyond | | | | blend the specifics of the three words together with |
| just a website. | | | | the generalness of each individual word. |
| With that in mind, look for keywords that will stand | | | | Once you have your keywords, don't limit them to |
| the test of time. Avoid keywords that are too | | | | just your website. Use your primary keyword phrase |
| general; you want targeted keywords for targeted | | | | every time you link to your website, in blogs, in |
| traffic. But don't swerve to the opposite extreme; a | | | | newsletters, and in RSS feeds. Don't overlook |
| keyword is no good if it's something so specific that | | | | relevant forum signatures! The right keywords, used |
| no one would ever search for it. | | | | in the right way, can be invaluable. |