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