Keyword Research Offers Unique Insight Into Search Engine Trends

          Do you think you know and have a keen eye for what people are interested in and searching Google and the Internet for? Boy, I sure thought I did. I have read all the articles and blogs on how to increase traffic to your website. And likewise, listened to the social media experts talk about the importance of keyword research. However, I have often looked the other way, confident in my own understanding of the human species. Wrong!

          Last night, I began diving a little deeper into Google and other search engines. When it comes to keyword research, most of us are probably more often than not just wrong. While the television reporters are busy keeping us up to date with the latest news headlines for Lindsay Lohan jail excursion and the Kardashian Twitter results, Joe and Susie American are looking for something a little different. Sure they are browsing the latest offerings from Ebay stores and maybe even reviewing the latest make money online scam. However, after checking email, updating their Facebook page and downloading a song from iTunes, the keywords that are burning up their MacBook Pro might surprise you.

          By now, you are saying “Ok, J.C., we get it!” How about some examples? Well, let us begin with “dirty cops caught on tape?” There is also famous deaths, small business loans, government jobs, public offenders and child molesters, creative writing, royalty free music, read books online free, blog hosting, studio condenser microphone, along with birth and death records. At this point, I can hear some say, well what about sex? As a keyword, sex is great. However, the phrase “hot mom” ranks better, believe it or not. Did you realize that “ways to commit suicide” is another popular choice? Gothic outranks fetish and thigh highs are better than pantyhose, but enough about that.

          Do you still think you know what people are searching for? Where do you go from here? If you are like me and hope to draw more traffic to your articles, increase traffic to your website, develop your brand, or simply expand your social media platform, keyword research is critical. It is the very foundation of any effective search engine optimization campaign. There are many ways to go about it, from the time-consuming, manual, free research to the more expensive keyword research software. Lisa Barone wrote an interesting blog contribution, Five Steps to Effective Keyword Research. It is a great place to start.  I would caution you, avoid the $995 options, which are the latest make money at home online scams. If you had $995 to throw away on an Internet scam, I would not consider you as someone that even needs to perform keyword research. In fact, I would be asking you to hire me to do the research for you. Cherish the thought.

          Once you have taken the necessary steps for effective keyword research, it will then be time to pick those you like and construct a few articles around those keywords. If your goal of writing is to simply express your thoughts, then not every article will require such research. In fact, I am considering writing an article about how I enjoy the sound of the wind passing through the trees in early fall. I just might do it too! However, I hope that you and I remember the following: While you and I may not find “Ecuadorian ants and their hope for an early death” interesting, it might be just what Joe and Susie American, along with an entire group of people are searching for.  Happy writing and research my friends!

J.C. Shelton 2010 All Rights Reserved