Keywords are the words or phrases that people use when searching for things online. The exact words they are typing into those search engines are crucial to how you title your articles and web pages, if you want these searchers to find these. There are keyword research tools for discovering how people search.
I have used many of these tools, and I always will. Initially, I looked for keywords with high demand. Then I learned about demand/supply ratios, and started looking for those keywords with decent demand, but fewer web pages targeting them. Then I discovered that the quality of that supply was crucial. I found I could compete on some keywords that are used all over, while failing to compete for those that are used much less.
These are valuable things to learn about. Good keyword research is still a crucial art of building a profitable website. However, are there times when you can just simplify the process, or skip it altogether? I think so.
Simplified Keyword Research
When can you radically simplify your keyword research? When you are determined to have several pages or article on a topic, and there are only a few good keywords for this topic. In that case, just write pages or articles targeting all the appropriate keywords.
For example, if you have a new section on brainstorming for your web site about brainpower, you may find only six keywords that are searched more than 200 times per month. "Brainstorming techniques," may be easy to compete on, while "brainstorming" is tough, but if you have the material in your notes and your head, these are going to be easy pages to make. Why not just make a page for each?
In my experience this works especially well if you are writing articles as well as making pages targeting the keywords. A competitive keyword that you can't use to get traffic to your site will sometimes get search traffic for a more highly ranked article directory - and then the readers can click through to your site. Thus, you can compete indirectly for traffic from tough keywords.
Skipping The Keyword Research
If you are writing on a topic that is of interest to you for a new page, and you can't seem to find good keywords, stop trying. When you have an interest in a topic, and you aren't thinking about what phrases need to be included, you do a better job writing, right? Your site can use some quality pages like that, even if they aren't found in the search engines. The visitors to your site can find them by way of your own navigational links, and they may become repeat visitors if they find quality writing.
Another example of when you can skip the keyword research is when you are writing articles to promote your web site. Generally, even these should be keyword optimized, but there is an exception. When you have a great title, use it regardless of whether you have good keywords in it. A keyword like "travel safety" might have decent traffic, but a title like, "I Was Kidnapped In Columbia" will get attention - and readers.
Of course, they won't find it in the search results. They will only find it when browsing the article directories where you submit the article. That's okay. You can rewrite it at some point, using the better keywords, so you can get the search traffic as well. Do your keyword research. It really is necessary - most of the time.
Copyright Steve Gillman. He lost money on his websites until he discovered the power of articles. Six months later he was making a good living online. To learn how you can do the same, get your free online writing course at: http://www.999articles.com
