There are a limited number of words that you can put in the key search engine optimization (SEO) spots on the your site (i.e. title tags, headings, sub-headings, etc.). If you’re looking to maximize your traffic from the search engines then you need to do research to determine which words will give you the best “bang for your buck”.

I’ve had several conversations with clients over the last week regarding the importance of keyword research when performing SEO on a website. The whole idea of keyword research seems a bit funny doesn’t it? I mean, its your site and you know your customers, right? You probably think you know what people are going to type into Google when they are looking for your products and/or services.

As it turns out, if you did some keyword research you might be really surprised what your potential customers are typing into Google!

I just read a great overview on keyword research which seems to cover all the bases. If you own a website that relies on the search engines to generate traffic (most sites) then give it a read and you’ll be up to speed on what keyword research is, how it works, and why you should do it for your site.

Five Steps to Effective Keyword Research By Lisa Barone