What are SEO Keywords and Description?
About this Video
In this video I’m going to teach you not only how, but also why it’s important to define quality SEO keywords, one main CTA, and write a SEO Site Description.
How do you define quality SEO keywords, one main CTA, and write a SEO website description? In this video I’ll teach you not only HOW but also why it’s important to create and put these brand elements in place!
I know SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can seem like an intimidating thing… so I promise to make this simple and give you exact steps you can follow to better optimize your website and online content for search.
First, I want to make sure you understand what SEO is and isn’t…
SEO isn’t “magic” and it’s not going to “skyrocket” your website or online presence. It’s a tool to help you get found online in search, but the quality of what your have to offer is what will determine if people stick around and take action.
Website SEO is graded based on a variety of factors like whether or not your website includes a SEO description, the appropriate use of header text, to how many other sites link to yours and how reputable those sites are/aren’t! So, you can’t just “turn SEO on or off!” It’s something you build up in many different ways. People come to me for SEO after their site is built, but that’s not how it works… SEO is something you have to figure out in the brand building phase before you create your website, which is why this is the first video in series.
SEO Keyword Phrases
I always say, “Google can’t read your mind.” You won’t just appear in search for a keyword/keyword phrase because you think you should. You have to use words to tell Google what you want to rank for. To “tell” Google, I mean you have to come up with relevant keywords and use them prominently (but in a way that still makes sense) on your website.
I also want to talk about the difference between a 1 word keyword vs keyword phrases. For example: “music” vs “Nashville piano lessons,” or even “Nashville piano lessons for adults” if you want to be even more specific. Not only would it be extremely hard to rank for such a common/popular keyword like “music,” but that’s not going to help you find the people you want on your website anyways, right? The more specific you can be, the more beneficial your SEO strategy will be for your online brand.
Another example of SEO keyword phrase use is those dang online recipe blog posts… you know, the ones that go on forever before they actually get to the recipe? They’re not trying to make it hard for us to make the food, they’re really just trying to use keywords so they can have their recipe get found in search (and therefore serve us up those ads that are embedded all over their posts, too).
To-Do #1: come up with a 2-4 word keyword phrase that accurately describes your brand
Bonus points if you tell me in the comments what your main SEO keyword phrase target is going to be!
SEO Site Description
Once you have your keyword phrase(s) defined, it’s time to write your SEO description (your SEO site description is what shows up under your website link on search).
And I have 5 rules you need to follow when writing your SEO description:
Include main keyword phrase
Include your brand name
Include CTA
Make it conversational
Appropriate length
We’ve covered keyword phrases, but what’s a CTA? A call to action. We’ll continue with our music example… book a lesson, buy concert tickets, presave album. It could be a variety of things, and your site and online content can include them ALL, but…
To-Do #2: you need to pick the one that’s most important to achieving your current career goals to be your main CTA.
The analogy I always like to use here is think about when you go shopping. You walk into the store and someone greets you and says, “welcome, jeans are 20% off, let me know if you have any questions!” They don’t say, “welcome! jeans are 20% off, we have new sweaters, deals on tees in the back, and don’t forget to sign up for our email list before you leave!”
That would all go over your head and you’d tune them out and listen to none of it. The same applies to your website/online content CTA. Pick ONE and focus on it so you can lead people to the action you want them to take.
Once you define your CTA, it’s time to…
To-Do #3: Piece together your SEO site description.
Here’s a formula for you to make it as simple as possible: Brand name + keyword phrase. Call to action.
Then use the SEO tool here (SEObility.net) to refine the length. As you’re typing in the description box, you want to make sure the bar turns GREEN. That’s when you know your description length is SEO friendly.
One more thing before we call this SEO lesson done… if you already have a Squarespace site and want to add in your new SEO site description, once you’re logged click in the sidebar to: Marketing > SEO Appearance > SEO Site Description.
Recap SEO to-dos:
Keyword phrase(s)
Call to action
SEO site description
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