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2007-05-26

Do Search Engines ...

Do Search Engines Pay Attention To Your Keywords?

Who wants to know and why?

In a pay-per-click business model you have three core elements - keywords, ads and bids. This is a monetary concept that supposedly pays you back for your efforts. For the majority of users, it has turned out to be a name gatherer for the most part. In respect to keywords counting, it becomes obvious that keywords play a major role in where your ads will appear.

In natural or organic search engine optimization traffic gathering, you have Google guidelines to appease. Then you have supposedly SEO smart users telling you keywords do not matter that much and are seldom taken into account when used in meta tags.

For webmasters wishing to optimize their pages in order to attract hungry search engine spiders, keywords, keyword phrases, long tail keyword phrases all play a roll in where you end up listed in the search engines. If they didn't count then why the bother to bold them, link them, put them in titles and descriptions and more?

So you tell me, do search engines pay attention to your keywords?

Of course it is not as simple as just stating this is or is not so. There are variations on the methodology but assuredly, keywords do count. Search engine bots or spiders as many call them, sort through your page with a discerning eye to content based on a series of algorithms deciding if you meet their criteria.

Using your Main KeyWords In Your Title

Using keywords in your title is one place to test this theory. Choose a search engine and begin your test by using ONE keyword in the title. Make sure that keyword is listed FIRST in your meta tags and is your main copy keyword choice.

Check to see where you ended up ranked in your search engine of choice. Check your alexa ranking out in Google, MSN and Yahoo for results.

Then expand this test and use TWO keywords in your title. Again check to see where you end up ranked in the search engines.

Finally, use THREE keywords in your title and again check to see where you end up ranked in the search engines.

In all cases, make sure the keywords chosen are listed accordingly in your meta tags. Also make sure they are the main keywords in respect to your content.

The Conclusion Of Your Testing

The conclusion of your testing will also depend on the number of times your chosen keywords are used in the body of your text. Keyword density is the key here to proper rankings.

Overdo it and you will be sandboxed or charged with stuffing. The conclusion will be self evident doing this. NO ranking at all.

Pay attention to the number of words in your article and you should see that using TWO KEYWORDS in your title should give you a higher ranking every time over one or three or more keywords listed in your title.

In order to reach this conclusion, you will have to decide on short or long copy and to what degree either will give you the ranking for the keywords you are testing for.

Is short copy better than long copy? Run your tests and send me your feedback. While I can give you the outline of what to do and what to expect, the results of whether search engines pay attention to your choice of keywords is up to your testing.

Do not plan on acquiring a SERPS for doing this test. At best, it will reflect in your Alexa ranking if it brings in more traffic to your site, though stranger things have happened.

Do keywords count? Do your research and you tell me.

Fran Klasinski
SEO Basics

June is just around the corner. The next SWARM Project class is coming up. Do you have your name in for it? There are qualifications you MUST meet. Check it out.

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