Video Intro To This Post Can Be Viewed Here: http://viralnetworks.com/view/CCI0x
Keywords are Important in Marketing
Before you begin an internet marketing campaign, it is crucial to have a specific set of keywords that you will be focusing on. If you don’t have a list of keywords, your efforts are likely to be ad hoc and aimless, and your campaign could lose focus. It is far better to have good rankings on a select set of keywords than mediocre rankings on lots of keywords. Brainstorming is an easy way to come up with keywords.
This is an exercise many of you might remember from grade school, but it works, so give it a try. Write the name of your product in the middle of a sheet of paper. Around it, write down the first words and phrases that come to mind, connecting those words to the original with a short line. Then, for all of those words and phrases, write down what comes to mind when you think about them.
This is called a Cloud Diagram or a Cluster Diagram, and it will give you options you didn’t know you had. For example, if you were selling web design software then you are already focusing on keywords like “web design” and “how to design a website.” But you may have missed more focused keywords like “writing HTML” or “coding PHP.” These are more specific, meaning a smaller audience, but that also means less competition.
If you are conducting a PPC (pay per click) or PPV (pay per view) campaign, using the right keywords and key phrases is imperative. Choosing the wrong ones can cost you dearly, but by being more focused, you can target your prospects (potential customers) with laser-like precision.
There are also some great tools available to help you select keywords, many are free, like the Google Keyword Tool, which, although designed for Google’s Adwords, can be used by anyone. It is powerful as it shows searches so you know what ones are worth your time and what ones aren’t. Rule of thumb, if it gets less then 1,000 searches a month, scrap it (Unless you are doing PPC and it is a very targeted term that will lead to high conversions.)
You can also use the Google Keyword Tool if you are doing SEO strategies to try and get to the first page of google on those terms. If you find one with a decent amount of searches, search it in google with “keyword” and see how many competing sites there are… of course, the less the better.
Researching and using the right keywords can make or break an internet marketing campaign, particular in the launch phase in affiliate marketing. So it makes sense to include keyword research in the early stages of your project planning.
More Tools
As well as the Google tool there are other, more advanced tools available. I use PPCBully to spy on competitiors who are bidding on keywords I have brainstormed to see if they are profitable or not. PPCBully works well, but does take a bit of time to gather the data
Network With Me
If you want to say hi, please feel free to join ViralNetworks, my Business Social Network of choice. Looking forward to hearing from you.
I'm an avid fan of your blog, and the content is always top notch - great reading. I'm always impressed with the variety of content and the way you get all the important steps outlined for processes, but still manage to keep it short and simple - few people do that quite as well.
Mike Purvis
Andy Fletcher
Todd Gross
Hey Colin,
Thanks for the google keyword tool applicater, should be able to help with my
next ad campaign…!
P.S.
You can tweet me hear, and make money at the same
time:http://theprivatemembership.com/twitter/?e=Libertyed
How about JumboKeyword? I read about it on another site. I haven’t tried it yet though.
Hi Peter,
I read about JumboKeyword as well, doesn’t really look too helpful in finding them, only in sorting them. (which you can do in a word doc)
Can I suggest searching google for ‘GoodKeywords’ It is free and allows you to export in different formats for Adwords (with brackets, as a broad match etc.)
Thanks for clearing that up. Not sure if I want to get into PPC. Market seems hyper competitive.
what is the meaning of keyword combination in terms of international marketing
For example, in one country you might call it: ‘car insurance’ but another country they would type in ‘Auto Insurance’ different countries have different meanings and terms for the same product.