June 17th, 2020 | 1 min. read
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June 17th, 2020 | 1 min. read
Do you know your top five keywords? How about your competitors' top five? Are you targeting them effectively? Are you missing any?
If you're not sure, odds are good you're falling behind in the Google rankings game.
It's time to boost your SEM (that's search engine marketing) IQ!
The crucial first step is doing a keyword gap analysis. Your goal: Discover which keywords are driving traffic to your competitors' website — but not yours.
Some might be obvious, but you also might have to think creatively.
Digital marketing firm Convince & Convert puts it this way:
“There can be synonyms, local terms, jargon, etc., you are not considering. There may be products or product features you are not offering. There may be problems your service is solving, but you fail to mention them on your site. ”
All of those are missed opportunities for you.
A landscaping company, for instance, might tout its basic services but not mention trends like low-maintenance landscapes or organics. Maybe you're a preschool or business using high-tech sanitization right now? People could be searching for you — but not finding you.
Starting with that analysis is key. It identifies your "gaps" using SEO platforms. With these tools, you can pinpoint organic and even paid competition and, ultimately, create a list of the keywords to strategically target.
Remember: It's not just about the competition, though. Your existing keywords are potential powerhouses.
What if your wording is missing on a few key concepts or phrases? Or perhaps a seemingly strong page is underperforming?
Other layers of analysis can unveil opportunities to make your content more on-point and engaging.
There could also be new ways to present your services, Convince & Convert adds, such as "content-based landing pages that address problems your customers are facing and introduce your products as a solution."
Don't be afraid to dive into your competitors' websites, too. What you see also can give you some insight into on how you can ultimately improve your reach, visibility and authority.
Alexia Bourkoulas is CEO of Zoe Marketing & Communications and its sister companies, Metro Parent and Chicago Parent. Her 35-year multi-media experience ranges from sales and marketing to journalism and public relations. She’s passionate about helping businesses grow and thrive.
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