Keyword
A keyword is a word or phrase that people type into search engines to find information. In SEO, keywords are the terms you optimize your content to rank for.
Keywords are the foundation of SEO. They're what connect your website to people searching for your services.
Types of keywords:
Short-tail keywords
- "flooring contractor"
- "bathroom remodel"
Long-tail keywords
- "hardwood floor installation cost Orange County"
- "small bathroom remodel ideas for condos"
Local keywords
- "flooring contractor Irvine"
- "bathroom remodeler near me"
Intent-based keywords
Informational: User wants to learn
- "how to choose flooring"
- "bathroom remodel ideas"
Commercial: User is researching options
- "best flooring contractors Orange County"
- "bathroom remodel cost"
Transactional: User is ready to buy
- "flooring installation quote"
- "hire bathroom remodeler"
Keyword research for contractors:
Effective keyword research identifies terms that:
1. Your target customers actually search for
2. Have enough search volume to matter
3. You can realistically rank for
4. Lead to business (not just traffic)
Where to use keywords:
- Page titles
- Headings (H1, H2, etc.)
- Body content
- URL slugs
- Image alt text
- Meta descriptions
Keyword mistakes to avoid:
- Stuffing keywords unnaturally
- Targeting only high-competition terms
- Ignoring local keywords
- Not considering searcher intent
Related Terms
Organic Search
Organic search refers to the unpaid search results that appear on search engine results pages (SERPs) based on their relevance to the search query, as determined by the search engine's algorithm.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. It's the page you see after entering a search query, containing a mix of organic results, paid ads, featured snippets, and other elements.