Why is using the right target keywords so important in article writing? What role does it play in promoting your business? How can you choose the right keywords for your business? Let’s answer these questions one at a time.

Article Writing and Keyword Optimization

Why is it important to use target keywords? Since you want to reach out to your target market, you want to make that the keywords used in your articles are the exact same ones that your target audience uses on their searches. This is called keyword optimization or using keywords to optimize search engine results.

Aside from writing interesting and informative articles and submitting these articles to search engines, you also need to make sure that search engines can easily pick them up to be part of their listings. By using target keywords or optimizing your keywords, you can drastically increase your website traffic and improve your search engine ranking.

As more people read your articles, you are also promoting your business to a larger market. As a result, you increase your potential of acquiring new customers, generating more sales and building your company’s brand recognition.

How to Choose the Right Keywords

Which target keywords should you choose? Search engine specialists recommend using specific key phrases because it gives your articles more chances of getting read. If you use very general terms that are used by thousand other competitors, you may end up at the very last page of the search engine listing and may not get read at all.

You can choose the free Keyword Suggestion Tool by Google in deciding which keywords are best for your website. Using this online tool would give you an idea on the most popular words used by internet searchers. You can also use paid Keyword Suggestion Tools by Overture or Wordtracker for a more detailed list of words.

Be careful on how you use your keywords as excessive repetition of keywords could actually do more harm than good. Search engines are very particular about the SEO rules and “keyword stuffing” or repeating the same keywords too many times is regarded as a violation.

Pay attention on how you place your keywords as well. Some SEO specialists recommend placing your target keywords or key phrases on the first and last paragraph of your article. Others may prefer to scatter the keywords in the body of the article. Regardless of which placement style you want, make sure that your keywords are used discreetly and on the right context.

1)    Get in touch with the press people. Meet with newspaper columnists or television reporters especially those who cover the business news. Let them know that you can provide your expertise when it comes to business aspects and that you’re willing to contribute to their report. Better yet, approach the editor or the manager of your local newspaper and volunteer to be a business columnist. Writing for a paper will help build your credibility and name recognition.

2)    Volunteer as a guest speaker. Volunteer to give a speech on public seminars or organization meetings and share your expertise in business management. It doesn’t always have to be a speech that deals with your particular business but in related fields as well.

3)    Distribute newsletters for free. Distributing newsletters online may cost a little and is worth the expense. You’ll see what a big boost an internet newsletter campaign can do for your home business. It is great way to build customer relationship with your subscribers.

4)   Launch a press release. When a news-worthy event happens in your company, launch a press release. Press releases are easily distributed from site to site and many webmasters are grateful to use press releases as content on their website.

5)    Offer an interview. Let reporters and editors know that you are willing to do interviews whenever they are writing on a topic that you know. Press people love to conduct interviews especially when the interviewee is prepared and most willing.

6)    Send a “letter to the editor”. Read newspaper columns and send your opinions and reactions on articles that discuss business. Remember to be professional and polite even when you disagree with the writer.

7)    Offer to teach in a class. Be on the look out for seminars and other educational programs in your area. Volunteer to teach especially on business subject areas. Personally sharing your expertise in business to a class of students increases your visibility to the public.
8)   Write articles and distribute them on the web. Share what you know and provide information by writing articles that you can post on your site and submit to articles directories.

9)    Offer free webinars. Webinars or online seminars are popular among internet marketers these days. This is because people are interested to learn about how to venture in an online business. You’ll surely gain a following of audience if you decide to offer a seminar online at no cost.

10)   Give quality products and services. Finally, make sure that all your customers are happy about availing your products and services. If they’re satisfied, there’s no doubt they’ll recommend you to their relatives and friends. Never underestimate the power of words.