Anyone who is new to the online writing arena should read the article Understanding the Importance of Keyword and Keyphrase Repetition. It outlines keyword basics and the reasons why freelance writers must use them to be successful in making money online.
Discovering Lucrative Keywords
After understanding the reasons for using keywords and key phrases it's important to understand how to select lucrative keywords and phrases. This article assumes that the reader's writing interests are more than writing for the love of the craft and that the reader is looking to earn money. Writers, who write online for the pure love of writing and are not interested in earning money, need not be concerned about lucrative keywords.
Utilizing Google's Free Online Keyword Selector Tool
Google makes keyword research easy for freelance writers. Their keyword selector tool is free and provides a host of information which makes it easier to find lucrative terms. Users have the option of choosing a topic and entering related phrases in the "Descriptive word or phrases" box and click "Get keyword ideas."
Writers also have the option of inserting pre-written text into the tool by selecting the "Website content" option and clicking on the "enter your own text in the box below" link. Doing so allows the writer to see which keywords are associated with the text. It helps the writer modify the article to substitute more lucrative keywords than those already in the article.
Tweaking Keyword Results
After the tool shows the listing of keywords, it's best to modify the default column display setting to get the full value of the tool. Under the "Choose columns to display" option select "Show All." Doing so will display not only the keywords, but the estimated cost per click, advertiser competition, and search volume. It's enough information to help the writer discover which phrase is most lucrative and has adequate search volume.
Search volume is the number of searches performed on particular phrases. It is important to know because it doesn't make since finding a high paying keyword that no one is searching for. Conversely, lucrative keywords with high advertiser competition and high search volume mean there are a lot of writers vying for those key phrases.
Finding the Keyword/Volume Balance
It's easier to achieve a high search engine ranking for keywords with less competition than keywords with excessive competition. It's similar to running a race. If there are only two participants in the race there's a 50/50 chance of winning. However, a race with 1,000 entrants severely reduces the odds of winning.
Placing high in search engine ranking is no different. A lucrative keyword with a search volume in excess of several million reduces the odds of top placement. However, lucrative keywords with search volume in the lower thousand's such as 1,000 to 10,000 increases the odds of top placement.
Keyword Research - Getting Specific
In order to achieve high rankings for keywords, writers have to get specific. For example, the keyword "dogs" returns a search volume of over 30 million. However, "dog arthritis treatment" brings in a search volume of 2,900. The narrower and more specific keyword choices tend to increase the chance of achieving top search ranking. Top search engine ranking means higher traffic volume. High traffic volume increases the likelihood of the article earning money.
To become successful as an online freelance writer, it makes sense to spend a little time on keyword research to get the most return on the writing investment.
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