Where to Place Key Phrases on Page by Jill Whalen
Note from Website Marketing Plan Network publisher Bobette Kyle: In this series on frequently asked search engine optimization questions, Jill Whalen answers common questions about SEO.
I heard from the dogcatcher that I need to place my keyword phrases in:
The most important places to utilize your researched keyword phrases (anywhere from 3-5 of these per page) are:
- your Title tags
- in the visible copy that people read, and
- in onsite and offsite links (aka the “anchor text”).
Place Keywords for the Reader
Whether they’re in the first paragraph, first words, last words, or whatever really doesn’t make all that much difference. I’ve long ago stopped worrying about specific places and coding and simply use them where they make sense from a reader’s perspective. I would definitely avoid using them in “ALL the right places” such as listed in the question above, however. This is because if you pull all the tricks out of your SEO bag, your page will simply reek of SEO. If it makes sense to have a headline that uses a keyword phrase, then go for it, but don’t feel that you have to create headlines where none were needed. If it makes sense to describe a graphic with a keyword phrase, then you shouldn’t hesitate to do it.
The important thing is not to do anything just because you think you have to in order for the search engines to like you. There are very, very few “have to’s” when it comes to SEO. This is because SEO is an art, not a science. (See my previous article on this topic here: <http://www.highrankings.com/issue105.htm#seo>.)
About the Author
Jill Whalen of High Rankings is an internationally recognized search engine optimization consultant and host of the free weekly High Rankings Advisor search engine marketing newsletter.
She specializes in search engine optimization, SEO consultations and seminars. Jill’s handbook, “The Nitty-gritty of Writing for the Search Engines” teaches business owners how and where to place relevant keyword phrases on their Web sites so that they make sense to users and gain high rankings in the major search engines
Read more about Jill Whalen.
