Why use keyword clusters for SEO
Searched word groups
What do keyword clusters have to do with search engine optimization (SEO)? You need to consider how people search using search engines. Not many type a single word, they want specific information and it takes more than one word to narrow their search. When you take this into consideration it now makes sense to use more than one word. This group of words you hope others will search is a keyword cluster.
Where do you find out how to create a keyword cluster?
The simple method is to type your main keyword into a search engine. Once you get to the page one you find look for other words which complement the message you are trying to convey. Once you find what you think you’re looking for search those words. This can either narrow the field or increase it.
Most blogging platforms suggest to keep narrowing your field down. If you can find searched words where the competition is below 5000 sites or blogs you’re chances of being ranked fast are very high. The simplest way to do this is with Google AdWords tool. Take what you believe is your keyword cluster to AdWords and type it in the box at the top. Below the box hit search. This will tell you how many people are searching the cluster you put in. Below you will see a list of clusters and what their competition is.
What you are looking for in AdWords.
You are looking at two different areas. You want to see how many people have searched the cluster you are planning to use, and to find which word might be changed to reduce competition. You want the highest past searches possible with the least competition.
Once you have chosen your title you want your keyword cluster in the title, first paragraph and last paragraph. In each case every word of the cluster should be within sixty five characters. They don’t have to be in any order and it is believed it is better if they are not. Use the words in the cluster separate in your content and make sure they are in sentences which make sense to the reader. It is the readers’ comments and shares which are going to make the largest impact on where you are placed by a search engine.
Other tips
One thing to consider is dating articles. There are people who search by date. This is especially so when a reader is looking for the most current information. A good way to date an article is in the copyright. It is one of the few aspects which only have to be in a blog or article once.
Something many people don’t consider however should is unique content. Writers have a tendency to use certain words or phrases which are specific to them. This helps because a search bot will find them. You don’t have to worry about optimizing these as you do it naturally. If people are searching them your blog will show up for their search even if they are used only naturally.
Less is better
It is better to under optimize than over use your keywords. The last Panda and Penguin changes were to bring under optimized blogs to a first page. Now if you use your clusters too much you will end up on page fifty instead of a page one. Your readers will determine how much value a search engine will give them. You are writing to the reader not the search engine. Interesting unique content will go further than overuse of keyword clusters in your search engine optimization (SEO).
© June 11, 2012 10:50 PM CST US Dennis Thorgesen for Lisech eMarketing, All rights reserved.
A little more help for those who are still lost
Comments
Your comment on limiting the words in the title was interesting. Do you use the title tuner that Hubpages provides for you? It always tells you which words can be added (that are searched for) but never which words you have in excess. How can I find out so that I can do a better job tweaking my titles?
I learned a lot from your article. Thanks.
I recently read somewhere that it is best not to use pinterest to link hubs to. I'm confused about that. You have provided such excellent information about using keyword clusters for SEO. I want to be clear about clusters. Suppose I write about how to sing. Would clustering be "How to sing, vocalise, increase your singing range, sing on key."
That would be the title. As I understand it, I would also repeat it in the first and last paragraph.
One more thing. When using adword key search, I've been using words that are the highest in scoring. If I'm getting this right, I should be looking for the lowest amount for less competition. Thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions. Voted up-[ more and sharing.
Sounds like good advice. I always use word clusters when I'm researching in order to be reasonably specific. Otherwise I could end up with a lot of info that doesn't apply to what I'm looking for.
Voted you up and useful. Thanks for the info!
Good advice once again. I use keyword clusters (although sometimes tricky to fit into articles naturally), longtail keywords and many similar variants. You need to let the engines know what you are talking about, but at the same time too much repitition is bad. Varying your keywords allows you to gain traffic and reduce your risk of being blocked ... so long as you don't go mad with them.
SHARED, up, useful and tweeting.
Also added a link to you from my Keyword article, as I believe it was your original hub that introduced me to keyword titles ... for which I am grateful.
So much good information. Thank you, I also wondered why they tool off Google + and Stumble. Seems strange to me.
Tweeting someones hub does no good for them I belong to Tweet but rarely use it.
You have presented really good tips here about SEO, i must say using of clusters in the first and last paragraph is a new tip to me and you bet it, i'll surely try it.
With a little tweaking, you can easily add keyword clusters to existing hubs and raise traffic and income. Voting this Up and Useful.
Hello Wheelin, These are really helpful tips on learning about SEO. You've given quite a few, easy to do things that can help in my hubs. Thanks so much for this explanation.
I wonder what constitutes overuse of a keyword. When writing about sunscreen for example, it's hard not to refer to it naturally over and over again! Thanks for the info on keyword clusters. I will try out this strategy in my hubs.
A lot of great information here Dennis. I have never thought about using the copyright note to date the article. Thank you. Voted up and shared.
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