Stop Speaking in Keywords

Stop speaking in keywords

It's no secret that the world of SEO has changed dramatically over the last few years. One of the areas that has changed the most are keywords and how we use them. Before, keywords such as "Ohio dentist" were acceptable. But, not any more. Now, you need a more natural approach that sounds as though you're speaking. When we speak, we hardly use the phrase "Ohio dentist." Instead, we say "where is a dentist in Ohio?" or "who is the best dentist in Ohio." Your keywords need to sound as natural as possible if you want to keep a positive front with Google. As a word of advice to stay on their good side and to reach more viewers-- stop speaking in keywords!

Spoken Search

The Google Panda algorithm turned the SEO world upside down. Now, even years later, we are still seeing the results as updates to the algorithm are released frequently. But, that's not the only change. Technology has changed and so has the way Internet users are searching for information.

Now, mobile device searches surpass those of desktops, with an average of 4 out of every 5 Internet users searching via mobile device-- that's about 88 percent of internet users. Along with the increase in mobile device use, the searching process has changed. We now have the opportunity to use voice-to-text searches, which allow Internet users to speak naturally to search for the information they need. This just further emphasis the fact that your keywords need to sound natural and not like, well, keywords.

This new world of spoken search is much more valuable in current times. Yes, it's still important to research keywords and choose the best keywords possible, but it's equally as important to make sure they flow smoothly in your content to sound natural.

So, here's my advice for the day-- use your keywords as if you are speaking. Stop sounding like a robot by trying to use the keywords exactly as they appear in your keyword research. It's ok to use variations of the keywords. By doing so, you'll boost the quality of your content, which we all know is the only way to succeed in today's world.

Are you still speaking in keywords? How do you feel spoken search has directly impacted how you use your keywords?