Understanding keyword distribution

[Reyed Mia (Apprentice, DIU)]

Understanding keyword distribution

- Keyword distribution is the process of assigning keywords to specific pages on your website. This is an important step in the content creation process and results in the content on a page being aligned and relevant to the keyword you're targeting for that page. You can't have an optimized page unless you know what keyword you're optimizing it for. what keyword you're optimizing it for. Once you've identified all your target keywords Once you've identified all your target keywords through the keyword research process, through the keyword research process, we found that working in Microsoft Excel we found that working in Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet program or another spreadsheet program allows you to create this mapping of keywords allows you to create this mapping of keywords to the pages in your site structure in an organized way.

to the pages in your site structure in an organized way. And it has the added benefit of keeping a record And it has the added benefit of keeping a record of which pages are targeting which keywords of which pages are targeting which keywords to refer back to in the future. to refer back to in the future. Of course, you'll be listing out Of course, you'll be listing out all the current pages of your website. all the current pages of your website. But keep in mind that for many of your target keywords But keep in mind that for many of your target keywords you won't yet have a page and you'll need to create one. you won't yet have a page and you'll need to create one. By using a spreadsheet, you can easily see where By using a spreadsheet, you can easily see where in your site's architecture you'll want to put it, in your site's architecture you'll want to put it, and define some key pieces of information about it and define some key pieces of information about it before you even start writing. before you even start writing. Here's an example of a spreadsheet that we've created Here's an example of a spreadsheet that we've created for a fictitious sample winery.

for a fictitious sample winery. Feel free to format your spreadsheet any way you like, Feel free to format your spreadsheet any way you like, but there are some common fields here but there are some common fields here that you should include. that you should include. Down the left-hand side, we like to use cells or tabbing Down the left-hand side, we like to use cells or tabbing to show us the hierarchy of the various sections to show us the hierarchy of the various sections and pages of our site. and pages of our site. As you can see, for each page, we have a column As you can see, for each page, we have a column for the keyword that we'll be targeting with the page, for the keyword that we'll be targeting with the page, the URL of the page, the title tag, the URL of the page, the title tag, the meta description, and the H1 header. the meta description, and the H1 header. We've even used Excel's length function We've even used Excel's length function to count our characters so that we can see to count our characters so that we can see how close we are to our general targets. how close we are to our general targets. Again, our target of 65 characters for a title Again, our target of 65 characters for a title and 156 characters for a description, and 156 characters for a description, are not hard limits by any means.

are not hard limits by any means. But they're guidelines that will avoid search engines But they're guidelines that will avoid search engines truncating this information truncating this information on the search engine results page. on the search engine results page. The first step is to populate the spreadsheet The first step is to populate the spreadsheet with your existing web pages. with your existing web pages. Be sure to include every page of your site Be sure to include every page of your site including your home page, your about page, including your home page, your about page, your location page, your contact page, your location page, your contact page, and any other general kinds of content pages. and any other general kinds of content pages. Remember, search engines want to see unique information Remember, search engines want to see unique information for each and every page and listing them all out here for each and every page and listing them all out here is a good way to quickly spot any duplications. is a good way to quickly spot any duplications. The second step is to take a look at the keyword The second step is to take a look at the keyword from your keyword research list from your keyword research list and find the most appropriate pages of your site and find the most appropriate pages of your site for each of the keywords.

for each of the keywords. You should make sure to try to distribute You should make sure to try to distribute one keyword per page and not try to force anything. one keyword per page and not try to force anything. Remember, search engines prefer unique and relevant content. Remember, search engines prefer unique and relevant content. So, if you have a keyword So, if you have a keyword that doesn't match any page of your site, that doesn't match any page of your site, you want to just create a new page. you want to just create a new page. When you add a new page to your spreadsheet, When you add a new page to your spreadsheet, the good news is that you have a blank canvas. the good news is that you have a blank canvas. You can define the SEO-friendly URL, You can define the SEO-friendly URL, title, description, and header right here in the spreadsheet title, description, and header right here in the spreadsheet and that will define this new page of content and that will define this new page of content writing that content out when you know writing that content out when you know the keyword you're optimizing for upfront the keyword you're optimizing for upfront allows you to really dial in on all the best practices allows you to really dial in on all the best practices of content writing for keywords that we'll be covering.

of content writing for keywords that we'll be covering. Remember, the meat of each page is the body copy Remember, the meat of each page is the body copy and you'll probably need to go back through your existing and you'll probably need to go back through your existing pages to make sure that they're really optimized pages to make sure that they're really optimized for the keyword you've defined as a target. for the keyword you've defined as a target. Now that you got your target keyword in mind, Now that you got your target keyword in mind, now is a pretty good time to head over now is a pretty good time to head over to one of the on-page analysis tools to one of the on-page analysis tools that we'll talk about a bit later in the course. that we'll talk about a bit later in the course. The suggestions from these tools The suggestions from these tools can really help guide the changes can really help guide the changes you'll be making to your pages. you'll be making to your pages. Using a keyword distribution spreadsheet Using a keyword distribution spreadsheet will help you in a number of different ways. will help you in a number of different ways. First, it gives you one place to organize First, it gives you one place to organize and document the contents of your site and document the contents of your site that will support the keywords you're targeting.

that will support the keywords you're targeting. Second, it serves as an excellent resource Second, it serves as an excellent resource for your copywriters and will help streamline workflows for your copywriters and will help streamline workflows across all the different members across all the different members of your website production team. of your website production team. And treating this as a living document will ensure And treating this as a living document will ensure that you can quickly adapt to the changing nature that you can quickly adapt to the changing nature of the search landscape and keep your content strategy of the search landscape and keep your content strategy on track month after month and year after year. on track month after month and year after year.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/seo-foundations/understanding-keyword-distribution