We know that we should be optimising our blog posts for SEO but where do we find out what phrases and keywords we should be using?
I find Google Keyword Planner an excellent tool for finding key-pharses but it has limitations. Although it is useful in finding search volumes and suggestions results it can be quite limited.
This weeks cool tool Uber Suggest is a good alternative and it will also give you blogging inspiration.
What is it?
When you type a search phrase into Google you are presented with a drop down menu of suggestions based on your search. Uber Suggest uses this information to provide you with key-phrases from any search term you give it.
It expands the suggestions by following your keyword with an ‘a’, a ‘b’ etc until it has exhausted results.
This gives you a huge set of key phrases that people are actually searching for. The suggestions are hit and miss but amongst them you will find three or four that will work well.
Here’s how it works:
I used Uber Suggest to research key phrase ideas for blog posts about Facebook competitions. I did find some interesting suggestions that have inspired good ideas.
When we use tools like Uber Suggest and Keyword Planner for SEO it’s also important to bear two things in mind:
1. Don’t be generic
If we rely on key phrases too much we may become too generic with our posts. Yes we are creating content that people are searching for but it is good content? Does it really answer the questions people have?
Make sure that in the quest for better search engine optimisation you are not alienating your existing readers.
2. Don’t forget the competition
Just because we have used tools to find keywords it doesn’t mean others haven’t. Before you optimise for a word or phrase do a Google search yourself. Who is coming up at the top of the search results? Will your post rank better than theirs? If not try a different key phrase.
Your Turn
I recommend you give Uber Suggest a go. It will only take a couple of minutes and you may find inspiration from it. If you do leave me a comment and let me know what it came up with.
