The Key to the Keyphrase
Keyphrases & SEO
What you need to know
Okay folks. I’m going to share a little secret with you today. I have been blogging for a long time. One of the things I learned along the way is that a quality crafted blog post will always stand the test of time. One that is thoughtful and insightful, with a theme that runs throughout the text. That theme even has an SEO definition. You may or may not realize it, but some of your best blog posts revolve around a keyphrase. But what is that exactly?
What is a Keyphrase?
A keyphrase is the cornerstone of what an article is about. It can be a single word or short description that becomes the focus of the piece. For example, for this blog post, my keyphrase is #keyphrase. That is what I am talking about and what I am trying to explain in greater detail to you. The trick is to use it enough that it makes sense to the reader, but not too much that it sounds forced or stuffed in to inflate a magic count of how many times the phrase is used. That is called keyphrase density and you need to hit it right to get points for your SEO tally.
I am already over my limit here, so need to mix things up to please the search engines! Time to add more words and make things that much clearer for you.
Why do I share these trade secrets today? There is nothing I like less than when bots try to take over tasks that perfectly competent individuals can do. What am I talking about? Self checkouts versus human tellers. Automatic pop-up boxes asking if you need help versus actual people attempting to help you find your item or service in question. Or AI copywriting that uses algorithms to generate text they feel you want to read. Sure, they all have their place, but there is just something about the real live interaction and connection you get when you deal with an honest to goodness human.
In case you were wondering, yes I have tried AI copywriting services. They aren’t bad, but they just don’t have the same expressions and emotions I feel individuals bring to the page.
How it Affects SEO
Back to my theme…
There is more to SEO ranking than simply plunking in a keyphrase and watching your blog post soar. You have to include images, a certain number of words (300 words is the minimum for rankings to wow, but the length is up to you), internal and outbound links, a meta description, plus those keyphrases need to show up in your slug and title. Not to mention the overall readability of a post needs to fall into certain parameters as well, edging your bit of writing into the esteemed “good job!” category.
Why do I mention any of this at all though?
I visited a respected social media strategist’s website today to read a post he shared on blogging. My problem with it? While he was touting the merits of blogging and how the practice isn’t dead, it was glaringly obvious that the article wasn’t even written by him (unless he’s a robot). It was chock-a-block FULL of his keywords, with little regard for how it sounded or the variety of phrasings he used.
Keyword stuffing sucks and typically results in lower ranking for mere mortal writers like you and I. Because of his higher website rankings, he can get away with AI written copy that falls flat on the page though. So yes, he used his keyphrase, and yes, he included images, plenty of words, and headlines, but the biggest thing he was missing was heart.
Boo!!!
The Answer: Write Good Copy
What should you do about it? Start with writing good copy. Research your topic and write clear concise articles. Note grammar, add relevant pictures to keep your reader interested, and maybe throw in some quotes, stats, or other graphics to make your blog post interesting and appealing. When it comes to the SEO side of things though, understand the point behind them, then make your own best judgements on how to write. YOU are the writer. If you have worked your craft, then people will want to read what you have written, without the aid of AI ticking boxes and fitting algorithms.
Remember that a keyphrase is just a theme you want your piece to revolve around. Just like those old papers back in grade school. You survived that, so go impress the masses now! Get writing!
