--- title: SEO Content Guidelines for Choosing The Right Keywords description: "SEO is not a magic bullet: you must put in the hard work to make it pay off. Read Zerys' blog post to learn SEO content guidelines for choosing keywords." image: https://www.zerys.com/hubfs/shutterstock_530180857.jpg --- [![Zerys ..plan on content success](https://www.zerys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zerys/Zerys_With_Tagline_Medium.png?width=404&height=60&name=Zerys_With_Tagline_Medium.png "Zerys ..plan on content success")](https://www.zerys.com/) - [![Schedule a Free Consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/90897/4d8da028-6fca-4bb2-b66d-42b9f61a9ec0.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/90897/4d8da028-6fca-4bb2-b66d-42b9f61a9ec0) [![Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/90897/c60778ef-078f-429e-822b-0300d9081cc8.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/90897/c60778ef-078f-429e-822b-0300d9081cc8) - Menu - For Business - ![Arrow](https://www.zerys.com/hubfs/Zerys/header_menu_arrow.png) - ![Z3i](https://www.zerys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zerys/Z3i_icon.png?width=57&height=30&name=Z3i_icon.png) #### Managed Content Services [ Pricing ](https://z3i.zerys.com/PricingCalculator.html) [ Learn More ](https://www.zerys.com/managed-content-services/zerys-certified-specialists) [ Reviews ](https://www.zerys.com/zerys-user-feedback) [ HubSpot Services ](https://z3i.zerys.com/PricingCalculator.html) [![Get Started Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/90897/925cb5c1-2f05-490d-a72f-f5ef91ac7129.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/90897/925cb5c1-2f05-490d-a72f-f5ef91ac7129) - ![Zerys](https://www.zerys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zerys/zerys_icon.png?width=34&height=34&name=zerys_icon.png) #### Zerys Content Platform (DIY) [ How It Works ](https://www.zerys.com/how-it-works) [ Price Guide ](https://www.zerys.com/suggested-freelance-writing-pay-rates) [ Video Tutorial Library ](https://www.zerys.com/video-tutorial-library) [ API for Developers ](https://www.zerys.com/api) [ Get Started Now ](https://my.zerys.com/create-new-account.html) - For Agencies - ![Arrow](https://www.zerys.com/hubfs/Zerys/header_menu_arrow.png) - ![Zerys For Agencies](https://www.zerys.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Zerys/ZFA_Logo_Small.png?width=98&height=40&name=ZFA_Logo_Small.png) - Manage all your clients' content in one place Invite your clients into white-labeled portal Build a scalable, profitable content service! 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SEO is not a magic bullet: you must put in the hard work to make it pay off. But the returns justify the effort. **Follow These SEO Content Guidelines to Improve Website Traffic.** [![Click Here to be Matched With a Professional Writer, for FREE](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/90897/e20cc3d3-8b33-4e14-8b8f-deedc23fe7dd.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/90897/e20cc3d3-8b33-4e14-8b8f-deedc23fe7dd) ## SEO Content Development To ensure your content creation efforts do not go to waste, start with an SEO content development plan that perfectly aligns with your business' goals. After all, the content you create is only valuable if it’s found by the right audience and optimized to achieve maximum results. Optimization is also rewarded by Google and other search engines with increased search performance in the form of traffic, conversions, and revenue. ## SEO Content Guidelines for Choosing Keywords Keywords are the name of the game in SEO. Use these 3 SEO content guidelines to learn how to find keywords, choose the right ones, properly place them, and measure their effectiveness. - **Keyword research** gets you off to a great start in optimizing your content. Choose the wrong keywords and you’ll miss out on connecting with potential customers. Research is also a great way to learn more about what your target audience needs help with. The right keywords mapped to your content will generate the proper relevancy and continuity you need to be found. - **Keyword placement** benefits your readers and helps your site gain higher rankings and visibility. Make sure keywords appear in your title and headlines; it will give the search engines a better understanding of what your website page is all about. Don’t saturate a page with keywords, especially if it makes the content sound unnatural. Better known as keyword stuffing, this practice no longer helps with ranking. In fact, search engine algorithms are designed to penalize for it. Don’t forget to tag images and video as well. - **Keyword competition **checks are fundamental to getting the visibility you desire. Take a look at the websites of your top competitors. What topics do they focus on in their landing pages and blog posts? Which keywords make their appearance over and again? Take those keywords and do a search for them. Whose sites are showing up on the first page of the results? Keep an eye out for how competitive your site’s keywords are. Look for popularity, search volume and, if a keyword is saturated by the competition, look for choosing keyword alternatives that are not as competitive. What they lack in search volume will be made up for by possibly ranking higher. You don’t have to rely on your intuition, either. You can test choosing keywords with a variety of keyword suggestion tools. [Google’s AdWords Keyword Planner](https://adwords.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/) is the most well-known, but others like [Trellian’s Keyword Discovery](https://www.keyworddiscovery.com/) and [Wordtracker](https://www.wordtracker.com/), which is great for longtail keywords, will help you narrow down your list based on quantitative data. A [successful content marketing campaign](https://www.zerys.com/solutions/zerys-for-agencies/content-agency-blog/bid/91933/5-Key-Metrics-For-Measuring-Content-Marketing-Success) is one that integrates these SEO content guidelines into its content creation. Use these 3 tips to help you take your SEO content development to a higher level and at the same time help you become more visible. To learn more about an effective SEO content strategy, check out our white paper, ["What is Content Marketing and Why It's So Important!"](https://www.zerys.com/what-is-content-marketing) Topics: [SEO Content Development](https://www.zerys.com/content-marketing-blog-0/topic/seo-content-development) Share: - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Previous Post ### [No Question About It: Your SMB Needs a Content Generation Strategy](https://www.zerys.com/content-marketing-blog-0/no-question-about-it-your-smb-needs-a-content-development-plan) Next Post ### [Amazing Free SEO Tools You Should Start Using Today](https://www.zerys.com/content-marketing-blog-0/amazing-seo-tools-you-should-start-using-today) ### Join Over 200,000 Subscribers Get Top Rated Content Marketing Posts Delivered Right to Your Inbox. #### 0 Comments ### Need Help Finding Great Writers? ### Need to Discuss Your Content Strategy? 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