8 Types of Keywords in SEO – Why They Matter

When it comes to search engine optimization, keywords are one of the most important elements. They are the foundation of any successful SEO campaign, and understanding the different types of keywords is essential for achieving success.

First, let’s define what keywords are. Keywords are words or phrases used in search engine queries to find relevant content. They can be singular words like “shoes” or multiple words like “red shoes.” When search engines scan websites, they use these keywords to determine the relevance of the content to the query.

Types of Keywords in SEO

Now that we know what keywords are, let’s look at the different types.

1. Broad Keywords

Broad keywords are general terms used to describe a topic. They typically have high search volumes and are more competitive. Examples of broad keywords include “shoes,” “fashion,” or “health.” These keywords are great for getting a lot of traffic to your website, but because there is so much competition, it can be difficult to rank for them.

2. Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are phrases that are more specific than broad keywords. They usually have lower search volumes, but they are also less competitive. Examples of long-tail keywords include “red shoes for women” or “healthy meal plan for weight loss.” Because they are more specific, they are easier to rank for, and they can be a great way to target your audience.

3. Local Keywords/ Location Keywords

Local keywords are used to target a specific geographic area. These are keywords that include the name of a location, such as a city, state, or country. These help local businesses target potential customers in their area. They are great for businesses that are looking to attract local customers. Examples of local keywords include “pizza delivery in Los Angeles” or “dentists in New York City.” These keywords can help your business get in front of the right audience.

4. Brand Keywords

Brand keywords are used to target your own brand. They are words or phrases associated with your business or product. Examples of brand keywords include your business name or product name. These keywords can help your business stand out from the competition and build brand awareness. These keywords are related to a specific brand or company name. They are used to promote a company’s products or services and help customers find them online.

5. Primary Keywords

These are the main keywords used throughout a website or piece of content, typically associated with the core topics that the website or content is about. They are used to promote the site or content in search engines and to attract visitors.

6. LSI Keywords

This stands for Latent Semantic Indexing and is related to terms or phrases associated with the primary keyword being used. These keywords help search engines understand the context of the content and how it pertains to the search query.

7. Competitor Keywords

Competitor keywords are words or phrases associated with your competition. They can be used to gain insights into what your competitors are doing and to create content that is better than theirs. Examples of competitor keywords include their brand name or product name.

8. Negative Keywords

These are words or phrases that are associated with a search query but should be excluded from the results. For example, if you’re on a travel website and someone searches for “cheap flights,” you would want to exclude flights that are too expensive from the results.

Keyword Density

Keyword density is a measure of how often a keyword or phrase appears in a piece of text in relation to the total number of words it contains. It is used to gauge the relevancy of a website or page to a particular search query. Generally, a higher keyword density is considered to be a better indicator of a website’s relevancy to a particular search query.

In order to calculate keyword density, you must first identify the number of times a particular keyword appears in a piece of text. Then, divide this number by the total number of words in the text, and multiply by 100 to get the keyword density.

For example, if a piece of text contains 200 words, and the keyword “shoes” appears 8 times, then the keyword density for shoes would be 8/200 x 100 = 4%.

When it comes to SEO, the goal is to optimize your website or page for a particular keyword or phrase. This involves using the keyword or phrase in your content in a natural way, without stuffing it in too often. Generally, keyword densities between 1-3% are considered optimal. 

Anything higher than this can be considered “keyword stuffing” which is frowned upon by search engines and can lead to penalties. is a difference between keyword stuffing and keyword density. Keyword stuffing is when a web page is filled with the same keyword or keyword phrase multiple times, which is a black hat SEO technique that can result in penalties from search engines. Keyword density should be kept between 1% and 3% for optimal search engine optimization.

How Important Are Keywords for Ranking?

Keywords are very important for ranking in search engine results. They are the basis for how search engines decide which websites to rank higher in the search results. The more relevant the keywords are to the content of the website, the higher the website will rank. As such, it is important for website owners to use relevant keywords in their content to ensure higher rankings.

Best Way to Choose Keywords For Your Websites or Blog

1. Brainstorm: Make a list of all the topics, ideas, and keywords that are relevant to your website or blog.
2. Research: Identify the most popular keywords related to your topics by using keyword research tools such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Moz Keyword Explorer.
3. Monitor: Track the performance of your chosen keywords using a tool such as Google Analytics.
4. Test: Test different combinations of your chosen keywords to determine which ones work best for your website or blog.
5. Optimize: Optimize your website or blog for your chosen keywords to ensure that you are maximizing the visibility in search engine results.

Now that you know the different types of keywords, you can start optimizing your website and content for them. Using the right keywords is essential for success in SEO, and understanding the different types of keywords is the first step. If you are looking for a company that you can outsource for the best SEO services, then try Over The Top SEO company. It is one of the most reputed digital marketing companies and provides a range of services. So, contact OTT and start your journey with relevant keywords.