Boost your site's search engine ranking
Build a list of Keywords
By Mike Slocombe for Internet Magazine, May 2004

1. Make a list
To find out what keywords are applicable to your site, put yourself in the mind of a surfer looking for a site like yours.

What would they type in a search engine?

Gather a wide range of potential keywords and phrases by asking workmates, friends and long-suffering partners for their opinions.

Find keywords and keyword combinations for your web site with the Search Term Suggestion Tool


2. Get permutating
Expand your list of keywords by swapping the order of words in your phrases to create different combinations and include unusual combinations.

Add phrases that ask a question ('where's the best pub in Brixton?') and include synonyms, word substitutes, metaphors, and common misspellings.

Multi-word phrases work better than single words but avoid common and clichéd phrases.
Selecting keywords:
Selecting Keyword Ranking Gold
Selecting effective keywords
What keywords are people searching for?
MetaCrawler list of current searches
What People Search For - Most Popular Keywords



3. Fannies and fags
Help users find your site by including local and geographic information in your keywords.

If it's a global site, add international spelling variations (colour, color etc).

Be mindful of alternative slang meanings in different countries (e.g. a Londoner trying to 'bum a fag' in New York and an American asking for a 'fanny bag' in Soho may get more than they bargained for!)
More on keywords:
Finding Keywords That Drive Traffic to Your Site
Slang and Language Links