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Choosing the right keywords is a crucial step in every search engine optimization campaign. If you choose the wrong keywords, all other web site promotion activities are pointless.

Before you start to promote your web site, take some time to find the right keywords. It's worthwhile.

How to find the right keywords for your SEO activities

1. Find the keywords with the biggest search volume
   
   Download the free IBP demo version and start the keyword generator tool. The keyword generator tool helps you to build a list of keywords that are related to your business and that many people search for.
   
   
2. Find the most specific keywords in your keyword list
   
   Don't go for one word keywords. They usually won't bring you visitors that are interested in what you have to offer. If you sell used Ford cars in Knoxville then the keyword "cars" won't work for you. People searching for "cars" might be interested in new cars, in car insurance and even in the Pixar movie.
   
   Better use "used cars" or, even better, "used ford cars knoxville". These key phrases will bring you visitors that are interested in what you offer. You must use keyword phrases that are common enough that people actually use them, but unique enough to generate highly qualified, targeted traffic that increases your sales.
   
   
3. Check the motivation of the searcher
   
   While the key phrase "used cars canada" might be more popular than the key phrase"used cars knoxville" it's obvious that the second key phrase will work better for you if you sell used Ford cars in Knoxville.
   

   The keyphrase "used car dealer" probably will work better for you than "used car by owner" even if both key phrases might have the same search volume.
   
   Try to find keyphrases that indicate motivated searchers who are ready to act. You'll get better results if you select key phrases that are used by people who want to buy instead of key phrases that are used by people who are looking for information.

High search engine rankings will deliver poor results if you have them for the wrong keywords. If you take the time to choose the right keywords for your web site you can greatly improve your bottom line.

Further information on finding the right keywords for SEO and all other important search engine optimization aspects can be found in our free SEO book.

Next week, we're going to find out if the keyword effectiveness index (KEI) is really a useful tool to determine the value of keywords.

Yahoo now has over 19.2 billion web documents in its index

"This update includes just over 19.2 billion web documents, 1.6 billion images, and over 50 million audio and video files. Note that as with all index updates we are still tuning things so you’ll continue to see some fluctuation in ranking over the next few weeks."

Google testing different search format

Google seems to test new search results that include "Buy" links and similar additions.

Google toolbar AutoUpdate pushes AutoLink onto users [reg. required]

"Google forced an update to their toolbar that activated an autolink button feature by default. What this means is that this button, when activated, will allow Google to place links on your web page to Amazon, among other places."

Yahoo ushers in new ad tracking system

"The system will count and report ad impressions only after the ad's graphic loads in the viewer's browser. Ads within blocked pop-ups, for instance, would not receive credit. Most Internet publishers currently measure their ad impressions at the other end--when they leave the server.

Google sued over claims of excess advertising fees

"Google is being sued over accusations that it overcharged advertisers who use the Web search giant's paid search advertising program, which accounts for the vast majority of Google's revenue."

Search engine newslets

• Google Total allows you to access many Google services on one page.
• Ask Jeeves officially launches its own PPC product.
• Yahoo! Publisher Network to compete with Google AdSense.
• Yahoo launches audio search.
• David Letterman slams Google.
• Yahoo! in talks on record China investment.
• Google purchases a company that develops a "location-aware social networking software" that helps you to find people nearby.

Google says Cnet went too far in googling

"The search engine company evidently doesn't appreciate a taste of its own medicine. [...] We published a story that recounted how we found information on the (Google) CEO in a public forum using their service [...] They had issue with the fact that they felt it was private information and our point is it was public information obtained through public channels using Google search."

CNET: We've been blackballed by Google

"Google Inc. has blacklisted all CNET reporters for a year, after the popular technology news website published personal information of one of Google's founders in a story about growing privacy concerns for the Internet search engine, according to a CNET statement."

Google: now 10% more evil

"Although I believe Google is a long way off from meeting any substantial satanic standard, recent events prove beyond a doubt that the firm is not run by a bunch of meek, hand-folding altar boys. [...] Feel free to use our technology on other people, but don't you dare use it on us."

Google urged to drop reactor images

"The head of Australia's nuclear energy agency has called on the owners of an internet satellite program to censor images of the country's only nuclear reactor."

IBP 8.1 final release is now available

The final IBP 8.1 version is now available. The new version offers several improvements:

• IBP can now delete search engine cookies to make sure that your search results are not influenced by your cookies. This feature is optional and can be turned on in the "General Settings" window.
  
  
  
• The ranking reports now tell you how many listings you have on the first search engine result page, the second page and the third page. The listings are displayed individually for your URLs, keywords and search engines.
  
  
  
• The Web Site Optimization Editor now displays the last Top 10 Optimizer report. This allows you to quickly adjust your web page to the suggestions of the Top 10 Optimizer.
  
  
  
• You can now copy the links of the Link Popularity Improver to the clipboard. This allows you to import these links into ARELIS.
  
  
  
• The Link Popularity Improver now finds much better results and it is faster than before.

Click here to download the latest IBP version. Of course, the new IBP version still offers the powerful search engine submitter, the ranking checker, the top 10 optimizer, the keyword generator and many more powerful tools.

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