Try this Guide to Learn About Keywords

The new WordTracker guide about keywords is excellent for learning how to use keywords for online marketing. Called “50 Kick-Ass Keyword Strategies” it is an 81-page report which you can buy and download online.

Best of all, it is written by SEO expert Aaron Wall. I know Aaron’s work from his SEOBook.com community. Aaron is one of today’s smartest voices in SEO (search engine optimization). One of the reasons I like to read Aaron’s work is that he has a gift for tying SEO to business objectives. After all, if you are like me, you don’t want to become a technical SEO expert. You just want to learn enough to advance your business and be more successful online.

And that’s the beauty of this report.

In this review of the WordTracker keyword Guide, I’ll explain the importance of choosing keywords and how the Guide can help you — in practical, not theoretical, ways. If you’re not sure why you need to know about keywords to advance your business, please read on.
Review of 50 Kick-Ass Keyword Strategies

Keywords are the cornerstone of search-related marketing activities online. For instance, you should pay attention to keywords when writing blog posts and copy for your website. Then, when your Web pages get indexed in the search engines, searchers will be more likely to find your Web pages for those keyword terms. You don’t have to pay a dime for visitors who find your website this way in the natural search results. If you can attract visitors looking for precisely what you have to offer, it can help you sell more or generate more leads at zero cost.

Keywords are also used in online pay-per-click ads, where you bid on keywords and pay each time someone clicks on your ad. Choosing keywords intelligently helps make sure you don’t throw money down the drain on search ads that get people to click — but not buy, subscribe, fill out a lead form, or otherwise do what you want.

There’s a lot more to keywords than simply choosing a long list of words. The Guide explains how to choose the right keywords that will help you convert lookers into buyers, subscribers or leads. More importantly, the Guide shows you how to actually use keywords.

This Guide is broken down into 51 different sections (there are 50 tips, plus one bonus tip). Each of the tips is a self-contained topic. Most topics are a single page long — some are longer.

Everything is practical and written in understandable language. For example, Tip #5, “Attract the Perfect Customer,” speaks to using the right modifiers:

For small businesses who do not benefit from economies of scale (as large businesses do), it makes sense to target the type of people who are willing to pay extra for the uniqueness of the offering. Words like professional, firm, and consultant are strong modifiers that indicate people are looking to spend money.

No matter which industry you are in there are modifiers that indicate the desire to spend significantly – best, premium, and elegant are good generic examples ….

Another example is Tip #21, “Provide the Definitive Answer,” which advises in part:

Many people not only ask search engines questions, they also ask them in question format, using common keywords like how, when, why, and does. Sprinkling some of these words into your copy can help you rank for questions related to your content.

The format consists of compact points of information and a graphic for each topic. This format keeps it from overwhelming you with too many words. There is little fluff — just what you need to know.

Best points:

• Specific How-Tos — You won’t get generalities. Instead, it is filled with examples and action pointers. Nothing is more aggravating than to read general information (the “why”), and not know what steps to take next. Every topic contains pointers on “how to” so that you can start putting techniques to use right away.
• Helpful for newbies AND professionals — If you are an entrepreneur, small business owner, traditional marketer, or an up-and-coming online professional, you definitely will learn a lot. If you are an SEO or experienced online marketing professional, you can still pick up valuable pointers or refine your existing knowledge.
• Organized into manageable bites — New topics or highly technical topics can be overwhelming unless we break them down into smaller chunks. (Instead of stuffing a Big Mac in your mouth all at once, you need to take bites and chew them first before swallowing.) That’s why the guide’s format with 51 tips is so brilliant. It makes it easy to tackle a single technique at a time and get your head around it. This also means you can refer back to a particular topic finding it again fast.
• Filled with tools and resources. Many sections have clickable links to external resources. That means you can click through to get started putting a technique to use immediately — without hunting around.
• Up to date — This guide was just published in August 2008. Search is a fast-changing field, and it is super important to have accurate, timely information.

What They Could have Done Better:

Overall this Guide is well done and I have very few complaints. On a few points I wish the Guide had delved deeper into the technique being described.  For instance, Tip #45 “Chase the Long Tail” could have included a bit more guidance on how to leverage “long tail” keywords.

Also, my version (an early version) of the report had a few typos — a small nit. Hopefully those have now been fixed.

But on balance, when you consider the price ($39) and the amount of expert knowledge you are getting, you get more than enough value. Mastering just one good tip has the potential to save / earn you thousands of dollars.

Who Should Get this Guide:

This Guide is ideal for:

• Small business owners / managers, entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals who want to grow the online portion of their businesses or make their websites bring better results
• Copywriters, Web designers, online marketers and SEOs who need a refresher or want to further develop their knowledge
• “Traditional marketers” who need to quickly get up to speed for the online world
• Bloggers who want to grow their traffic through natural search results

Where to Get this Guide:

You can purchase it and immediately download it from the WordTracker website: 50 Kick-Ass Keyword Strategies

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