Introduction to SEO: Increase blog traffic with keywords! [For beginners]

"INFINITY Information Bureau | Article Introduction" Have you started a blog but are struggling to increase traffic? Learn how to master the basics of SEO and keywords to make your blog appear at the top of the rankings! #SEO beginner #Keyword selection #Blog traffic generation

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[For absolute beginners] A thorough explanation of the basics of SEO and keywords! The magic of getting your blog found

Hello, I'm John, a veteran blogger! "I started a blog, but no one is looking at it..." "The technical terms are difficult, and I don't really understand SEO..." Do you have such worries? Don't worry, if you read this article, you will clearly understand the basics of SEO and keywords, and you will be able to take the first step to having many people find your blog or website. I will also explain technical terms in an easy-to-understand way, so don't worry!

What are SEO and keywords? Learn the basics

Let's start with the most important basics. If you understand this, the rest of the story will be much easier to understand.

What is SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

What is SEO?"Search Engine Optimization"It is an abbreviation for "search engine optimization" in Japanese. Simply put, it is the process of making your articles and websites appear on search engines (sites for searching information) such as Google and Yahoo!Make efforts to be displayed at the top.

For example, if someone searches for "delicious ramen in Tokyo" and an article about your ramen shop appears on the first page of search results, ideally at the very top, a lot of people will see it, right? SEO is the magic technique that makes that happen.

What are keywords?

Keywords are:The words or phrases that users (those looking for information) type into a search engineIn the previous example, the keyword would be "Tokyo delicious ramen."

What keywords do you want people to use to find your article? Thinking about this is the first step in choosing keywords. For example, if you wrote an article about "Gardening methods for beginners," you want people who search for keywords like "Gardening for beginners" and "Easy home gardening" to find it.

Why are SEO and keywords important?

There is as much information on the Internet as there are stars in the sky. In order for search engines to find your valuable information, you need to make them recognize that "This article is very useful information for people who are searching for this keyword!" Correctly understanding and utilizing SEO and keywords has the following benefits:

Increased website traffic:This will greatly increase your chances of being seen by many people.
Reach your target audience:You can deliver your information to the people who really need it.
Potential to attract customers without spending on advertising:If your SEO is successful, you can expect continuous traffic without spending any money.

In other words, SEO and keywords are like a compass to help people find your information.

Keyword quantity and quality: search volume and difficulty

When choosing keywords, you can't just use whatever comes to mind. Keywords also have "popularity" and "competitiveness." Understanding this is key to an effective SEO strategy.

What is Search Volume?

Search Volumeis a number that indicates how many times a particular keyword has been searched for in a certain period (usually a month). For example, the keyword "diet" will have a large search volume because so many people will search for it. On the other hand, the keyword "John's lunch today" has almost zero search volume because almost no one searches for it.

If you can rank highly for keywords with high search volume, you can expect a lot of traffic. However, such keywords tend to have a lot of competition and are generally difficult to rank highly for.

What is Keyword Difficulty?

Keyword Difficultyis an indicator of how difficult it is to rank high in search results for a keyword. Generally, keywords with a large search volume and many major sites targeting them are more difficult.

For beginners, it is difficult to target keywords with high search volume and high difficulty (sometimes called big keywords). First of all,Keywords with medium search volume but relatively low difficultyIt is recommended to start with keywords that are also called long-tail keywords or niche keywords.

For example, the keyword "SEO" is a very difficult keyword to find, but if you combine multiple words, such as "SEO beginner article writing method," the difficulty level is slightly lower and you can more easily reach people looking for more specific information.

Why are these important?

By taking into account search volume and keyword difficulty,"How much effort can you put in and how much can you expect to achieve?"It will be easier to create a strategy like this. Instead of just writing articles randomly, thinking about which keywords to compete with is the shortcut to SEO success.

You can find out these numbers using various tools (for example, Google Keyword Planner, a free tool provided by Google).

SEO and Keywords: How do search engines find your article?

You may be wondering, "How do search engines find my articles and decide their ranking?" Here is a simple explanation of the basic mechanism.

Search Engines: Crawling, Indexing, and Ranking

Search engines organize information and present it to users in three main steps:

Crawling: Search engines use programs called "crawlers" or "spiders" to crawl through web pages on the Internet and gather information. They find new pages and check for updated pages. Your site needs to be found by these crawlers.
Indexing: The information collected by the crawler is organized and registered in the search engine's huge database. This is called indexing. By being indexed, it becomes a candidate for display in search results.
Ranking: When a user searches for something, the search engine displays the pages that it determines best fit the user's search intent (what they want to know or what they want to do) from among the indexed information, in order of relevance. The basis for this ranking is a complex formula called an "algorithm."

The role of keywords

Keywords are very important for search engines to understand the content of your article and associate it with a specific search query (the words entered by the user). If you include keywords appropriately in the title, heading, and body of the article, it will be easier for search engines to determine that "this article is information about this keyword."

However,Keyword stuffing is counterproductiveIt used to be effective, but now search engines are smart, so articles that are difficult for users to read will be lowered in ranking. Always try to create content that is natural and useful to readers.

On-page vs. Off-page SEO

There are two main types of SEO strategies:

On-Page SEO: These are measures you take within your own website.
- Appropriate keyword selection and natural use within content
- Setting clear title tags and meta descriptions (summary of the article displayed in search results)
- Proper use of heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
- Image optimization (including setting alt tags)
- Improved site speed
- Mobile friendly (smartphone compatible)
- Easy-to-read article structure
Off-Page SEO: These are measures you take outside of your website.
- Backlinks from other quality sites
- Social media mentions and shares
- Citations (online mentions of your company name, address, phone number, etc.)

For beginners, you should start with on-page SEO, especiallyCreating quality content for your readersIt’s best to focus on content that is relevant to your business. Good content is more likely to be shared and linked to naturally.

SEO peers and sources of information

The world of SEO is deep and the information is constantly being updated. It is difficult to learn everything on your own, so it is important to find reliable sources of information and sometimes exchange information with colleagues who have the same goal.

A trusted source

There is a lot of good and bad information out there about SEO, so be sure to learn from reliable sources to avoid being misled by outdated or incorrect information.

Google Search Central: This is the official information for website operators provided by Google itself. It covers everything from the basics of SEO to the latest information, and is one of the most reliable sources of information.
Blogs from major SEO companies: Blogs of overseas famous SEO tool providers such as Moz, Ahrefs, and Semrush, as well as blogs of reliable Japanese digital marketing companies, provide professional and high-quality information (although there is a lot of information in English).
Professional publications: There are many books on SEO available, ranging from beginner to advanced, so choose one that suits your level.

Online communities and forums

Online communities can also be a great place to ask questions and hear other people's experiences.

X (old Twitter): Following SEO experts and bloggers can provide you with the latest information and useful tips. You can also search for hashtags to gather information.
Specialized forums and Q&A sites: Try searching for SEO-related questions on SEO forums or general Q&A sites, and you may find some answers.

However, not all information in the community is necessarily correct, so be sure to take a critical view and compare it with multiple sources.

Keyword usage examples and the future of SEO

How can you put your knowledge of SEO and keywords to good use? And what does the future hold for SEO?

Examples of keyword usage

Keywords can be used in a variety of situations.

Create a blog post: By choosing keywords that fit the topic of your article and naturally incorporating them into the title, heading, and text, you can make your article more easily found by search engines. For example, if you are writing an article with a keyword like "easy recipes for living alone," be sure to use these words.
Product/service introduction page: Include keywords that people searching for your products or services are likely to use (e.g., "organic cosmetics online store" or "cheap personal training in Tokyo").
Attracting local businesses: Keywords that combine the name of the area and the name of the service (e.g., "Shibuya beauty salon recommendation" or "Osaka Station nearby cafe") are very effective in attracting customers to your physical store. This is called local SEO.
YouTube video title and description: By including keywords that describe the content of your video, you can expect to attract traffic from YouTube searches and Google searches.

The Future of SEO: The Ever-Evolving World of Search

The world of SEO is constantly changing as search engines evolve. Here are some of the main trends we can expect to see in the future:

Further utilization of AI (artificial intelligence): Search engines are now using AI to better understand user search intent and evaluate the quality of content, making quality content that truly benefits users more important than tricks.
The rise of voice search: With the spread of smart speakers, the style of searching by talking, such as "Ok Google, what's the weather today?", is on the rise. It may become important to respond to more natural keywords (especially in question form) that are closer to spoken language.
Emphasis on UX (User Experience): The ease of use, speed, and ease of finding information on a website, as well as how comfortably users can use the website, all have a major impact on SEO evaluation. Google evaluates this with an index called "Core Web Vitals."
The growing importance of EEAT: EEAT is an acronym for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, and is a concept that Google places great importance on when evaluating the quality of content. EEAT is particularly important in the fields of information about money and health (YMYL: Your Money or Your Life). Google closely monitors who wrote the information and whether the source is trustworthy.

Technique is important, butAlways put users first and continue to provide high-quality informationBut it will remain the most important thing in the future of SEO.

Keyword Competitive Analysis 101

Have you ever thought, "I want to write an article with this keyword, but how strong are my competitors?" Knowing what keywords your competitors are ranking for can be very helpful in developing your own SEO strategy.

Why do we need a competitive analysis?

Analysing your competitors' websites has the following benefits:

Find effective keywords: Keywords that your competitors rank highly for are likely to actually be attracting traffic. By looking at those keywords, you can get hints about which keywords you should target.
Content improvements found: By analyzing why the articles on competing sites are highly rated (depth of content, clarity, uniqueness, etc.), you can come up with ideas to improve your own content.
Chances of discovering "hidden gem" keywords: You may also find "treasure keywords" that your competitors are not putting much effort into but that still have a certain amount of search demand. Especially for beginners, it is effective to target such relatively low-competition keywords.

How to do a simple competitive analysis

You can use specialized tools to perform a more detailed analysis, but let's start by trying a simple method that's free.

Try searching for your target keyword: Search Google for the keywords you want to target and check out the sites that come up at the top (especially on the first page).
Check the titles and headlines of top sites: Look at what words they use and what information they cover.
Compare the content: Compare your article (or the article you are planning to write) with the articles on top-ranking sites and check whether it is inferior in any way in terms of amount of information, comprehensiveness, uniqueness, or ease of understanding, or whether it is superior in any way.
Check your backlinks (where possible): How many other sites link to a top site (the quality and quantity of backlinks) affects the strength of the site's SEO. There are also several free backlink check tools available.

At this time, I would like to pay special attention to"Low competition keywords"These are keywords that have a decent amount of search volume, but don't have many strong competitors, making it relatively easy to rank for. Sites like Exploding Topics can sometimes give you some ideas on where to find these keywords.

Competitive analysis is an important step in getting to know your competitors and yourself.

Things to note for SEO beginners

SEO can be effective if done correctly, but if done incorrectly or based on outdated information, it can actually lower your ranking. Here are some points that beginners should pay particular attention to.

Keyword stuffing: This technique was once considered effective, but it can now be penalized. Avoid repeating keywords unnaturally, and make sure your writing is natural and easy for readers to read.
Ignoring the User Experience: It would be counterproductive to be so preoccupied with SEO that you end up making your site inconvenient for users, with a design that is hard to read, slow loading speed, and confusing navigation. Google places great importance on user experience.
Mass production of low-quality content: Creating a lot of articles that are thin and similar to copies of other articles will not be evaluated. Focus on "quality over quantity" and create valuable original content that can solve readers' questions and concerns.
Buying backlinks or unnatural link acquisition: Increasing inbound links in a way that violates Google's guidelines carries a very high risk of being penalized. Make an effort to create high-quality content and naturally gather links.
Sticking to outdated SEO information: The world of SEO is constantly changing. Methods that were effective a few years ago may no longer work or may even be counterproductive. Always make an effort to stay up to date with the latest reliable information.
Don't expect results too quickly: It may take several weeks to several months, or even longer, for SEO measures to have an effect. It is important to continue creating high-quality content and improving your site steadily without rushing.
Don't neglect technical SEO basics: In order for a site to be properly recognized by search engines, basic technical settings such as submitting a sitemap, properly configuring robots.txt, and being mobile-friendly are also important. If a site has technical problems, it may be difficult to rank it no matter how good the content is.

Keep these points in mind as you work on your SEO.

Basic SEO Strategies from the Experts (from Trusted Sources)

Here are some basic ideas and strategies for beginners that are commonly emphasized by many SEO experts and trusted sources (such as Mangools, HubSpot, Backlinko, and Exploding Topics, as shown by Apify).

Start with your "seed keywords": Start by identifying some of the most basic keywords (seed keywords) that are relevant to your business or blog. For example, if you are a coffee shop, you might use "coffee," "cafe," or "espresso." (From Mangools "learn-seo")
Understand your readers’ search intent: It is important to think deeply about what users want to know and what they want to solve when they search for that keyword (gathering information, making a purchase, visiting a specific site, etc.). Your content must respond to that search intent. (From SEOT Queen “seo-keyword-research-guide”)
Use keyword research tools: Start with a free tool like Google Keyword Planner to find out the search volume of your keyword and related keywords. This will give you an idea of what words people are actually searching for. (From the HubSpot Community “Best tools for keyword research for SEO newbie”)
Focus on low competition keywords (niche keywords): It is difficult for beginners or new sites to rank highly for highly competitive keywords right away. Even if the search volume is low, it is easier to achieve results by targeting more specific keywords with less competition (e.g., "organic coffee beans, dark roast, mail order"). (From Exploding Topics "low-competition-keywords")
Create quality, SEO-friendly content: The most important thing is to create content that is valuable and easy to read for your readers while naturally including your chosen keywords. Use headings and paragraphs appropriately to organize your information. (From Marketing Insider Group “a-beginners-guide-to-crafting-seo-friendly-blog-content”)
Target keywords for each page: It is recommended that you define a clear target keyword (or keywords) for each page of your website and create content optimized for that keyword. (From Polly Clover Writes “seo-writing-for-beginners”)
Use keywords naturally: Don't force your target keywords into your content, but use them naturally in the context. Using synonyms and related terms will also make your content more natural and comprehensive. (From Search Engine Land "seo-content-optimization-guide")
Regularly update the content: By updating outdated information and adding new information, you can keep your content fresh and valuable, which will help maintain and improve your SEO ranking. (From Backlinko “improve-your-seo”)

These expert advices are"We put users first and deliver the quality information they want through the right keywords."This shows the essence of SEO.

Latest Trends in SEO and Keywords: EEAT and AI Era

The world of SEO is constantly evolving, with new trends and ideas constantly emerging. Here are some of the most important points that have been gaining attention lately.

The Importance of EEAT

I mentioned this a little earlier, butEEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) EEAT is a concept that Google attaches great importance to when evaluating the quality of content. In particular, EEAT is evaluated very strictly in the "YMYL (Your Money or Your Life)" genres (medical, health, finance, law, etc.) that may have a significant impact on the reader's life or property.

Experience: Does the author/website owner have real-world experience on the topic?
Expertise: Does the author or site owner have specialized knowledge or skills on the topic?
Authoritativeness: Is the author, site owner, or website itself recognized as an authoritative source on the topic? This is influenced by references and citations from other authoritative sites.
Trustworthiness: Can the entire site be trusted? Whether the operator information is clearly stated, security is ensured, and information is transparent are some of the issues to consider.

From now on, it will become increasingly important to know who is posting information and whether the source is trustworthy. You need to make an effort to reflect your experience and expertise in the content and increase the reliability of your site.

AI and Content Generation

The emergence of generative AI like ChatGPT is dramatically changing the way we create content. Using AI, it is possible to generate a large amount of text in a short time. However, care must be taken from the perspective of SEO.

Google is not aware that even AI-generated contentAs long as it is useful to users, is of high quality, and meets the EEAT, there's no problem.However, content that is simply generated automatically by AI and contains false information will not be evaluated.

AI should only be used as a tool, and human editing, fact checking, adding originality, and above all, polishing from the perspective of "whether it will be beneficial to the user" are essential. It is necessary to use AI effectively while providing original and valuable content.

Consider the entire search experience

It is not just about choosing keywords and creating content, but also about the time from when a user clicks on a search result to when they get information on the site and are satisfied.A series of experiences (user experience, UX)There is an increasing emphasis on improving SEO. Every aspect of a site, including its speed, ease of navigation, mobile readability, and content readability, are factored into SEO evaluation.

It is important to always think about "How can we make users more comfortable and satisfied?" and strive to improve your site.

Summary: SEO and keywords are your best allies in getting your information out there

So far, we have explained the basics of SEO and keywords in a way that is easy to understand even for beginners. It may seem difficult at first, but if you understand it one by one, you do not need any special skills.

The important thing isWho do you want to deliver value to?Always think aboutHigh-quality information that will be useful to readersAnd to ensure that the people who need that information can find it, your knowledge of SEO and keywords will be your strongest weapon.

Take your time, have fun, and explore the world of SEO little by little. I sincerely hope that your blog or website will be loved by many people!

よくある質問 (FAQ)

Q1: What exactly is SEO?: A1: SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a technique to make your website or article appear at the top of search results in search engines such as Google. It can be said to be a technique to make your website or article more visible to more people.
Q2: What is the importance of keywords?: A2: Keywords are the words that users type into the search box when searching for information. They tell search engines what information your article is about and act as a "marker" to deliver it to the right users. By choosing the right keywords, you can efficiently reach the people you want to find your article.
Q3: How do I find keywords?: A3: First, make a list of as many words related to the topic of your article as you can think of (these are called seed keywords). Next, use a tool like Google Keyword Planner to find out the search volume (how many times they are searched) of those keywords and related keywords. It is also important to imagine what words your target readers will actually search for.
Q4: Is SEO difficult for beginners?: A4: SEO has a specialized aspect, but the basic principle is to "provide high-quality content that is valuable to users." If you keep this basic principle in mind and learn the basic knowledge introduced in this article one by one, even beginners can get started. Try starting with easy keywords.
Q5: If I implement SEO measures, will I see results immediately?: A5: It generally takes time for the effects of SEO to become apparent. It depends on the status of the site, the measures taken, and the strength of the competition, but it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, or even more than half a year. Even if you don't see results right away, don't give up. It's important to continue working on creating high-quality content and improving your site.
Q6: How many keywords should I include in my article?: A6: There was a time when the frequency of keyword appearance was important, but now "naturalness" and "context" are important. Ideally, keywords should be included in the title, headings, and text as much as possible so that they are easy for readers to read and make sense. Avoid unnatural cram-in, as it will have the opposite effect.

Complete guide to SEO and keywords: Make your blog rank higher even if you're a beginner!