Implementing a Keyword Map

One of the first and most important steps to getting an SEO campaign off the ground is the keyword map. At Firestarter SEO, once we’ve completed our keyword research, we’ll collaborate with the client to decide which keywords make the most sense for their business goals.

What is the Keyword Map?

A keyword map refers to assigning target keywords to each webpage on your website based on keyword intent, volume, competition, and the top keywords you want the page to rank for. This keyword map will lay the foundation for all onsite optimizations. Ideally, you’ll want to be targeting a certain number of keywords per page, depending on the amount of content on the page. If you utilize more than what fits into the content you run the risk of losing rankings due to “keyword stuffing”.

How to Implement a Keyword Map

When implementing a keyword map, we use the Yoast SEO tool to update content, alt attributes, Title, meta-descriptions, slug, and more. While editing your page it is important to keep in mind that “keyword stuffing” is BAD. In other words, don’t force your target keywords in places they don’t fit. While, in an ideal situation, the title will contain the specific keyword, if your page has multiple topics it might not make sense to users. Google takes note of how users interact with your site and it could negatively impact your rankings if they have a poor experience. When editing the slug, be sure to use a readable keyword phrase that describes the purpose of the page to both people and search engines, using hyphens to separate words. Finally, when updating multiple image alt attributes on the same page, be sure to use variations of your keywords to appear less spammy and cast a wider net.

Evaluate Your Work

At Firestarter SEO, we like to use the Moz Pro On-Page Grader tool to preview the impact of new optimizations. Simply add the URL and the keyword you are targeting for the page. Once it analyzes the URL it will give you a score out of 100 based on how optimized the page is for the keyword. Just by adding missing alt texts, updating titles, and slugs, you can make major SEO improvements that many of your competitors are missing. Aim for a score as close to 100 as possible, but be sure the content makes sense. Once you’ve optimized your pages, review your keyword map to find content opportunities. Fill in the keyword gaps with new, relevant content, and resources that will drive more traffic to your site.