A keyword for which your site ranks naturally (without paid ads).
These are the keywords that a website naturally ranks for without the use of paid advertising. The goal of SEO is to find and rank for organic keywords that are relevant to a website’s content and business. These keywords are the foundation of a website’s organic traffic.
Why Organic Keywords Matter
Organic keywords are the lifeblood of a website’s long-term success. They are crucial because they are a direct signal of a website’s relevance and authority. Unlike paid keywords, which can be turned on and off, organic keywords provide a steady, sustainable stream of traffic. By ranking for organic keywords, you can:
- Increase Visibility: You can attract organic search traffic from a new, global audience.
- Build Authority: A website that ranks for a wide range of organic keywords is a clear signal that your business is a high-quality resource, which can lead to a higher ranking.
- Grow Your Brand: You can introduce your brand to a new audience that may not have heard of you before.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of organic keywords is a content and technical SEO strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily manage their organic keywords by using a good SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. These plugins can help you analyze your content and ensure you are using a variety of keywords that are relevant to your content.
Shopify
On Shopify, organic keywords are essential for your product descriptions and blog posts. You can use a keyword research tool to find the terms your customers are using and then use them in your product titles, descriptions, and collections to improve your visibility in search results.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for organic keywords. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated keyword strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your keyword performance and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use organic keywords will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use organic keywords to attract a wide range of customers. A site that sells running shoes can use keywords like “running shoes,” “men’s running shoes,” and “running shoes for flat feet.”
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use organic keywords to attract local customers. A plumber in Sialkot, for example, can use keywords like “plumber Dubai,” “emergency plumber Dubai,” and “plumbing repair Dubai.”
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use organic keywords to attract a wide range of customers. A company that sells project management software can use keywords like “project management,” “project management software,” and “project management tool.”
Blogs
Blogs can use organic keywords to attract a wide range of readers. A blog about cooking can use keywords like “sourdough bread,” “how to bake sourdough bread,” and “sourdough bread recipe.”
Dos and Don’ts
- Focus on a user’s intent: The best way to use keywords is to weave them into your content in a way that sounds natural and is easy to read.
- Use a variety of keywords: A good keyword strategy includes a mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords.
- Write high-quality, in-depth content: This is the best way to signal to machine learning algorithms that your website is a high-quality resource.
- Avoid using keyword stuffing: This is a dated tactic that can harm your SEO.
- Avoid using keywords that are not relevant to your content: A keyword should be relevant to your products or services.
- Avoid focusing on a single keyword: This is a risky and outdated approach.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to do keyword research: This is a basic but critical step. You cannot improve what you do not measure.
- Ignoring a user’s intent: A keyword should be used with a user’s intent in mind.
- Focusing on short-tail keywords alone: Long-tail keywords are often easier to rank for and can be a great source of organic traffic.
FAQs
How do I find organic keywords for my website?
You can find organic keywords by using a variety of tools, including Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and a third-party SEO tool like SEMrush. These tools provide a report on all the keywords that are driving organic traffic to your site.
What is the difference between an organic keyword and a paid keyword?
An organic keyword is a search term that brings a user to a website through an unpaid search result. A paid keyword is a search term that brings a user to a website through a paid ad.
How important are organic keywords for my SEO?
These are the foundation of any successful SEO campaign. A website that is not optimized for organic keywords will struggle to rank and will have little to no organic traffic.
What is the difference between an organic keyword and a “long-tail” keyword?
An organic keyword is a search term that brings a user to a website through an unpaid search result. A long-tail keyword is a long and specific keyword phrase that a user is searching for.
Can a website with a low domain authority still rank?
Yes, a website with a low domain authority can still rank. The key is to create high-quality, in-depth content that is relevant to a user’s search intent.
