Category: Best Practices

Are Keywords and SEO the Same Thing? Here’s What You Need To Know

Posted on by lilian

In the world of online marketing, understanding Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and keywords is essential for success. With Google’s ever-evolving algorithms and the rapid changes in digital content, staying ahead of these factors is the only way for a brand to secure a top spot on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

For beginners, SEO and keywords often seem interchangeable. Since they frequently appear together, it’s easy to assume they mean the same thing. However, while keywords play a crucial role in SEO, they are just one piece of a much larger strategy.

What Are Keywords?

Keywords are the words or phrases that people type into search engines when looking for something.

For example, if someone wants to find the best sneakers, they might search for “best running shoes for beginners.” In this case, the entire phrase is the keyword.

Why Are Keywords Important?

📌 They help search engines understand what your content is about.
📌 They connect what people are searching for with the content you provide.
📌 Using the right keywords makes it easier for your audience to find you online.

Keywords are not to be confused with queries. From Google’s perspective, queries are anything at all that is typed in the search bar at any given time, including typos and nonsensical letter and number strings. 

For marketers, ‘keywords’ often have a ‘search volume’ that indicates how many times a month that term is being searched for. They will research and use these keywords in concentrated efforts to make their pages appear in the top results for that keyword. ‘Queries,’ as seen in Google Analytics, are any term that leads a user to a specific page, no matter what it is. 

What Is SEO?

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the bigger strategy that helps your website rank higher in search results. Keywords are just one part of SEO.

Think of it this way:
💡 Keywords = Ingredients
💡 SEO = The full recipe

SEO includes:

📌 Creating valuable content around your keyword to engage your audience and build loyalty.
📌 Strategically using keywords in titles, articles, meta descriptions, and headings.
📌 Improving website speed—a fast-loading site keeps visitors happy and reduces bounce rates.
📌 Optimizing for mobile devices since the majority of users search on their phones.
📌 Earning backlinks from trusted websites to increase your site’s authority and credibility.

SEO is considered a skill, and it takes time to learn and perfect. It is not a ‘one and done’ tactic for organic growth, and it should be maintained through continuous, year-round effort. 

How Keywords and SEO Work Together

SEO and keywords are not the same thing. Instead, they need to work together. Imagine you own a Black-owned skincare brand and want more people to find your website. In this case, you will need to research and select a keyword to assign to a page or blog post on your website. If the keyword is “Best natural skincare for melanin-rich skin” then you would need to apply the following SEO Strategy:

1️⃣ Write a blog post titled “Best Natural Skincare Tips for Melanin-Rich Skin.”
2️⃣ Use the keyword naturally throughout the article (in the title, headings, and body).
3️⃣ Ensure your website loads quickly and is mobile-friendly.
4️⃣ Optimize images by using descriptive alt text and compressed file sizes.
5️⃣ Encourage skincare bloggers to link to your post for credibility and visibility.
6️⃣ Regularly update the content to keep it relevant and valuable for readers.

If done right, Google will recognize your post as helpful and show it higher in search results. Another way to ensure this is to maintain the post with routine updates and relevant information that will provide a reader with value. 

For brands that are just starting out, it might take time for pages to begin ranking within the first ten results. Keeping a consistent pace and choosing relevant, attainable keywords will pay off with time. 

The Key Difference Between Keywords and SEO

KeywordsSEO
Words or phrases people search for.The full strategy that helps your website rank on Google.
Example: “Black travel guides.”Example: Writing optimized content based on a keyword, improving site speed, and building links.
Helps search engines understand your content.Includes technical fixes, user experience, and backlinks.

In Short:

Keywords are the words people search for. SEO is what helps your website rank when they search for those words.

Why This Matters for Your Business or Brand

For most brands, a strong SEO strategy means:
✅ More people discovering articles and events.
✅ Higher engagement and shares.
✅ Increased traffic and brand awareness.

While buying ad space and working with influencers is a great way to market a brand, organic web traffic is not worth overlooking. 53.3% of all web traffic comes from organic search, with only 27% being attributed to paid search. 

How to Use Keywords for Better SEO

1️⃣ Find the Right Keywords: Use tools like SEMrush to see what people are searching for.
2️⃣ Use Keywords Naturally: Don’t force them—Google can tell!
3️⃣ Write Helpful Content: Answer questions people are asking and provide value.
4️⃣ Improve Site Speed: A slow website = frustrated visitors.
5️⃣ Optimize for Mobile: Most searches happen on phones.

Final Thoughts

Keywords and SEO work together, but they are not the same thing. Keywords are the words people search for, while SEO is the strategy that helps your content show up when they do.

If you want to get more traffic and visibility, start with great keywords and build an SEO strategy around them. Over time, this will help your content reach the right audience and grow your brand.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

❌ Are keywords and SEO the same? → No.
✅ Keywords = What people search for.
✅ SEO = The strategy to help your content show up in search results.

Got it? Now, go optimize your content! 🚀

Growing Your Audience Through SEO 

Posted on by jiten

Growing Your Audience Through SEO 

 

Search engine optimization (SEO) can be a powerful tool for publishers to increase visibility and traffic to their websites. However, for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) publishers, the task of implementing SEO strategies can be complicated by systemic barriers such as racism and discrimination in the industry. In this article, we will discuss some SEO strategies that BIPOC publishers can use to overcome these barriers and improve their online presence.

 

Create High-Quality Content that Reflects Your Audience

Creating high-quality content that reflects the perspectives and experiences of your BIPOC audience is essential for SEO success. This could include articles, videos, podcasts, or other types of media. This not only helps to build trust with your audience but also improves your website’s relevance and authority in the eyes of search engines. BIPOC publishers should strive to create content that resonates with their target audience and represents a diversity of viewpoints and experiences.

 

Conduct Keyword Research with an Inclusive Lens

Keyword research is a crucial first step in any SEO strategy. However, many tools and resources for keyword research may not accurately represent BIPOC perspectives and experiences. To conduct keyword research with an inclusive lens, BIPOC publishers can use tools like Google Trends, which allows them to identify the most popular search terms related to their content. They can also use social media platforms to see what topics are currently trending among their audience.

 

Optimize Your Website for Accessibility

Accessibility is a critical factor in SEO, as search engines prioritize websites that are easy to navigate and use. For BIPOC publishers, accessibility also means creating a website that is welcoming and inclusive to all visitors, regardless of their background or identity. This can include using alternative text for images, adding closed captions to videos, and ensuring that the website is easy to use with assistive technologies.

 

Build Relationships with Other BIPOC Publishers

Building relationships with other BIPOC publishers like Blavity360 can be a powerful way to increase your website’s visibility and authority. By collaborating with other publishers and sharing content, you can tap into their audience and build a community of like-minded individuals. This not only helps to increase your website’s visibility but also promotes diversity and representation in the industry.

 

Stay Up-to-Date with Trends and Best Practices

SEO is a constantly evolving field, and it’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. BIPOC publishers can attend industry events, read industry publications, and engage in the digital community to keep a pulse on important news, updates, and case studies.

 

Rules of the Road for AI Content Development

Posted on by jiten

Rules of the Road for AI Content Development

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the buzzword of the minute.  It is being used in many ways and in many aspects of life. Recently, digital media publishers have been more transparent about their use of AI to create content. For example, the Associate Press uses AI to write some of its news stories. Forbes uses an AI-powered platform called Bertie to recommend article topics for its contributors based on their writing history and performance. Even The New York Times uses AI to recommend articles to its readers based on their reading history and interests. They also use AI to help with their moderation efforts on social media platforms.

If you are planning to use AI to develop content for your digital platforms, here are some important things to consider before you start:

  1. Set clear goals: Before using AI to create website content, it’s important to define clear goals for the content. For example, are you trying to increase website traffic, improve engagement, or drive conversions? Understanding your goals can help you to choose the right AI tools and techniques for achieving them.
  2. Use high-quality data: AI tools rely on high-quality data to generate accurate and relevant content. This means that you should use reliable data sources and ensure that the data is up-to-date and relevant to your target audience.
  3. Train your AI models: To improve the accuracy of your AI-generated content, you may need to train your AI models on specific topics or writing styles. This can involve feeding the AI models with large amounts of relevant data and fine-tuning the algorithms to produce content that meets your specific needs.
  4. Combine AI with human input: While AI can be useful for generating large volumes of content quickly, it’s important to remember that it’s not a substitute for human creativity and judgment. Human writers and editors should work together with AI tools to ensure that the content is high-quality, accurate, and aligned with your brand voice and messaging.
  5. Monitor and evaluate results: As with any marketing strategy, it’s important to monitor and evaluate the results of your AI-generated content. This can involve tracking metrics such as website traffic, engagement, and conversions, and making adjustments to your AI models and content strategy as needed.
  6. Ensure ethical use of AI: Finally, it’s important to ensure that your use of AI for website content creation is ethical and transparent.

 

5 Essential E-commerce Best Practices Every Online Publisher Should Know

Posted on by jiten

5 Essential E-commerce Best Practices Every Online Publisher Should Know

E-commerce has become an essential part of the modern economy. As more people shop online, it’s essential to understand e-commerce best practices and create engaging content that helps businesses drive traffic to their e-commerce stores, increase sales, and build customer loyalty. Here’s are the top five best practices for e-commerce that online publishers should know:

  1. Mobile Optimization: In today’s digital world, mobile is king. Consumers are using their smartphones to browse and shop more than ever, and it’s a trend that won’t go away any time soon. Optimize your digital storefront for mobile devices to ensure that customers can access your store on-the-go. Ensure that your pages are responsive, easy to navigate, and load quickly on mobile devices. This will help to enhance the user experience and increase the chances of converting visitors into customers.
  2. Leverage Social Media: Social media is a powerful tool for e-commerce businesses. It’s an effective way to reach out to potential customers, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to your site(s). Create and implement a clear social media strategy that aligns with your goals to include high-quality posts, targeted campaigns, and organic engagement with customers on social media platforms.
  3. Optimize Your Product Pages: Product pages are the heart of e-commerce stores. It’s where customers make the decision to purchase a product or not, so it’s essential to optimize the visual appeal of your product pages and make them informative and easy to navigate. Include high-quality images, detailed product descriptions, and customer reviews. This will help build trust with potential customers and convert visitors into customers.
  4. Utilize Customer Data: Collecting and analyzing customer data can help you understand your customers better and improve their overall shopping experience. By tracking customer preferences and patterns, you can personalize product recommendations, offer targeted promotions, and improve the checkout process.
  5. Provide Excellent Customer Service: Customer Service is the most important piece in building customer loyalty and encouraging repeat business. Offer multiple channels for customer support such as email, chat, and phone, and respond to inquiries promptly and professionally.

 

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