Web Lessons from Cats
Mar 2nd, 2009 by Val Nelson
Source: www.icanhascheezburger.com
Couldn’t resist sharing this “Lolcats” photo in the midst of our March snowstorm.
But seriously, did you know that searching for pictures of cats is a hugely popular web search?
No wonder this interactive site (www.icanhascheezburger.com) with funny pictures of cats is so popular, and probably lucrative for the website owner.
So, what does this have to do with your website? Well, what people are searching for on the web should be of interest when it comes to deciding what to write on your website. There are many ways to tell what people are searching for on the web, such as with Google Insights for Search.
I’m not saying you should go find THE most popular search terms (keywords) and build a site around it. Otherwise, every website would be about Brad Pitt or the weather. But you can figure out what the most popular searches are in your field and use that keyword research to inform your web content.
Using Your Keyword Research
To be sure, choosing the right search phrases to target is an art and isn’t just a matter of going after the most popular searches in your field. Sometimes, going after a rare search phrase with very little competition is your best bet.
One way to use your research is to make sure you’re using words that your target audience is most often using. That way, your site is really made for them, and it might help with search engines too. For instance, you might think most people looking for cat photos would search for “cat photos,” but research shows they are more likely to search for “cat pictures.” Maybe you change your page heading as a result. Or maybe not.
Like I said, it’s an art that depends on so many factors (such as your goals and your competition). That’s exactly why many people hire a web writing or search engine optimization specialist who can provide expert advice on choosing the right target keywords and what to do with them.
