Using Google Analytics for Keyword Research
Many people use Google Analytics for stats. It provides a wealth of information, allowing you to see how well your site is doing, as well as showing you the spots you need to improve on. One of the areas we are going to focus on are the keywords that are used to find your site through the search engines. We’ll do a little bit of keyword research with Google Analytics.
You’ll want to set your Analytics to show the last month or so. (It does this automatically.) On the right hand side, you’ll want to choose “Traffic Sources.” Then click “Keywords.” This will list the top 10 keywords used to to find your site. It shows you how many visits, the average amount of time on site, and other stats. Those are the main 2 you want to look at. There will probably be a few that are way above the rest in the “visits” category, and hopefully that is for the term you are attempting to rank for the most. If not, that’s fine, hopefully that term is in the top 10.
Next, you’ll want to open up a new window or tab, and do a Google search for those keywords, and see where you are in the results. Are you on the first page? Are you number 1? If you aren’t number 1, but you’re on the front page, let me first say, “Congrats!” Secondly, you need to start optimizing for that keyword. You need to use that phrase on the page, use it in your header, and most importantly, build links to your site with that keyword you rank high for as the anchor text on those links.
Since Google already thinks you should rank in the top 10 (first page) for that term, if you’re optimizing for that term, it’ll just make it easier to rank higher. And, if people are already clicking through to your site, how many more will be clicking through the higher you go up on the search engine rankings.
So, instead of busting out one of your other keyword research tools, trying to find keywords you’ll have to start from scratch to begin to rank for, why not bust out Google Analytics, and see what keywords you’re already getting traffic for, and start optimizing for those keywords, to move up higher in the Google rankings.
