The choice of keywords for search engine optimisation is often the topic of debate in SEO circles. It cannot be doubted that keywords are vital to a good SEO campaign, but the density, placement and length of keywords in your content is an individual thing that needs to be studied carefully.

If you are using social media networking as part of your search engine optimisation strategy, the keywords you choose become even more important. Your keywords need to be able to feature in the content you place on these sites, and so often long-tail keywords are not an option.

Having an effective and fine-tuned list of keywords is just as important for your social media campaign as it is for your site’s optimisation strategy. Whether it is a search term entered into Google, the title of your video blog on YouTube or a tag on a social media network, your keyword is a chance to lure viewers into your content and ultimately onto your site.


When it comes to social media, it is important to have keywords that are short, catchy and easy to use. Social media is one area where your tags can have a life of their own, if they’re the right ones. A catchy tag will not only involve your reader in your content, but could encourage them to take it up as a tag of their own. Short keywords are a must for social media, especially Twitter, where every character counts. Social media networks thrive on participation. Although it’s not guaranteed that viewers who reply to your posts will use your keywords, short and catchy keywords make it easier for people to use them. Make it as easy as possible for others to use your tags.

Another consideration should be exactly where to feature your keywords. A lot of businesses forget to tag their video and image content with their key terms. Although it might take a little work, you should try to fit a keyword into every video title, as this is what the search engine spiders will see when they trawl for content.

As you should know, your keyword list should be monitored continuously to ensure its effectiveness. The advice of a good consultant can be indispensable in this, and it’s a good idea to talk to our experts at SEO Consult; we can offer advice on monitoring your keywords. Factors you need to take into account include seasonality of keywords, the trends that occur in your industry and changes in your target market. Access to good keyword research tools can mean the difference between a failed and a successful SEO campaign.

Your SEO consultant should help your business keep abreast of the developments that will affect your keyword list, but it is always worthwhile keeping an eye on the moves others are making in your industry. Read your competitors’ blogs, updates and tweets regularly to get an idea of what your industry is doing. This can enable you to grasp new ideas as quickly as possible and also spot trouble before it hits your business. The popular tag lists of social media networks are a mine of invaluable information also.