Search engines use keywords to index and categorize content online. Image: Danard Vincente / Flickr / CC-BY

When you are getting started in affiliate marketing, selecting and using keywords correctly is truly the key to being successful. Most affiliate marketing websites are based on targeting certain words and phrases in order to show up near the top of the list when people search for those words and phrases. To cover the affiliate marketing basics of keywords, we will discuss what a keyword is, how to decide on keywords and the appropriate use of keywords.

Defining a keyword

When you’re getting started in affiliate marketing, you will hear the word “keyword” very often. The literal definition of “keyword” is “a term that captures the essence of the topic of a document.” When you are thinking about keywords, think about what you would like people to to type into their search engines in order to find your website, advertisement or article. That word or phrase is your keyword — your topic, your essence, your target.

How to identify your keywords

The process of identifying your keywords can take time, but it is very important for developing your affiliate marketing strategy. The offer or offers you are running will probably give you a jumping off point to identify your keywords. For an offer advertising a college scholarship search, for example, you might want to start with keywords such as “college scholarships” and “money for college.” Once you have three or four basic keywords as a jumping-off point, go to Google Insights for Search. Enter your keywords and look over the results. The top searches and rising searches, listed at the bottom, include the related keywords that you should consider. For full websites, you will want to identify at least 25 loosely related keywords that will be effective for selling your offers. For one article or advertisement, you should identify no more than four keywords to target.

When choosing your keywords, you should make a conscious decision about targeting high-traffic keywords and longtail keywords. High traffic keywords have lots of competition, but a lot of possible hits. Longtail keywords do not have nearly as many searches each month, but they also do not have nearly as much competition.

Using your chosen keywords

Once you’ve identified your keywords, putting them in the right places will help search engines and internet searchers find you. This is Search Engine Optimization — SEO — at the most basic level. You should use your chosen keyword or keywords in several places. If you are planning a comment or advertisement, put your keyword in a prominent position. If you are planning a website, there are many places you should use your keyword. The structure of the URL, the title and content of the pages, the meta information (tags) and even the images should contain some of your keywords. If nothing else, keep your keywords in mind while you are structuring and filling in your website. You can also read more about basic on-page Search Engine Optimization.