5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Primary Keywords in Your Blog Posts
In Canada, 91% of B2B and 86% of B2C companies have a content marketing strategy in place, with 88% of companies utilizing at least one form of content marketing. Businesses rely on blogs, much like the one you're reading right now, to convey important information to their target audience.
Blogging also plays an important role in beefing up your SEO strategy. Search engine optimization relies on the use of primary keywords and secondary keywords to help your target audience find your website content online.
However, if you're making one or more of these mistakes with your primary keywords in your blog posts, you’re leaving a lot of organic traffic on the table.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid overly competitive BOFU keywords, which are tough for new websites to rank for; focus on mid-funnel and long-tail keywords.
- Keyword stuffing is an outdated practice that hurts SEO. Instead, prioritize natural, user-friendly writing around primary keywords.
- Search intent alignment is crucial; matching user intent with content improves rankings and user experience.
- Keyword variations can unlock ranking opportunities by targeting less competitive but valuable phrases.
- Long-tail keywords offer lower competition, faster rankings, and attract highly targeted visitors likely to convert.
Looking for an advertising agency that truly knows how to do SEO?
Good Kids provides expert SEO and marketing strategies to elevate your content and drive results.
1. Picking Competitive BOFU Keywords
Bottom-of-funnel (BOFU) keywords are highly desirable because they target users ready to make a purchase. However, these keywords are often extremely competitive, especially for new websites. Big brands and established sites already dominate these terms, making it difficult for smaller players to rank.
While it may be tempting to focus on these high-intent keywords, doing so could leave your content lost in the noise. Instead, focus on less competitive mid-funnel or long-tail keywords that still align with user intent. These will give you a better chance to rank and attract visitors who are progressing toward a purchase.
Good Kids Tip
Start with mid-funnel keywords and slowly build up to BOFU as your domain authority increases.
What to Avoid
It is acceptable to sprinkle in a few BOFU keywords here and there, however, avoid making competitive BOFU keywords the core part of your SEO strategy.
2. Keyword Stuffing
Keyword stuffing is an outdated practice that will hurt your SEO more than it helps. Search engines like Google have evolved, and the focus is now on delivering helpful, high-quality content.
The Helpful Content Update penalizes sites that cram keywords unnaturally into their content. Overusing keywords not only damages your rankings but also results in poor user experience, as the content often reads awkwardly. Instead of stuffing, focus on writing naturally around your primary keyword and its variations, ensuring that your content provides real value.
Good Kids Tip
Focus on writing naturally around your target keyword, prioritizing user experience.
What to Avoid
Avoid unnatural keyword placement just to meet an arbitrary keyword density. The density numbers suggested by tools like Yoast and Moz are only placeholders and are not something Google considers when ranking keywords.
3. Disregarding Search Intent
Disregarding search intent is a surefire way to fail in ranking your content. Google’s Helpful Content Update punishes websites that don’t deliver what users are genuinely searching for. If your content doesn’t match the searcher’s intent—whether it’s informational, navigational, or transactional—your page won’t rank.
The key to successful SEO is understanding the intent behind a keyword and crafting content that meets that intent. By aligning your content with searcher needs, you’ll create a positive user experience that Google rewards.
Good Kids Tip
Always research the intent behind a keyword before creating content. Consider what other competitors are doing to fulfill intent and try to do the same with a more refined approach.
What to Avoid
Avoid producing content that doesn’t answer the user’s query or meet their expectations. Try not to make the user hunt for what they need and answer questions early on in the article.
4. Consider Keyword Variations
Focusing solely on one primary keyword can limit your chances of ranking. Some keyword variations may have less competition and more traffic, making them more valuable for your content strategy.
For instance, a slight variation in phrasing can make a big difference in search volume and competition. Always consider these variations when conducting keyword research. You’ll often find opportunities to rank for less competitive terms that still attract significant traffic, giving you an edge over sites that focus narrowly on the most obvious keywords.
Screenshot from semrush showing the difference between two instant coffee keywords.
In the above screenshot from Semrush queries for instant coffee, you can see that despite the subtle grammatical error, ‘do instant coffee have caffeine’ is outranking, ‘how much caffeine in coffee instant’ in both traffic and keyword difficulty.
Good Kids Tip
Research multiple variations of your primary keyword to find those with lower competition.
What to Avoid
Avoid sticking to one high-competition keyword when more accessible variations exist. Also, avoid creating duplicate articles for extremely similar keywords as they could cannibalize the traffic from each other.
5. Ignoring Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords may seem less attractive due to their lower search volumes, but they can be goldmines for new or smaller websites. These keywords have much less competition, allowing you to rank more easily and build domain authority over time.
While they won’t drive massive traffic immediately, they attract highly targeted visitors who are more likely to convert. Over time, consistently ranking for long-tail keywords will help you grow your site’s authority and improve its overall SEO health.
Effective Use of Keywords in Blog Posts
We found this 20 Best Tin Whistles for Beginners to Pros article is a great example of smart keyword usage. It seamlessly mixes popular search terms like "best tin whistles" with more specific, long-tail phrases like "beginner tin whistles" and "professional tin whistles." The keywords flow naturally within the content, matching user intent and keeping things readable—no awkward stuffing here.
By incorporating various related terms like brands, materials, and prices, the article boosts its chances of ranking for different search queries while staying relevant. It’s a solid demonstration of how to use keywords strategically without sacrificing the quality of the post.
Good Kids Tip
Incorporate long-tail keywords to rank faster and attract more specific audiences. Also, consider ‘diamond’ keywords that have zero allintitle on Google.
What to Avoid
Avoid disregarding long-tail keywords just because they have lower search volumes. Not everything in SEO is about building traffic and conversions.
Checklist for Using Primary Keywords in Your Blog
Worried that you’ll accidentally mess up the performance of your blog when using the primary keywords? Here are some questions to ask yourself to make sure your SEO efforts don’t result in negative effects on your article.
Checklist for Best Primary Keyword Practices in SEO
Closing Thoughts - Satisfy Your Creative Marketing Needs With Good Kids Today
In summary, avoiding common keyword mistakes is essential for improving your SEO and boosting your blog's performance. Avoid targeting highly competitive BOFU keywords, as they can be difficult to rank for early on. Ensure your content flows naturally without keyword stuffing, align your keywords with user search intent, and always consider keyword variations to capture different search queries. Don’t ignore long-tail keywords, which offer lower competition and can help build your authority over time. By following these best practices, you’ll increase your chances of ranking higher and driving more relevant traffic to your blog.
If you're looking for expert SEO services, Good Kids is your best option. With over 15 years of experience, we are kids who always stay up-to-date with the latest Google trends and employ the best SEO practices to ensure your content ranks and delivers results.
We’ve been quietly working in content creation, media management, and customer experience and are trusted by leading brands across various industries. Our innovative approach and fun, attention-grabbing campaigns make us the perfect partner for all your SEO and digital marketing needs.
Good Kids is here to help you navigate the challenges of creative marketing. Our talented marketing teams in Toronto, New York City, and Los Angeles can bring ideas to life and move your business forward. Come play with us today!
Sources Used for this Article:
https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2022/08/helpful-content-update
https://www.statcan.gc.ca/search/results/site-search?q=marketing%20strategies&fq=stclac:2&wb-srch-sub=search
https://madeinca.ca/content-marketing-canada-statistics/
