Key Words and Key Phrases

There is a difference between a key word and a key phrase. An example of a key word would be "mortgage".

Although everybody would love the traffic that resulted from a top position for the phrase mortgage, it is quite unrealistic to achieve without a lot of relevant content, many high grade inbound links and a top notch website structure. The problem faced is that "mortgage" is far too general a term. It is much better to choose a phrase which explains the content of the web page in more detail. This not only helps the people who are looking for relevant search engine results, but also has a greater chance of achieving a search engine position.

An example of a key phrase would be "household mortgages". There are tools available to help you research key phrases and determine how popular the phrase is.

When choosing a key phrase, it is important to place yourself in the position of a consumer. The word that you choose for a particular product may not be the one that a consumer may use when trying to find it. Speaking to a person outside your industry can always help.