What is the focus keyword?

The focus keyword is the keyword that you want your page to rank for, so when people search for that keyword, they’ll find you. In Yoast SEO it has its own input field. The plugin evaluates the page’s content and provides feedback on how to improve the content for that focus keyword.

If you’re using Yoast you’re probably familiar with setting a focus keyword so you can optimize content for green lights.

These should NOT be guessed. You don’t want to create content for a keyword you’ll never rank for. We need to know WHAT people are searching (keyword research) and whether your site is capable of ranking for it (keyword competition). A little research can greatly improve your chances of getting on page 1.

  1. Start With Google Autocomplete.
    Autocomplete Tips :

    • Choose specific (long-tail) phrases which are less competitive
    • No need to include “best” and other nondescriptive adjectives
    • Synonyms can be targeted on the same page (as secondary keywords)
  2. Find More Keywords With Moz Keyword Explorer.
    Moz Keyword Explorer Tips :

    • Group related keywords with low lexical similarity (use filter)
    • Write down keywords you didn’t find in Google Autocomplete
    • Start with a broad phrase, then look for specific, long-tail phrases

  3. Find Competitor Keywords With HubShout WebGrader.

  4. Choose Specific (Long-Tail) Keywords.

  5. See Keyword Competition With MozBar (Chrome Extension).

  6. Avoid Competing With Authority Websites.

  7. Avoid Keywords That Show Strong Content.

  8. Local Keywords (Small Town vs. Large City vs. National).

  9. Keyword Per Page.

  10. Secondary Keywords (Synonyms) .

  11. Blog Post Keywords.

There will be 4 types of signal lights for specific content:

      • Gray: This light informs no SEO check content Red
      • Red: This light signals that your content is optimally relatively bad.
      • Green: This color informs you that your content is good.
      • Yellow: Notify you that your content is temporary

Conclusion: picking a focus keyword is not easy

Choosing a perfect focus keyword is not an exact science. You should aim for a combination of words that are actually used by a search audience. Aim for a focus keyword that is relatively high on volume and aim for one that will fit your audience.