What is a Focus Keyword? 

What is a focus keyword? It is a word or phrase that people search frequently on the internet. When writing an article or creating content, online companies try to center their work on a focus keyword. The focus keyword makes sure that anyone searching for that keyword online finds their article. Using focus keywords improves SEO. This is one of the foundations of digital marketing

The focus keyword is repeated several times throughout the web page or article. This makes sure that when someone searches that word or phrase on Google, that site will show up the top of the search engine results page. It is a great way to move your website to the top of Google searches, meaning more traffic to your website and perhaps, more customers.

But using focus keywords can be tricky. How do you know which ones to pick, or which ones will be searched the most? Learning about SEO and how to use focus keywords can help your company’s site more visits with just a few simple steps.

Content Marketing Strategy

To increase your search volume and domain authority, it is important to use keyword research tools and to make sure that you are always using a focus keyphrase per page. Every page of your site should focus on targeted keywords in order to capture more search queries.

If you are focusing on WordPress SEO, the Yoast SEO plugin is a great start to begin learning how to use a focus keyword properly on a page or post. The plugin will make sure that you are using a proper SEO title and not keyword stuffing.

Search Engine Optimization

SEO is the practice of optimizing a website to drive search engine traffic to said website. To help optimize content, you can choose focus keywords that will bring your website to the top of the search engine results page when someone searches for that keyword. This can make all the difference to your SEO. You can’t get clients online if your website never gets looked at, but it can be simple to place yourself closer to the top of searches with just the right keyword.

Search engine optimization is easy to learn, but it can be hard to get started. There are several companies that can help you to make your site fully optimized by using the right focus keywords. But if you want to do it yourself, there are some ways to find prime keywords on your own. 

Focus Keyword Finder 

How do you find a focus keyword that is right for your website? It might take some research, but a smart way to start is by finding which keywords are already being used by other companies like yours. Use Google on your own to find out what similar companies are putting on their sites that place them at the top of searches. There are also free websites that offer keyword finding.

One example of a tool to help you find focus keywords is Google AdWords. These sites can help you pick keywords that may not be used by every site, which is where longer keywords are useful. Some of the things you want to avoid are using extremely short or generic keywords.

Also, just because a word is searched often doesn’t automatically make it a good keyword. Never spell words incorrectly just to get views. Sometimes people misspell searches, but that isn’t what you want to prey upon. Look for words that will make your company look good. You don’t want to use the keyword “good pillow” when you could use the keyword “best pillow”. You could include both, but people will want to buy the best one, not just a good one! When you use more specific keywords, that will benefit you the most. 

Long-Tail Keywords

Another kind of keyword to consider utilizing is a long-tail keyword. These could be the difference between your site being found or not. There will always be huge national sites that get the most traffic and will always sit at the top with the use of simple keywords, but if you use long-tail keywords, you could be closer to the top than those larger companies. Integrating more long-tail keywords into your content will help your site get more traffic.

For example, a keyword that might get searched a lot would be something like “hotel,” which the big chain companies have a jump on. But people often search for more specific words than just “hotel”. Someone might search “beachfront hotel”, which makes it a smaller search. Then “beachfront hotel with free parking” might get your company close to the top of the search, but even better could be “beachfront hotel in Los Angeles with free parking”. If someone searches that, which is very possible, they will find you first!

Looking for longer keywords that you can use on your site itself will get your website found. In turn, you will also rank higher on the searches because of how many visitors you get, so it’s a win-win situation! 

Blogs 

Using those longer keywords can sometimes be tricky to put in your site, so a great way to incorporate keywords into your website is by creating a blog. Making a blog that is part of your company site is relatively easy. An added benefit of a blog is that it helps bring in more traffic. 

Write about your company, your products, your services, even your employees. Include those keywords in each post, and you will be amazed how much your site will climb up the searches. You can also share blog posts you write to your social media sites, and offer insights that people may not know. This will help people become more interested.

Never write blog posts that are controversial or give away your company secrets. The preferred word count for blogs that get found in Google searches is about 1500 words, so try to get to that count in each post you make. This is just a great tool to help bring up your viewers and customers. 

Focus Keyword Generator 

Another way to find keywords is by using a focus keyword generator. There are several free ones available, and they will give you an idea based on your chosen topic. They can even include your location and industry, which will narrow down your keywords to be more localized. This helps your focus keywords to be relevant and make it easy for people to find your site among thousands of others. Google trends also offers some of the top searched keyword terms by region, topic and more.

Analytics

How do you know if you are using the right focus keywords? Well, there are companies that can use analytics to find out how well your company is doing online. If you are spending a lot on your advertisements but nobody is finding your site, you could be wasting your time and money. Using those analytics, these companies can offer you insight to help improve your SEO. This can be very helpful to a company that isn’t seeing the results they need and want. 

Companies can also benefit from an SEO analysis to make sure that each page of their site is using the best keywords and maximizing visits. The traffic your company is receiving could be good, but it can be better through using more specific words or just through reorganization of pages and text. You can also advertise smarter by using PPC, or pay per click ads, so you only pay when your ads work and people visit your site. 

Links 

If you feel like you are utilizing as many focus keywords as you can but you’re not getting better results, another trick to try is adding links. Linking your pages together internally and linking to outside sources will make Google think your page or post is important. Try to link to pages with a lot of traffic. But make sure your links are relevant!

It is easier than you might think to find pages that are similar to your own or expand upon concepts that you put into your blog posts. When you link, never say things like “Click here to read more”. Insert the link right into your text. That makes people more interested and makes your post more professional. You want to put in about 7-10 links per article if you can. This will put it right in the range that Google searches pick up easily. Soon you’ll be getting more traffic than ever.

If you’re lucky, people will start linking to your articles and pages as well, and that networking can increase your traffic. You can even offer ads on your site for relevant companies, and in doing that you can sometimes get more clients through other companies as well. We’ve all heard how important networking is for success. In the more modern way to market, focus keywords will bring people in, and linking or advertising will help you stay relevant. A combination of that will bring you the most viewers and customers.

Benefits of Focus Keywords

Through using tools like focus keywords, you can boost your views online and make sure that you are getting people’s attention. If you are not satisfied with your current status online, there are so many ways you can analyze your pages to improve your search results. Using long-tail keywords and linking can also bring more traffic to your site. Find pages and articles similar to your own and link to them.

If you do those things and you still aren’t seeing results, use a focus keyword generator for ideas. Look for ways to use longer keywords where you haven’t before. Use more specific words that make your company look good. Then, if those things aren’t getting you to where you want to be in the search lineup, use an SEO company to help you. They know the best focus keywords and can put you where you want to be: at the top of the Google searches!

Frequently Asked Questions About Focus Keywords

How many focus keywords should I use on a single page?

While you should typically target one primary focus keyword per page, you can also include 2-3 closely related secondary keywords (sometimes called LSI keywords or semantic keywords). Targeting one main focus keyword allows you to create highly relevant, focused content that clearly signals to search engines what your page is about.

Using too many unrelated focus keywords on a single page can dilute your content’s effectiveness and may be interpreted as keyword stuffing by search engines, potentially harming your rankings. Instead of cramming multiple unrelated keywords onto one page, consider creating separate, dedicated pages for each distinct keyword or topic. This approach creates more opportunities to rank while allowing you to provide comprehensive, valuable content for each specific search intent.

How often should a focus keyword appear in my content?

There’s no magic keyword density percentage that guarantees high rankings. Instead of focusing on a specific number, aim for natural integration that reads well to human visitors. For a typical 1,500-word blog post, your primary focus keyword might appear 5-7 times, including in strategic locations like the title, first paragraph, at least one heading, and the conclusion. However, quality and relevance matter more than frequency.

Modern search engines use sophisticated algorithms that understand semantically related terms and context, so they can recognize your topic without exact keyword repetition. Overusing your focus keyword (known as keyword stuffing) creates a poor reading experience and can trigger search engine penalties. Focus instead on comprehensive coverage of your topic using natural language, synonyms, and related terms.

What’s the difference between short-tail and long-tail focus keywords?

Short-tail keywords are brief phrases (typically 1-3 words) like “running shoes” or “digital marketing” that have high search volume but also high competition. Long-tail keywords are more specific phrases (usually 4+ words) like “women’s waterproof trail running shoes” or “digital marketing strategies for small businesses” that have lower search volume but higher conversion potential. While short-tail keywords might bring more traffic, long-tail keywords typically convert better because they match more specific search intent.

For example, someone searching “shoes” might be in the early research phase, while someone searching “size 10 men’s Nike running shoes black Friday deals” is closer to making a purchase. New or smaller websites often find more success targeting long-tail keywords initially, as they face less competition from established sites, and can gradually build authority to compete for shorter, more competitive terms.

How do I determine which focus keywords to target?

Selecting effective focus keywords requires strategic research rather than guesswork. Start by brainstorming terms directly related to your business, products, or services. Then use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest to evaluate search volume, competition level, and related terms.

Look for keywords with a good balance of search volume and competition—typically those with monthly searches in the hundreds or thousands that aren’t dominated by major brands or high-authority websites. Consider search intent behind keywords: informational (“how to…”), navigational (brand searches), commercial investigation (“best…”), or transactional (“buy…”). For local businesses, include location-based terms. Analyze competitor rankings to identify gaps or opportunities. Remember that the best keywords match both what your target audience is searching for and what your content can authoritatively address.

Do focus keywords need to match search queries exactly?

Modern search engines use semantic understanding and natural language processing, meaning they recognize related terms and concepts without requiring exact keyword matches. While including your exact focus keyword is still valuable, search engines now understand the context and can rank pages that answer the search query even if they use different phrasing.

For example, a page targeting “how to bake chocolate chip cookies” might also rank for “chocolate chip cookie recipe” or “homemade chocolate chip cookies” without using those exact phrases. This means you should write naturally and comprehensively about your topic rather than forcing exact keyword phrases into your content awkwardly. Use synonyms, related terms, and natural variations of your focus keyword throughout your content to demonstrate topical authority while maintaining readability.

How do I use focus keywords in WordPress with Yoast SEO?

The Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress simplifies focus keyword optimization with its color-coded feedback system. Start by entering your chosen focus keyword in the designated field in the Yoast SEO meta box below your content editor. The plugin will analyze your content and provide suggestions for improvement. To optimize effectively: include your focus keyword in your SEO title (ideally near the beginning), within the meta description, in your page URL (permalink), in the first paragraph of your content, in at least one subheading (H2 or H3), and naturally throughout your content.

The plugin also evaluates factors like keyword density, content length, readability, and internal/external linking. Aim for green bullets in the analysis, but prioritize creating quality content for humans over mechanically following every Yoast suggestion. Remember that Yoast’s recommendations are guidelines, not absolute rules—sometimes breaking them makes sense for better reader experience.

Can I change my focus keyword after publishing content?

Yes, you can change your focus keyword after publishing, but it should be done strategically rather than arbitrarily. Valid reasons to change your focus keyword include: discovering through analytics that your page is ranking better for a different keyword than intended, responding to shifts in search trends or terminology, or refocusing underperforming content. When changing your focus keyword, you’ll need to modify your content accordingly—updating your title, headings, meta description, URL (though changing URLs requires redirects), and content body to incorporate the new keyword naturally.

Monitor your rankings carefully after making changes, as there might be temporary fluctuations. For significant keyword changes that substantially alter the content focus, consider whether creating a new page might be more effective than heavily modifying an existing one. SEO Design Chicago can help analyze whether changing your focus keyword makes sense for specific pages and implement changes to maximize ranking potential.

How do focus keywords affect local SEO for businesses?

For local businesses, focus keywords play a crucial role in helping potential customers find you in their area. Local focus keywords should combine your service or product with geographic terms relevant to your business (city, neighborhood, region). For example, rather than just targeting “dental clinic,” a local dentist would use “dental clinic in Chicago Loop” or “emergency dentist downtown Chicago.” Beyond your website content, these local focus keywords should be consistently used across your Google Business Profile, online directories, local citations, and social media profiles.

Location-specific landing pages can target multiple service areas if you serve several locations. Local keywords typically have lower search volume but higher conversion rates since they match specific local intent. Local keyword strategy should also consider local landmarks, neighborhoods, or colloquial terms that locals might use when searching. SEO Design Chicago specializes in helping local businesses identify and implement the most effective local focus keywords to drive qualified traffic from their service areas.