On meta-tag keywords: The importance of meta-tag keywords has been dropping like a rock for a few years, now. The reason is that while it suited search engines in the early years of the internet to help them catalogue and categorize web sites, they have become so abused by webmasters that they are virtually useless.
In other words, webmasters entered meta keywords into their site that were for popular search terms, but terms that had nothing to do with their site. So the overall idea that's most important to know about search engine optimization is that the words that appear in your visible web site copy are the most important ones.
Search engines try to imitate human beings, now, so they don't get tricked. Whatever you emphasize (by bolding, making larger, repeating more than once, putting on your home page) is what gets paid most attention to.
That said...
The goal of finding keywords is to build a table of keywords (see below) that can bring targeted traffic to your Web site and are often searched for, but still not so competitive as to make a top ranking next to impossible.
Start with the Web site concept that excites you the most and create your original list of keywords. Write down all the words and phrases that you think are related to this concept and can be used by people when they search for your Web site.
When finding keywords, don't limit yourself to single words. Statistical research has shown that most people search using multiple-word keywords composed of two, or even three, words in order to get more targeted results.
Try to look at the Web site from the visitor end. Who are they? What are they trying to do? What other stuff do they look for? Figure out what problem your target market is trying to solve when they do a search. Your Web site should solve that problem.
Example: I will use myself and my location as an example of words you should think about.
I live in Eugene, Oregon... In Lane County, also in the Willamette Valley, also known as western Oregon. So I would have the keywords, Eugene, Oregon, Lane, County, Willamette, Valley, western (and then I'd add all my practice details)
What other keywords would they look for? Add them to your original list. You can add a whole new major direction, and income stream, to your Web site simply by thinking about your target's other needs.
Sample Table of Keywords:
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mediation
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mediation in Oregon
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workplace mediation in Oregon
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workplace mediation in Portland Oregon
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workplace mediation in downtown Portland Oregon
Think about what a potential client will be searching for and include both individual words and phrases in your Keywords. (seperated by a comma)
Below is a short list of words that came to mind. It may help you to think of others specific to your practice.
mediation, arbitration, mediator, resolution, dispute, ADR, negotiation, dispute resolution, conflict, arbitrator, mediators, mediate, alternative, divorce, workplace, civil, commercial, intervention, communication , talk, solve, argument, fight, disagreement, money, problem, fault, friendly, reconciliation, intervention, influence, vehicle, children, family, practice, accommodation, collaborative, lawyer, lawyers, discussion, find, law, attorney, locate, legal, family, psychologist, court, custody, visitation, child, child support, support, spousal, property, employment, facilitation, facilitate, business, commercial, judge, state, federal, local
