Search engine optimisation (SEO) is an entire skill set in itself. For brokers, and even most marketers, getting a good understanding of SEO takes a lot of time, and it's often time that they don’t necessarily have. However, having a basic grasp of best practice and how SEO works can make your marketing efforts more effective and your business more visible.
One of the best places to start is by using appropriate keywords throughout your website, blog and other content. Having these keywords as part of your copy helps search engines find and showcase your website.
What are keywords?
Keywords for SEO are the words and phrases used in your website content that a search engine (like Google or Bing) uses to find your site and match it to appropriate searches. Most SEO advice is given on the basis of Google’s search algorithms. This is because it is the most frequently used search engine.
To make sure that your content and website are pulled up as appropriate responses to search queries, it’s important to make sure the words on your site match the words that are used to search. In recent years, changes in the way the algorithm works and changes in the way we search have made an impact on what kinds of keywords are used. Now, it is best to use words or phrases that are a natural part of speech.
Read more: 5 tips on improving your search ranking on Google
How to find keywords
Brainstorming suitable keywords can be one of the most confusing parts of getting your SEO plan sorted out. It’s not enough to just pick one search term that you want to be found for, especially in a sector with many diverse needs, like mortgages.
To get the best results when researching keywords, there are a few simple ways to get started:
- Basic brainstorming - Get your team together to consider both what you want your business to be found for and how your target audience might search for those services.
- Use the right tools - Use tools like AnswerthePublic, AlsoAsked and SEMrush’s Keyword Magic Tool to get more ideas off the back of your initial brainstorming. These tools help you understand what else this audience is searching for.
- Competitor research - If you have a tool like SEMrush, Moz, or Ahrefs to help you visualise and report on SEO, they often come with competitor analysis tools that can help you see what competitors might be ranking for.
- Consider your niche - Think about what makes your business unique and find out how you can incorporate that into your keywords. Spending time looking through social media where your audience spends time, especially where they ask questions, can be helpful for this.
If you want more tips for getting started with keyword research, try out the advice from reputable sources like Moz, Ahrefs, and HubSpot. All of these businesses are at the top of the marketing field.
Read more: Search Engine Optimisation checklist
Popular keywords for brokers
To kick-start your thinking, we’ve put together a short list of popular keywords for mortgage brokers. If you want to really make your SEO stand out, however, you’ll need to do the above steps to expand this list and tailor it to your business.
Suggested keywords:
- Mortgages
- Mortgage broker near me
- Mortgage advice
- Mortgage adviser
- Mortgage broker
- Mortgage broker UK
- Best mortgages UK
- Mortgages for first time buyer
- Mortgages for buy-to-let
- What is a good mortgage
- Mortgage interest rates
- How to apply for a mortgage
- Home mortgage loans
- What mortgage can I get
- How much can I get for a mortgage
- Mortgage calculator
- UK mortgage rates
- Residential mortgages
- Help to buy
This is far from an extensive list of the possibilities, but it should help you get started. One very easy way to tailor these search terms to your business is to combine them with your town, city or region. Doing this helps search engines know that your results are especially well suited to people in those areas.
With these keywords as a starting point, and your new-found knowledge of how to brainstorm additional keywords, you’ll be able to start making a plan to get your website found by search engines and prospects alike.