Last week, I defined some important terms that you need to understand when you’re writing titles, descriptions and tags for your items. Search engines use keywords to index web pages so that when you conduct a query, a list of relevant pages are returned in a ranked list. Selecting good keywords and weaving them organically into your text should be your number one consideration when preparing a listing. I repeat, selecting good keywords and weaving them organically into your text should be your number one consideration when preparing a listing. Got it?
Buyer intent should be the driving force behind your selection of keywords. Buyer intent refers to those words and phrases that someone shopping for your item will use when conducting a search. While the crocheted hat you’re listing may be described as “cute”, “adorable” and “whimsical”, are those words that an online shopper will search for when looking to buy a pink crocheted hat for a toddler? I doubt it! To help identify keywords and phrases that online shoppers are actually searching for, learn to use Google AdWords Keyword Tool. Here’s how it works…
In the Word or phrase box, enter a sample word or phrase that you think people searching for your item are using. For example, try pink crocheted toddler hat.
Enter your shop’s URL in the Website box. For example, www.zibbet.com/blackcreekcrossing.
Select a category. For this example, I’ve selected Headwear (Apparel/Apparel Accessories/Headwear/All).
Here’s a sample of my search results for this keyword query:
The guideline I use for choosing keywords (notice that keywords = phrases), is to look for phrases with Low to Medium Competition and high Global Monthly Searches. High 
Competition means that Google has a lot of web pages indexed with this keyword. A high number of Global Monthly Searches indicates that this is a popular search term. In most cases, Google will return a list of 100 keywords. Go through the entire list and click the check box to the left of the keywords that seem appropriate for your item based on what the item actually is and the criteria I’ve just described.
After selecting all of the keyword possibilities, click the Download link at the top of the list. This will allow you to save just those keywords that you’ve marked by choosing ‘My keyword ideas’ from the Download drop down menu. You can now sort the information you’ve downloaded and analyze it according to your needs and select the keyword (phrases) to use in your item title, description and tag list for your Zibbet listing.
Next week I’ll take a look at writing your item titles, descriptions and tags.
Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!
SEO Quick Tip: Search Volume and Keyword Competition | SEO Quick Tip: Keyword Selection and Buyer Intent | Why You Need to Choose Your Words Carefully Part 1 | SEO 101: The Basics | SEO 102: Your Zibbet Shop | SEO 103: Item Titles and Descriptions
Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Denim and Pearls, A Stitch and a Prayer, Black Creek Crossing and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.
Tags: Buyer Intent, Descriptions, Keyword Phrase, Keywords, Search Engine Optimization, SEO, Success on Zibbet, tags, Titles, Why You Need to Choose Your Words Carefully Part 2
