Wordtracker launches the Wordtracker Academy, a resource site for keyword research and search engine optimization.

Wordtracker is probably the most popular keyword research service available, helping webmasters find out what keyword phrases searchers use when looking for their kind of goods, services and information.

This is more difficult than many imagine. People searching for the same topic may use many different keyword combinations to get there, and the one you find obvious, may actually be one of the less popular ones.

Today Wordtracker presented a new site devoted to keyword research at SES NY called Wordtracker Academy. Actually, it is not totally new. Many of the articles have been available online for some time, as has the related newsletter. But new or not, the site includes some very useful content on search engine optimization.

“The Wordtracker Academy publishes expert articles, case studies and tips and tricks that help people maximize their ROI from keyword
research,” says Andy Mindel, Wordtracker CEO.

There are also case studies presented by experts and links to relevant books and ebooks.

Needless to say, this is another way of drawing attention to the Wordtracker service, but we don’t mind as long as the content provided is well written and to the point.

The site design is uncluttered with a lot of white space, exactly the way we like it.

Eight ways to improve your keyword strategy

The Wordtracker Academy also includes “Using Keywords - an eight point plan”. The plan include some very sensible advice:

1. Expand your keyword lists
– many web sites don’t have enough keywords. People should not just use the obvious keywords but dig deeper and look for specific interests or niches.

2. Optimize your existing content
– web sites can gain quick wins by editing their existing copy and including popular keyword phrases that they might previously have ignored.

3. Generate ideas for content
– keywords show what people are really looking for online and that can be a rich source of content ideas that will be attractive to people and to search engines.

4. Choose keyword rich names
– people often link to your site using your product names, publication titles and URLs as the linking text. Include keywords and you’ll get an extra search engine boost.

5. Sprinkle your offline advertising with keywords
– offline advertising can suggest to people what they should look for online so make sure you suggest keywords for which you rank well.

6. Optimize your press releases
– journalists researching news stories and features use search engines to give them ideas and gather background information. Optimize your press release and they’ll be more likely to find your web site.

7. Increase the effectiveness of PPC campaigns
– in pay per click advertising keywords cost money so make sure you use the keywords that give you greatest ROI.

8. Build keyword rich inbound links
– links from external web sites are crucial in scoring well on search engines. However, such external links can be made even more valuable if they contain important keywords.

More of Pandia’s Search Engine Strategies coverage.