In the context of search engines and search engine optimization (SEO), keywords are terms or phrases that are used to describe the content of a website and its pages. These keywords help search engines understand what a website is about, and they play a critical role in determining the relevance of a website to specific search queries.
When a user performs a search query, search engines use algorithms to compare the keywords used on websites to the terms in the search query. The more relevant the keywords are to the search query, the higher the website is ranked in the search results.
Keywords can be single words, such as “shoes,” or longer phrases, such as “women’s running shoes.” When selecting keywords, it is important to consider relevancy, popularity, and competition. This involves researching the terms and phrases that people are searching for and determining which keywords would be the most effective for ranking a website in search results.
In SEO, keywords are typically incorporated into various elements of a website, including the page title, header tags, meta description, and body content. Keywords should be used in a natural and contextually relevant way, rather than being forced into the content in an attempt to manipulate search engine rankings.