Focus keyword

The focus keyphrase (it used to be called "focus-Keyword") is a Yoast-expression for the term or phrase for which a page or post should rank best in search engines.

When people search for that term or phrase, you want them to find you.

Unfortunately, the purpose of the focus keyphrase is often misunderstood. Let's look at two of the most common mistakes marketers make when choosing a focus keyphrase.

Myth #1: Choosing a focus keyword optimizes your SEO on that keyphrase

This could not be more wrong.

Here is the truth: At the level of individual pages is Yoast relies on the user to select a focus keyphrase. It doesn't automatically suggest a list of keywords that it thinks best match the content of your page or post.

Also, when you enter a focus keyphrase, Yoast does not optimize your content to rank for that term.

Instead, it scores your content based on what you type. If I had chosen "Yoast" as the focus keyphrase for this post, it would appear green.

(People love getting "everything green" in Yoast).

But it would also have been worthless. Why, actually? This leads us to the next Myth ...

Myth #2: Your focus keyword should be what your page or post is about

When you enter keyphrases into Yoast, many users assume that the keyphrase should be the topic of the page or post. This is a common misconception... and it's completely false.

Yours Keyword-phrase is not what your post is about. It's about what your post is perfect for.

And why? When you have a Keyword-You're basically saying, "This is the best post in the world on this subject.

Let's say you're writing a blog post about the best climate for growing Valencia oranges. If you use "oranges" (or even worse, "climate") as the Keyword you have chosen a very bad one; there are thousands of posts dealing with oranges and the climate that are much better than yours.

This is true for just about any topic. Whatever you write will not be the best post or the best page in the world on that topic. And that's just fine!

It is not about being the best in the world. It's about fulfilling the search intention.

What is a search intention?

The search intent, sometimes referred to as Keyword Intent refers to the actual goal of the person who has a Search Engine used. People search and use search results differently depending on their goal. Understanding search intent and optimizing for it is essential for the Search engine optimization enormously important.

Here's a practical example of search intent: if you Google "Ford Mustang," the first results will be from someone (Ford itself or car dealerships) who wants to sell you a Ford Mustang.

But if you search for "Ford Mustang 0 to 100," you'll see content about the Ford Mustang's 0-to-100 specs.

This difference represents search intent, that is, what the person entering the search query is actually looking for.

Let's say you're writing a post about the 0-to-100 times for the 2020 GT Ford Mustang - yes, technically it's about the Ford Mustang. But people just searching "Ford Mustang" are probably looking for information on where to buy a Ford Mustang.

Instead, the key phrase "0 to 60 Ford Mustang" is much better suited to reflect the search intent of users looking for information on 2020 Ford Mustang specs ... and that should be your post!

Bottom line: don't just think about what your page or post is "about." Think about what specific question it answers or what search intent it's perfect for.

What does the Yoast Focus Keyword actually do?

Yoast can only tell you how well you optimized for your chosen focus keyphrase on that page. Yoast doesn't read your text and make decisions based on a comprehensive and critical analysis.

The rating is essentially based on the presence of your focus keyphrase in the title or in the Meta description and on how often it occurs in the text - a very simple thing!

So Yoast doesn't tell you what to write about, which Keyword-phrase you should use or how "good" your SEO work has been ... but only how well you've done your part for your Keyword-phrase.

Here's the bottom line: the focus keyphrase is not what your post is about. It's what your post is perfect for. And making your post perfect for something is your job, not Yoast's.

Advantages

Focus keywords are a very useful way to draw the reader's attention to the content of a text. They make it easier for the reader to understand the structure and theme of the text and make it easier for the writer to focus on what is important. By using focus keyphrases, writers can also ensure that the content of a particular section is easier to find and understand.

Disadvantages

There is a risk of using focus keywords too frequently or too often, which can make the text boring or redundant. Also, it can be difficult to find a suitable keyword that fits the content of the text.

Examples

An example of a focus keyword is "climate change factors." This keyphrase can be used to structure an article or blog post about climate change by repeating it over and over in different sections of the text to orient the reader. Another example is "health care tips" which can be used to structure an article about the importance of health care.

10 Specific examples of focus keywords

1. "Secure online banking methods": This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on the various options for secure online banking. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Online Banking" and could include, for example, articles on various security features such as two-factor authentication or biometric authentication.
2. "Sustainable agriculture in the city": This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on sustainable agriculture in urban areas. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Agriculture" and could include, for example, articles on urban gardens, community agriculture, and urban agriculture promotion.
3. "Natural Remedies for Migraine: This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on natural remedies for migraines. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Remedies" and could include, for example, articles on herbs, acupressure, and other natural ways to relieve migraines.
4. "Effective office organization": This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on effective office organization. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Office organization" and could, for example, write articles about Papimanagement, file systems and time management.
5. "Sustainable Fashion for Men: This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on sustainable fashion for men. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Sustainable fashion" and could include, for example, articles about environmentally friendly materials, fair working conditions and sustainable fashion companies.

6. "Yoga for Beginners: This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on yoga for beginners. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Yoga" and could include, for example, articles on various yoga poses, breathing techniques, and meditative exercises.
7. "Traveling with Young Children: This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on traveling with young children. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Travel" and could include, for example, articles on packing travel medicines, booking flights, and finding family-friendly accommodations.
8. "Vegan recipes for every day": This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on vegan recipes for everyday life. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Vegan Recipes" and could include, for example, articles on quick and easy vegan meals, snacks and desserts.
9. "Gardening for Beginners: This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on gardening for beginners. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Gardening" and could include, for example, articles on choosing plants, planting beds, and tending gardens.
10. "Dog Training for Puppies: This is a long tail focus-Keyword for a website that focuses on dog training for puppies. It is more specific than the more general Keyword "Dog Training" and could include, for example, articles on house and housetraining, learning commands, and puppy socialization.

What you should consider when choosing the focus keyword:

When choosing focus keyphrases for SEO, there are some important factors you should pay attention to:

1. Relevance: Make sure the keyphrase is relevant to the content of your website and that it accurately describes what is on your website.
2. Search volume: Choose keyphrases with an appropriate Search volumeso that you have enough Traffic on your website. However, it's important that you find the right balance and don't choose keyphrases that are too competitive, as that can be difficult to rank well for.
3. Keyword-Density: Make sure that the keyphrase occurs naturally in your content and that you don't try to use it too often to make the Ranking to improve.
4. User Intent: Consider what the user may be looking for and make sure your keyphrase reflects their intent.
5. Length: Long keywords or "long tail" keyphrases tend to be less contested and in some cases can provide better results because they are more specific.

It's important that you incorporate the keyphrase naturally into your content and don't try to optimize it too much, as that can be seen as "Keyword stuffing", which is considered unnatural behavior by search engines and can lead to lower rankings. Instead, you should focus on creating high-quality, relevant content that is useful to your target audience.

Conclusion

Focus keywords are a very useful and important technique that allows authors to focus on the essentials and orient the reader. They can be used in various texts to draw the reader's attention to the content of the text and to understand the structure and topic of the text. However, it is important not to use them too often to avoid boredom and redundancy.