How to Use Keywords in WordPress to Improve Ranking for Better SEO Results
When working on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and getting your website ranked in search engines and noticed online, keywords are one of the cornerstones of the entire process. They’re the connection between what people type into Google and the website and content you’ve worked so very hard to create. For small businesses, knowing how to use keywords in WordPress to improve ranking can be the difference between being ranked on page five of search results or happily sitting at the top of the first page of results.
Using keywords correctly on your website doesn’t have to be confusing or overly technical. With the right strategy, setup, and the right support, you can easily make sure your keywords are used correctly and are working hard for your business.
Where to Place Keywords in a WordPress Site
One of the first things to know is where you put your keywords throughout your site. Just randomly sprinkling them across your site isn’t going to have a great result. Google looks for several key specific signals that tell it what your page is about and what keywords it should rank you for – and how highly.
Here are the most important spots to place your keyword and the ones we focus on the most in our SEO campaigns and plans:
- The H1 (main heading): Every page needs to have one H1 and only one H1. And that one H1 needs to include your main keyword – exactly as it is. This tells both users and search engines the main topic of the page and the main keyword for the page. There shouldn’t be text before the H1.
- The first paragraph: Google pays close attention to the beginning of your content on each web page. Using your keyword in the opening paragraph reinforces what your page is about.
- The first H2 heading: Including your keyword here helps strengthen the relevance of the page. Add a modifier to change the H2 from being the exact same text as an H1, but include the keyword again exactly as it is.
- Throughout the text: The keyword should be used 2.5–3% throughout the page. That means that if your site has 100 words (and you’ll need far more than that, this is just easy math), your keyword should appear 2–3 times. You don’t need to be a mathematician to figure this out and no complex formulas. With plugins like Yoast SEO can help track this for you.
By using the keyword in these places, Google will be able to identify your keyword for the page and start connecting it to the users searching for that keyword. As you keep doing more and more things Google likes, that ranking keeps getting higher and higher.
Using Keywords Naturally
Once you know where to add your keywords in your WordPress pages, the next big step is to use them naturally. This is where a lot of small businesses stumble in their SEO efforts. It can be quite tempting to cram your keyword into every sentence and heading, but that is actually going to hurt your rankings more than it helps. Google is far too smart to know when content is being forced and visitors can spot it immediately.
For example, here’s what not to do:
“Looking for Green Bay Web Design? Our Green Bay Web Design team is the best Green Bay Web Design option for your Green Bay Web Design needs.”
It’s clunky, repetitive, awkward, and nothing that any human would ever say in person.
Here’s the right way:
“Our Green Bay Web Design team builds websites that not only look great but also attract leads and grow your business.”
Both examples use the keyword, but only one has the professional and natural tone that is needed for SEO. That’s the difference that Google rewards and your audience responds to.
At Full Scope Creative, this is part of what our SEO plans cover. Our copywriters make sure your keywords flow naturally into your content so your site is professional, easy to read, and built to rank.
Why Content Volume Matters for Keywords
Another factor that plays a huge role in ranking is how much content you have on your site. If your site only has a homepage and a couple of service pages, there are only so many times you can use your keywords. That limits your chances of showing up in search results.
On the other hand, if you regularly publish blog posts, case studies, FAQs, and other content, you suddenly have dozens of opportunities to use those keywords in natural, helpful ways. And the more you publish, the stronger your site becomes in Google’s eyes.
It’s also important to note that longer content tends to rank better. A 1,500-word blog has more room for keywords and context than a short 300-word page. That doesn’t mean you should ramble, but it does mean that well-written, detailed content will usually perform better.
This is why all of our SEO plans at Full Scope Creative include blogging and content creation. We build your keyword footprint over time so you’re not just ranking for one or two terms, but dozens — and sometimes even hundreds.
Optimizing Keywords Beyond Text
Most business owners think keywords are only about the words on the page, but that’s only part of the picture. Google also pays attention to how your keywords are used in the behind-the-scenes parts of your website.
Here are a few key areas we always focus on:
- Image Alt Tags: These are short descriptions of your images. They’re important for accessibility and for Google’s understanding of your page. For example, instead of labeling a photo “team.jpg,” you could call it “Full Scope Creative Green Bay Web Design Team.”
- Link Text (Anchor Text): Instead of using “click here,” use keywords. For example: “See our SEO services” or “Learn more about our Green Bay Web Design work.”
- Meta Titles and Descriptions: These are the text snippets that appear in Google search results. Having your keyword here not only helps rankings but also makes your listing more clickable.
- URLs: A short, keyword-rich URL slug (like /how-to-use-keywords-in-wordpress) helps Google and your visitors quickly understand what the page is about.
In our SEO campaigns, we handle all of these details for our clients. It’s not just about the words people see — it’s about making sure every piece of your site is optimized and working to improve your ranking.
Tools That Make Keyword Optimization Easier
You don’t have to guess (and shouldn’t) whether you’re using your keywords right or doing SEO correctly. There are several tools that make keyword optimization a lot easier. We use all of these tools when we do any SEO campaign at Full Scope Creative.
- Yoast SEO: This WordPress plugin is one of the most popular and for a good reason. It allows you to set a focus keyword for each page and then tells you how well you’re using it. It checks things like keyword placement, density, and readability, giving you an easy red/yellow/green light system.
- Google Search Console: This free tool shows you which keywords your site is already ranking for. It also shows you how people are finding your site and which pages are performing best.
- Google Analytics: While this isn’t a keyword tracker, it helps you measure which pages are keeping people’s attention and which ones may need improvement.
- SEMRush: While this tool isn’t free, it does provide a great look at what keywords your site (and your competitors sites) are ranking for. It will give great input and ideas for new keywords and even blog topics.
At Full Scope Creative, we don’t just install these tools and leave you to figure them out. We monitor them month after month, track the results, and adjust your keyword strategy so your site keeps climbing in search rankings.
Getting Started with How to Use Keywords in WordPress to Improve Ranking
Using keywords in WordPress doesn’t have to be complicated, confusing, or stressful. By placing keywords in the right places, writing naturally, building more quality content, and optimizing your site properly, you give your site the best chance to climb the rankings and attract more visitors. That all equals more return on investment!
You don’t have to do it alone. At Full Scope Creative, our SEO plans cover everything from keyword research to placement, content creation to technical optimization, and ongoing monitoring. You can focus on running your business and we make sure your website gets found on Google.
If you’re looking to take the next step in your SEO journey, reach out to us today.