You'll want to start with a very long list of potential keywords in order to amass a comprehensive list. You can get keyword suggestions from many sources.
Start with the words that you would type into a search engine when looking for your product, and then branch out from there. Katz points out that there is typically more than one word for the same thing, depending on a frame of reference.
"I might search for 'jeans,' while my mom would search for 'blue jeans' and my great Aunt Milly would look for 'dungarees,'" she said.
A treasure trove of good keywords will be found by scouring your competitors' sites. Find out what keywords they are optimizing!
There is a great deal of information online and in various collateral materials, such as press releases and articles that have been written about a product-- look for what Katz says are those "golden keyword nuggets" that others use to describe what you're marketing.
One of the most overlooked (and most important) sources of keywords is your customers. Ask them what they would type into a search engine to find your product or service.
Use tools to get additional keyword suggestions. "There are a lot of keyword generation tools on the web-- most of which are free," Katz said. "Both Google and Yahoo! have free tools that will recommend keywords based on a word you enter, or even a URL."
Check them out at:
Other popular keyword research tools can be found at: