So do keywords even matter anymore when it comes to writing top quality content that gets the results you should be looking for? Actually, yes, it does. Keyword research is still one of the most valuable things that you can do for your SEO, because it pays direct attention to the terms that people are searching and the methods in which they are finding information just like yours. You ignore keyword research at your own risk. Many hate the process because they feel too "hemmed in" by the way they can write their articles when in reality it allows them to be more focused in the things they talk about, the things they share with the public, which are, in all actuality, what the public really wants to know.
To establish the best keywords for your content, it is best to think about a subject matter you are very passionate about. Make a list of all the various aspects of the subject that attract you. From there, use that list to develop search terms. This process can be translated to multiple disciplines or fields of interest. Make sure that you do this for all of your sites, or at least make sure that your writers are doing so.
Once you have established good, solid keywords and keyword phrases, then you can focus on writing the best content that your site has ever seen. By pouring more thought into what you have to say instead of keyword frequency, you can take your site up the Google search ranks in a hurry. But without the research part of the equation, you'll never get to the level of quality that belongs on that first page.
Whether you are the one writing the content or not, you need to know the processes, so you can train those close to your site for what to watch out for in the digital age. Without the attention to detail and quality of craftsmanship, you won't be able to survive in the age to come.
