SEO 101: Become More Searchable – August

You have probably heard of the term SEO, but do you know what it stands for? The acronym is short for Search Engine Optimization, and it’s become the standard for how savvy marketers gain a better organic ranking on search engines, like Google or Bing. If you lead a company or are trying to get a new job, you need to be aware of the best keywords to help you rise above the competition. Nouns are the new currency for who and what makes the cut. Here’s our guide to keyword basics you should be using in your resume and personal or company website.

1. Research 101

Create topic buckets around your job search. We’re thinking broad topics: insurance careers, insurance adjuster job, insurance training. Then, get specific for each bucket. For example, insurance adjuster job should include keywords relating to your specific job hunt, such as insurance claims adjuster, insurance adjuster, experienced insurance adjuster, insurance adjuster position, etc.

2. Get Local

To take your keywords a step further, get local. If you are targeting a specific area in your job search, add in that city and/or state. So, try weaving in terms to your resume that include your location. For example: I am an experienced insurance adjuster in Denver, Colorado, looking for a new insurance career opportunity. Obviously, adding your location into every sentence will just sound awkward, so use it sparingly.

3. Don’t Overload

Overloading your site with keywords not only sounds bad, you could get flagged by search engines for a poor SEO practice know as keyword stuffing. This refers to the practice of loading a webpage with keywords or numbers in an attempt to manipulate a site’s ranking in search results. Often these keywords appear in a list or group, or out of context, which sounds unnatural. Google suggests you focus on creating useful, information-rich content that uses keywords appropriately and in context. So, while putting “insurance career” 100 times on your webpage could get you a first-page rank result, you may also be creating a negative user experience and it can harm your site’s ranking.