Choosing the right keywords is the first step to a better search engine ranking. But how do you know which terms are right for your business? Consider these tips:

Remember the basics:
Enter your keywords in order of importance, and be sure to use keywords that actually appear in your page content. Don't repeat keywords more than twice (and not consecutively!), separate your keywords with commas, and keep the list to under 256 characters.

Be specific.
Because there's so much competition for general keywords, you'll need to choose specific phrases to set yourself apart. For example, if you choose shoes as your keyword, you'll never get good results - it's far too broad. Instead choose terms or phrases like women's patent leather high heels or canvas basketball sneakers san francisco. The more specific your keywords, the more targeted your traffic.

And try the Google Keyword Tool.