Z or S keyword research
I was researching keywords yesterday and came across something I hadn't thought about before, different spellings between UK and US.
ORGANISE, this is how I have always spelled it but doing a keyword search returned <10 result! I didn't understand this, it's a common enough word so I popped the word (with an s into Google and the first result was at grammarist .com
"Organise and organize are different spellings of the same word. Organize is the preferred spelling in the U.S. and Canada, and organise is more common outside North America."
DING......the light went on and it's quite clear the search engines more commonly use US spellings for example, color versus colour.
Also something to consider is different words meaning the same thing, US commonly uses diaper and it's nappies in the UK!
I ended up using "organize" as part of the keyword in my latest blog post and have used diaper in another
So which version will get your sites the most hits, something to consider when doing keyword research.
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Great discovery, thanks for sharing. We usually look at things through our own "lens" and don't even realize there are other options!
I have always spelled it (organize). I take it your in the UK. Great info and thanks for sharing. :)
you sparked a few ideas for me. thanks for pointing this out. English has way too many differentiations but it could call for tricks around SEO.
Something that really need to be considered when targeting specific Geographic locations.
This normally doesn't matter, Kathy, UNTIL You get into something like keyword research. I know the differences between the two but, being American, I search in "Americanese," so to speak. I would guess if you're not in the U.S., you might try both to see where the searches are. Good point, Kathy! Thanks for bringing that out!
I would say, how many American English speakers are there world wide, and how many English speakers are there, which word will be entered the most in Google as search, but than again, which public do you want to reach, sales in England or worldwide? Which pool you want to fish from, Loes
When I've done searches in Google using keywords it automatically returns more US speliings even when the search is done with UK spelling so I guess that's the best way!
One has to be so careful with difference of meanings in different countries. A funny one for you. I am in Canada, from New Zealand. In my early days I was one night sitting enjoying evening with my newly met In Laws. I said genuinely, "Do you know what I love about you people.... you are so Homely" I was saying they loved their home and family to the Canadian I was calling them Ugly. After a moment of stunned silence we all had a good laugh.
There are a lot of instances of things like this, Neil. I had a friend (American) who went to England and her hosts wouldn't let her stop eating. They all wanted her to try their dishes. Finally, almost at the point of throwing up, she almost yelled, "No more, please, I'm stuffed!" The whole place fell on the ground laughing. When she found out what it meant locally later on, she was mortified. :)
Oh, please. I have tons of friends in Ireland. One day (online), someone posted up this beautiful car. Of course, me being American and knowing SOME Irish slang but not all, I reply, "Wow, I'd love a ride in that!" I couldn't figure out why they were all coming back laughing at me until one friend PM'd me with what they were thinking. LMAO!!! Of course, they've got me calling people eejits and wankers, too. :)
There is a good Kiwi one. We Kiwis often say "What a Dag" meaning in a round about way it was funny. Look in the dictionary what a Dag is. If it's not there feel free to ask
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Good to remember.