The SEO keyword analysis process forms the cornerstone of effective search engine optimization. It plays a crucial role in shaping a website’s visibility, traffic, and overall online success.
Through meticulous keyword research, businesses can identify the exact words and phrases that users input into search engines.
By strategically integrating these keywords into content, the likelihood of appearing in search results increases.
Understanding user intent is equally important. By targeting keywords that align with what users are seeking, a website can drive more organic traffic.
Relevant traffic not only increases the number of visitors but also enhances the likelihood of converting them into customers.
In this article, we’ll explore a case where Warner Bros. failed in SEO, leading to a missed box office opportunity.
Warner Bros. and the Failure of SEO Keyword Research
Warner Bros. is an American film studio involved in both film production and distribution. Under the Warner name, the company has influenced sectors like American TV dramas, animations, games, and music.
It’s one of the major six Hollywood studios that achieved consecutive box office hits in the 2000s, including well-known titles like Superman, The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.
Warner Bros. produced a new film based on Harley Quinn, the notorious girlfriend of the Joker and one of the popular DC characters.
However, despite the strong character, the movie delivered disappointing results.
The Reason for Failure?
The movie was originally titled Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn.
Despite Harley Quinn being the main character, Warner Bros. did not include her name at the beginning of the movie title.
It wasn’t until later that Warner Bros. realized Harley Quinn was a crucial keyword, leading them to change the movie title to Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. Unfortunately, by then, it was too late.
Without Harley Quinn’s name at the start of the title, audiences had difficulty realizing that she was the main character of the film.
The movie was expected to gross $60 million, but it only achieved $33 million.
All of This Stemmed from Ignoring the Importance of Keywords
People searching for the movie were likely interested in Harley Quinn. Although the title was eventually changed, it was criticized as being too late.
Warner Bros. was also criticized for neglecting competitor research. It was essential to understand what keywords and content moviegoers were interested in at the time.
Analyzing the Search Engine Result Pages (SERP) to understand search intent is one of the most important considerations when building SEO.
Conclusion from the SEO Keyword Analysis Failure
The lesson Warner Bros. learned from this case is that an SEO perspective is essential when choosing content titles.
Like other companies launching new services or product lines, Warner Bros. should have involved SEO experts in this process. Had they done so, Birds of Prey might have performed better at the box office.
Keyword research serves as a guide for content creation, highlighting topics important to the target audience. This not only optimizes content for search engines but, more importantly, provides significant value to potential customers.
Ultimately, SEO keyword research is not a one-time task. It requires continuous activity, allowing companies to adapt to evolving user preferences and industry environments.
