It’s not difficult to see that SEO is the most important factor in Google rankings achievement. But what is the most important element of a solid SEO strategy? Keyword study!
The keyword research process is the basis for your entire strategy of content. It helps determine your subject matter and topics, the titles of your articles, and, eventually, the results you’ll get.
The problem is that many people — including professionals in the field of marketing — view keyword research as a straightforward procedure that lists key keywords and phrases, then dumps as many as they can into blog posts.
In the following sections, I’ll guide you through the tried and true technique we use for keyword research within Marketing Insider Group, including guidelines and templates you can utilize to begin.
What is Keyword Research?
The process involves analyzing your potential customers’ language when they search for your services, products, or content. The next step is to analyze the results, comparing and prioritizing the best keywords to use on your site.
Why Is Keyword Research So Important?
Researching keywords is the sole way to determine what people type in search engine queries. It is essential to be aware of this so that you don’t create articles about topics that no one is looking for. As per our research, many webmasters make that error, which is a major reason that 90.63 percent of websites receive no web traffic from Google.
1. Understand How Intent Affects Keyword Research and Analyze Accordingly
As I stated in the previous paragraph, user intent is today one of the most important elements in your website’s ability to be ranked highly in search engines such as Google. Your site must tackle the problem searchers wanted to resolve rather than simply containing the keywords the user employed. How will this impact the research you conduct on keywords?
It’s easy for people to take keywords on their faces. However, they could have a variety of significance beneath the surface. Because the reason behind a search is crucial to your search engine ranking and your website’s ranking, you must be extremely careful about what you decide to do with the terms you choose to target.
2. Create a List of Keywords to Use in Your Brainstorming
Seed keywords form the basis of the research process. They define your industry and assist you in identifying your competition. Every keyword research tool will ask for a seed word and then utilize it to produce a vast list of keyword suggestions (more on that later).
Finding the keywords you want to use is simple if you have an existing product or company that you wish to advertise online. Think about what potential customers search for in Google to search for what you have to offer.
For instance, if you’re selling coffee machines or equipment, then the keywords for seed could include:
- coffee
- espresso
- cappuccino
- French press
3. Keywords by Region
You can target your content more effectively to the area you want to target by limiting your search results to specific cities, counties, or states within Google Keyword Planner. Research specific to a particular location can help create content better suited to the intended viewers. For instance, you may learn that in Texas, the most popular name for a large vehicle will be “big rig,” while in New York, “tractor-trailer” is the most popular term.
4. Make Use of Google Keyword Planner to Cut Down Your List of Keywords
Within the Keyword Planner of Google In Google’s Keyword Planner, you’ll be able to find traffic estimates and search volume for any keywords you’re interested in. Take the data you’ve learned via Keyword Planner and apply the Google Trends feature to complete the gaps.
Utilize your Keyword Planner to flag any phrases in your list that have far too small (or far too many) searches or aren’t helping keep your mix healthy similar to what we mentioned earlier.
5. Utilize Keyword Research Tools
Competitors are a fantastic source of keyword concepts. However, there are plenty of keywords that your competitors aren’t focusing on, and you can discover these by using keyword research tools.
Keyword research tools work similarly. You input keywords, and they pull keyword suggestions from their database based on the keyword.
Google Keyword Planner is perhaps the most popular keyword tool. It’s completely free, and although it’s mostly for advertising, you can also use it to discover keywords relevant to SEO.
6. Look at the Way That Competitors Rank for These Keywords
If your competitor does something, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should follow suit. This is also true for keywords. The fact that a term is significant to your competition does not mean it is important to you. But knowing the terms that your competition is trying to be ranked for is an excellent way to provide your keywords a second assessment.
If your competition is ranking for certain keywords also on your list, it’s logical to improve your rankings for those keywords. Don’t forget those your competitors don’t seem to pay attention to. This could also be an ideal chance to gain market share in important areas.
Understanding the significance of keywords that are somewhat more difficult because of competition and those that are more realistic can allow you to maintain the same balance that the mix of long-tail and head terms allow. The goal is to create a list of keywords that offer quick wins and help you achieve more difficult goals in SEO.