Keyword research is a fundamental part of search engine optimization (SEO). Finding the right keywords to target in your content ensures you attract qualified visitors who are ready to take action, whether that’s making a purchase or contacting your business. This detailed guide takes you through a step-by-step keyword research process to unlock your website’s SEO potential.
What Is Keyword Research for SEO?
Keywords research for SEO allows you to identify high-value search queries that align with your business offerings. Understanding user search intent and topic relevance is key.
When visitors search for something using a search engine like Google, they have a goal or need they want to satisfy. Keyword research helps you uncover relevant keywords and keyphrases that match these search intents so you can provide the answers and solutions users are looking for.
The process involves finding viable keyword opportunities, analyzing their competitiveness and search trends over time, then selecting the best terms to deliberately target in your content and optimization efforts.
Step 1: Finding Keywords
The first step is brainstorming an expansive list of relevant keyword ideas. These provide the building blocks for the later analysis and final selection phases.
Brainstorming Related Keywords
Start by listing products, services, topics, questions, industry terminology, anything that is relevant to what your brand offers. You can utilize free keyword research tools at this stage too.
Using Keyword Research Tools
Dedicated keyword tools provide automated suggestions and search data insights to assist your brainstorming. Google Keyword Planner and UberSuggest are excellent free options for keywords research for SEO.
Identifying Low Competition Keywords
Look for more niche long tail keywords with reasonable search volume. These specific multi-word phrases often have less competition, making them easier to rank for.
Step 2: Analyzing Keywords
With a robust list of keyword possibilities gathered, the next step is analyzing the options to filter down to the best targets for your website and content.
Checking Search Volume and Trends
Focus on keywords with sufficient search volume to warrant SEO targeting and optimization effort. Also look for keywords with positive growth trends.
Understanding Keyword Difficulty
This measures how hard it will be to rank for a given term. Target easier keywords first before tackling more difficult ones.
Evaluating Commercial Intent
Prioritize keywords where users are further down the purchase funnel, actively seeking out products, services, solutions or information from brands.
Assessing Relevance to your Content
Ensure you can create high-quality content that adequately covers the topics and answers the questions users are asking around specific keywords.
Step 3: Targeting Keywords
With analysis complete, the final step is selecting keywords for SEO optimization into your website pages and content.
Selecting the Best Keywords to Target
Choose keywords matching your products and services that have sufficient search volume and commercial intent, but reasonable difficulty to rank for.
Incorporating Keywords Naturally
Seamlessly blend target keywords into your on-page content without forcing or over-optimizing. The flow, readability and usefulness come first.
Optimizing Pages for Each Keyword
Tailor on-page elements on targeted URLs around individual keyword focuses while keeping pages thematically related.
Useful Keyword Tools
These powerful keyword research platforms for SEO services provide data and suggestions to assist the process:
- Google Keyword Planner – Free keyword and search data from the biggest search engine.
- Ahrefs – Robust paid tool for discovering and analyzing keyword opportunities.
- SEMrush – Another paid platform with in-depth keyword and SEO capabilities.
- UberSuggest – Free keyword ideas and metrics from Neil Patel.
- Answer the Public – See keyword suggestions based on common search questions.
Final Thoughts
Keywords for SEO optimization takes time and effort but is crucial for unlocking the SEO potential of your website. Treat it as an ongoing process, continually optimizing existing pages and adding new content around valuable keyword targets. Adapt your approach over time as search intentions and trends evolve. But above all, focus on providing genuinely useful content rather than over-optimizing or forcing keywords. By putting the needs of your audience first, the organic growth will follow.
