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SEO is hard. SEO stands for search engine optimization and it’s complicated stuff. Experts get paid big bucks to find the best SEO strategies and recommend the right keywords to help companies stand out from the crowd.
But you might feel a little intimidated by the world of SEO, including keyword research strategies. You might feel confused about where to start and even question whether SEO is really worth all the hassle. We get it.
Well, for starters, SEO is definitely worth the hassle. In the crowded and competitive world of digital marketing, SEO is a necessity. Otherwise, people simply will not find you.
But what should you focus on when it comes to SEO?
The world of keyword research doesn’t have to be mysterious to you. We’ll show you how to go from SEO beginner to pro, and show you the keyword research secrets you need to know to master the game. Get ready to unleash your inner Sherlock Holmes as we dig into the world of keyword research.
This is our ultimate guide so you can take your SEO and content marketing game to the next level. After reading, you’ll be equipped with the tools and knowledge to navigate the ever-changing landscape of SEO and keyword research.
What Is SEO And Why Is It Important?
SEO is the art and science of being found online. It’s a set of practices used to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs). The goal of SEO is to increase organic (non-paid) traffic to a website and attract the right kind of visitors. So when users type in a search phrase into Google they get results that are relevant and interesting to them.
In today’s modern Internet age, SEO is a crucial part of any business’ online strategy. Here’s why. People around the world are searching sites like Google every day and finding new companies and websites to help them with whatever they’re looking for.
Here are just a few mind-blowing stats that show the crazy amount of search volume just on Google:
- There are 99,000 search queries happening on Google per second
- This adds up to 8.5 billion searches per day just on Google
- The average person searches Google three to four times per day
So, if billions of searches are happening every day, SEO is a big part of reaching these people with your message, product or service. It plays a huge role in increasing visibility, driving traffic and boosting conversions. If your website isn’t optimized for search engines, you’re probably missing out on a significant opportunity to connect with potential customers. Having a strong marketing funnel in place will lead to much better business results and SEO is at the top of that marketing funnel, bringing in new leads.
SEO is also about targeting specific keywords and phrases that are relevant to your business. By conducting keyword research and optimizing your website’s content around these keywords, you can attract users who are actively searching for your products or services. This targeted traffic is more likely to convert into customers or leads, resulting in increased revenue and business growth.
Benefits Of Mastering SEO
When your website shows up on the first page of search results, it brings in more organic traffic, which is considered the most valuable and high-quality traffic. More than ads, users trust search engines to provide them with relevant and reliable results. So if your website ranks well, it automatically gains credibility in the eyes of the audience.
SEO also keeps companies focused on building a seamless and user-friendly website. Search engines today have become much more focused on providing users with an excellent browsing experience. Websites that are optimized for SEO usually have faster loading times, easier navigation and better mobile responsiveness.
SEO also helps you stay relevant and competitive in your industry. By continuously monitoring and analyzing your competitors’ SEO strategies, you can identify their strengths and weaknesses. This competitor analysis can help you adapt and develop better SEO techniques to climb the search engine ladder. Keeping up with the latest SEO trends will give you that competitive edge you need.
With that foundation, we’re ready to understand the tips, tricks and secrets of keyword research.
What Is Keyword Research?
Keyword research involves identifying and analyzing the terms and phrases people use when they are searching for information online. Keywords are the foundation of SEO. The idea is that if you understand the keywords your target audience is using, you can optimize your website and content to appear higher in search engine rankings and bring in quality traffic that leads to more sales or brand awareness.
For example, people might be searching for “best dentists near me.” If you are a dentist in Charlotte, North Carolina, you want to rank as high as you can in the results for people searching that keyword in your area. You want them to see your business near the top and click on your website or call.
Keyword research is kind of like solving a complex puzzle, where the pieces are scattered across the vast internet landscape. The goal is to find the perfect keywords that strike a balance between two things: relevance and competition.
Relevance is crucial because you want to make sure the keywords you’re targeting align with the intent of your target audience.
Competition is about the number of other websites vying for the same keywords. Ideally, you want to focus on keywords with lower competition levels. The lower the competition, the higher the chance you will rank better in search results.
Keyword research also helps you understand your target audience. SEO experts are on the front lines of understanding what the customer wants or needs. By identifying the search terms people are using, you get valuable insight into their preferences, which can help shape your overall content strategy.
When should you do keyword research? Good question! Keyword research should be done at the beginning of planning your content strategy. But you should also do it throughout the process and even after you post content to check how things are performing and watch for new trends. Basically, keyword research is an ongoing process and part of the daily job of any SEO expert.
Now, let’s look at the three basic steps to keyword research.
1. Finding Keywords
This might seem obvious, but the first step is to find the right keywords to target. This is important because the keywords you choose will determine the visibility of your website in search engine rankings.
But how do you find the perfect keywords to drive organic traffic?
Let’s explore some secrets to digging up those valuable keywords.
Creating A List Of Seed Keywords
One of the most common methods is to start with something called seed keywords. Seed keywords have nothing to do with gardening. Instead, they are the primary keywords that are most relevant to your website or business. These are the words or phrases that best describe the products, services or content you offer. By brainstorming a list of seed keywords, you can lay the foundation for your keyword research.
For example, let’s say your business is an online pet store. Here’s a list of seed keywords you might start with:
- Pet supplies
- Pet accessories
- Dog toys
- Cat food
- Bird cages
- Fish tanks
- Small animal habitats
- Reptile terrariums
- Pet grooming tools
- Dog collars and leashes
This list might be longer or shorter depending on your research and industry.
Once you have your list of seed keywords, it’s time to dig deeper with keyword research tools.
The Best Keyword Research Tools
Just like anyone involved in a craft, SEO has certain tools of the trade. But instead of hammers or paint brushes, you’ll be using keyword research software. These tools can greatly simplify the process. Some are free and some you have to pay to use.
Google Keyword Planner is a popular one that provides insights into search volumes and competition levels.
Moz Keyword Explorer takes keyword research a step further by providing comprehensive data on search volume, keyword difficulty, and organic click-through rates. This tool helps you prioritize keywords that are not only relevant but also easier to rank for.
SEMrush offers a suite of features, including keyword research and competitor analysis. It allows you to track rankings, analyze competitor strategies and discover new keyword opportunities. With SEMrush, you can gain valuable insights into what keywords your competitors are targeting to stay one step ahead.
Google Trends is also a useful tool for identifying popular topics and keywords that are currently trending.
Ubersuggest, a free keyword research tool, offers practical insights into keyword volume, competition and suggestions.
Finally, Ahrefs is another popular option for SEO experts since it provides a comprehensive toolbox of features, including keyword research and competitor analysis.
By leveraging these keyword research tools, you can uncover the most effective keywords to target. They will make the keyword research process a lot easier, saving you time and effort.
Next we’ll delve into analyzing keyword competition and understanding user intent to truly optimize your keyword strategy.
2. Analyze Your Keywords
Once you have a list of potential seed keywords, the next step is to analyze these keywords. This step is crucial in figuring out which keywords are worth targeting and optimizing your content for.
Search volume is the first part of analyzing keywords. Search volume is the number of searches a particular keyword receives in a given time period (usually a month). Target keywords with enough search volume to make sure there is enough traffic potential for your website. In other words, if there are only 100 searches a month for a keyword, it’s not worth targeting it since not enough people are searching it.
Competition level for each keyword is the next thing to look at. Competition level is the number of websites or businesses that are also optimizing their content for the same keywords. High competition keywords are harder to rank for, especially if your website or business is relatively new or has a lower domain authority.
The tools above will show you the keyword difficulty scores for how hard it is to rank for a certain keyword. By targeting keywords with lower difficulty scores, you can increase your chances of ranking higher in search results. You should always try to strike a balance between having enough search volume and the right competition levels.
User intent is another factor to think about. User intent is the reason a user is searching for something. It’s often broken into three different categories: informational intent, navigational intent and transactional intent. Identifying the user’s intent will help you create content that matches what users are really interested in. And this will attract more relevant traffic to your website.
3. Targeting and Prioritizing Keywords
So, you’ve done thorough keyword research and you’ve got a solid list of keywords.
Awesome!
Now it’s time to target the most effective ones for your specific business. Targeting keywords involves selecting the right keywords to optimize your content in order to attract relevant organic traffic.
You should target keywords that align closely with what you are offering as opposed to going after broad keywords with high search volumes but less relevance. Try to estimate the business value of targeting certain keywords.
For instance, ask yourself, if we successfully target this keyword and bring in traffic from it, will it actually lead to business results or sales? If the answer is no, you might be better off picking new keywords that match your business better.
Identify the primary keyword you want to optimize your content for and then a list of secondary keywords you also want to target.
Once you have identified the most effective keywords to target, it’s time to incorporate them strategically into your content.
Finally, Put Those Keywords To Work
The final step is to take those keywords and build your content around them. SEO experts work alongside content writers to create articles that include the right keywords and contain the types of content that will meet the user’s search intent.
For some people, this is the fun part—actually working on the content. This is the time to put those keywords to work. Send the keyword list to your writer and let them work their magic.
You can also add your keywords to your website’s meta tags, headings, subheadings and within the body of your article. However, avoid keyword stuffing, where you cram the keyword into as many spots as possible. This used to work years ago, but now Google sees it as spam and will punish companies who do this. Keyword stuffing doesn’t work and has a negative impact on your website’s visibility and user experience.
Instead of keyword stuffing, focus on creating high-quality content that provides value to your audience while also naturally incorporating your targeted keywords.
Once your content is out in the wild, it’s time to analyze how it’s performing. Track key metrics like click-through rates, conversions, phone calls, leads received, etc., and see how well your content is doing. Type in your primary keyword into Google and see where your page or article is ranking. How high or low is it? How does it compare to where you expected it to be?
You can then tweak the content later to try to improve its ranking. Remember, SEO is a long game and something you have to constantly monitor and return to.
Find A Partner
If all of this still seems too difficult or time-consuming, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Maybe you don’t have the budget to hire a full-time SEO expert right now but you know that you need to get in the game as soon as possible to grow your organic traffic and stop paying so much for ads.
If you’re looking for some extra support with SEO, digital marketing, advertising and keyword research, don’t hesitate to reach out to the team at Searchific. We can partner with you to take some of this work off your plate so you can focus on the things only you can do. We have a proven track record of getting strong business results and can assist you with lead generation, content marketing, and more.