How to Do Proper Keyword Research?
Keyword research is an approach to uncovering and inspecting search terms that people enter into search engines to get information about specific search terms. This data is repeatedly used for search engine optimization (SEO) or marketing.
Keywords are considered to be the foundation of SEO. It is very important to master the art of keyword research. Here, the cost of making a mistake is very high.
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Why is Keyword Research Important?
If you publish an article on a subject matter that no one is looking for, that very article won’t receive any traffic from the search engines.
Keyword research enables you to discover the keywords that are best to target and provide perception into the queries that your audience is searching on Google. It helps you make sure there is a search demand for what you write about. If your page ranks up well in Google for its targeted keyword, you’ll consistently get all the targeted audiences.
Furthermore, keyword Research is very important as it can disclose vital information to grow your online business. Keyword research enables you to find the terms/topics people are actively searching for.
Types of Keywords
In general, there are two types of keywords, i.e. Shorttail and Longtail. You need to choose the keywords accordingly suitable balance of usage.
If you wish to promote targeted pages, like a blog post about baking a cake, you might consider using a long tail keyword. i.e. for a very specific blog post, you might consider using the Long tail keyword.
Similarly, if you wish to bring more traffic to your pages, you should give the Shorttail keyword a try.
How to find keyword ideas?
Keyword research is a critical aspect of SEO and content marketing. It involves identifying the words and phrases people use to search for information, products, or services related to your business. Here are some steps to do proper keyword research:
Brainstorm Seed Keywords
Brainstorming seed keywords is the first step in keyword research. You can start by thinking about the products, services, or information you offer and the problems you solve for your audience. Consider the main topics or themes that your website or content covers. Think about what your audience might be searching for and the language they use. Use general keywords and phrases that describe your niche, industry, or business.
For instance, if you run a gardening blog, some seed keywords might be “garden design,” “planting tips,” “vegetable gardening,” or “landscaping ideas.” Write down as many seed keywords as you can think of, and then use keyword research tools to expand your list.
Use keyword research tools
Keyword research tools can help you discover new keyword ideas, as well as provide data on search volume, competition, and other metrics. There are many keyword research tools present, including Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz. These tools enable you to enter a seed keyword and get a list of related keywords along with data on search volume, competition, and even suggested bid prices for advertising. You can use these tools to find long-tail keywords that are specific to your niche and have lower competition, which helps you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Moreover, these tools can help you analyze the competition for each keyword you’re targeting, so you can identify high-authority websites ranking for those keywords and adjust your strategy accordingly. Overall, keyword research tools are an essential part of the keyword research process, providing valuable insights that can inform your content strategy and drive traffic to your website.
Analyze search intent
Analyzing search intent is a crucial part of keyword research. It’s important to understand why people are searching for a particular keyword and what they hope to find. Search intent can be classified into four categories: informational, navigational, transactional, and commercial investigation.
It’s essential to understand the intent behind the keywords you’re targeting. Are people looking for information, products, or services? Knowing this will help you create content that meets their needs and interests.
Assess competition
Assessing competition is a crucial aspect of keyword research, as it helps you understand the level of difficulty in ranking for a particular keyword. To assess competition, you should first look at the websites that are currently ranking for your target keyword.
One way to do this is to perform a search for your target keyword and analyze the top 10 results. Look at the domain authority of each website, the quality of their content, and the number and quality of backlinks they have. You can use tools such as Ahrefs or Moz to get more in-depth data on a website’s backlinks and authority.
If the websites ranking for your target keyword have high domain authority and a large number of quality backlinks, it may be difficult to rank for that keyword. However, if the top-ranking websites have lower domain authority and fewer backlinks, there may be an opportunity to rank for that keyword with good-quality content and strategic SEO tactics.
Another way to assess competition is to look at the search volume and cost-per-click (CPC) for your target keyword. High search volume and high CPC may indicate that the keyword is highly competitive, whereas low search volume and low CPC may indicate that the keyword is less competitive
Analyze the competition for each keyword you’re targeting. Are there high-authority websites ranking for those keywords? If so, it might be challenging to rank them. Look for keywords with lower competition, but still with decent search volume.
Choose long-tail keywords
Choosing long-tail keywords is an important part of keyword research, as they are often less competitive and more specific to your niche or industry. Long-tail keywords are longer phrases that contain more words and are usually more specific than shorter, more general keywords. For example, “best running shoes for women with flat feet” is a long-tail keyword, while “running shoes” is a more general keyword.
When choosing long-tail keywords, consider the search volume and competition for each keyword, as well as the intent behind the search. Long-tail keywords often have lower search volume than shorter keywords, but they are also more specific and targeted, which can result in higher conversion rates. Additionally, long-tail keywords can help you rank for multiple related keywords, which can increase your visibility and traffic.
To find long-tail keywords, use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz. These tools can help you identify relevant long-tail keywords that are specific to your niche or industry. Additionally, you can use Google autocomplete to generate ideas for long-tail keywords based on related search queries.
Long-tail keywords are more specific and have lower competition than generic keywords. They also tend to have higher conversion rates as they target more specific search intent.
Analyze and refine
Analyzing and refining your keyword strategy is an ongoing process that requires ongoing research, analysis, and optimization. After selecting a list of keywords, it’s important to analyze their performance and refine your strategy based on the results.
One way to analyze your keyword strategy is to track your rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs). Use tools such as Google Search Console or Ahrefs to monitor your keyword rankings and identify areas where you can improve. If you’re not ranking as high as you’d like, consider optimizing your content for the target keyword or building more quality backlinks to your website.
Another way to refine your keyword strategy is to analyze your competitors’ strategies. Look at the keywords they are targeting, the quality of their content, and the number and quality of their backlinks. Use this information to identify areas where you can improve and optimize your own strategy.
Keyword research is an ongoing process. Monitor your rankings and traffic and refine your strategy based on the data.
Therefore, proper keyword research involves brainstorming seed keywords, using keyword research tools, analyzing search intent, assessing competition, choosing long-tail keywords, organizing your keywords, and analyzing and refining your strategy continually.
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