When you’re building a website or creating content, it’s easy to focus solely on the writing itself. But did you know that your content might not get the traffic it deserves if you’re not targeting the right keywords? That’s where keyword research comes in.
Whether you’re new to SEO or just looking to improve your strategy, understanding how to find the right keywords is essential for driving organic traffic and improving your website’s visibility on search engines like Google.
In this guide, you’ll discover the essentials of keyword research, learn how to choose the best keywords for your business, and get access to powerful tools that will help you jumpstart your SEO journey. Let’s dive in!
📌 Related: If you’re new to SEO, start with our SEO Basics Guide before diving into on-page strategies.
Table of Content
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of identifying the words and phrases people type into search engines when looking for information.
These keywords can help guide your content creation, ensuring that you’re speaking directly to what your audience is searching for.
In essence, keyword research allows you to optimize your content to match the intent behind those search queries.
For example, if you’re a fitness trainer and your target audience is looking for “best home workouts,” researching this keyword will help you create content that matches that need.
By focusing on “best home workouts,” you’re increasing the chances of appearing in search results for users looking to get fit at home.
Why is Keyword Research Important?
Keyword research is the backbone of any effective SEO strategy. Here’s why it’s so important:
Increases Website Traffic: By targeting keywords that are frequently searched, you’re more likely to attract visitors to your site. For instance, the keyword “SEO for beginners” gets thousands of searches monthly. By targeting this keyword, a blog or page about SEO can get more visitors.
Improves Search Engine Rankings: Choosing the right keywords helps search engines understand what your content is about, leading to better rankings. For example, a website selling yoga mats might rank higher for the keyword “buy yoga mats” than a generic term like “exercise equipment.”
Helps You Understand Your Audience: Keyword research provides insights into what your audience is searching for and their pain points, allowing you to tailor your content accordingly. A business that sells electric cars, for instance, might notice a rising interest in “eco-friendly vehicles” signaling a new niche to target.
Boosts Conversion Rates: When you use keywords that reflect user intent, your audience is more likely to engage with your content and convert into customers or subscribers. If you’re an online store selling smartphones, targeting “best budget smartphones 2025” might attract shoppers looking for affordable options.
How to Research and Incorporate Keywords
Once you understand the importance of keyword research, it’s time to learn how to do it. Here’s a simple process for researching and incorporating keywords into your SEO strategy:
Start with Seed Keywords: Think about the basic terms related to your business. For example, if you’re a travel blogger, your seed keyword might be “best travel destinations.”
Expand Your Keyword List: Use tools like Google’s autocomplete or keyword research tools like Ubersuggest. For instance, if you search “best travel destinations” on Google, it might suggest “best travel destinations in Europe” or “best travel destinations on a budget.” This helps you uncover related keywords.
Analyze Search Volume and Competition: Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush will show you how often a keyword is searched and how competitive it is. For example, “digital marketing” might have high competition, but long-tail keywords like “digital marketing strategies for small businesses” could have a better balance of search volume and competition.
Incorporate Keywords Naturally: Once you’ve chosen your keywords, make sure to incorporate them into your content, titles, meta descriptions, and headings—without overstuffing.
For example, if your article is about starting a blog, you can naturally include keywords like “how to start a blog for beginners” in your title, introduction, and subheadings.
How to Choose the Best Keywords
Not all keywords are created equal, so it’s crucial to choose the best ones for your business. Here’s what you should consider:
Search Volume: This shows how often a keyword is searched each month. Ideally, you want to target keywords with high search volume but manageable competition. For instance, the keyword “buy shoes” has a high search volume but is competitive, while “best shoes for running 2025” may have fewer searches but be more specific and targeted.
Competition: If you’re just starting, it’s best to focus on long-tail keywords (more specific phrases) with lower competition. For example, instead of trying to rank for “fitness” aim for a long-tail keyword like “best fitness routine for beginners“.
User Intent: Understand what the user is looking for when they type a keyword. Are they looking for information, making a purchase, or comparing products? For instance, someone searching for “how to bake a cake” likely wants a recipe, while someone searching for “buy cake mix” is ready to purchase.
Relevance: Make sure the keywords are relevant to your business or niche. Even if a keyword is popular, it won’t help if it doesn’t align with your offerings. If you’re running a pet store, targeting keywords like “dog toys” or “pet grooming” makes more sense than “home appliances.“
Best Keyword Research Tools for Your Business
Keyword research tools are essential for finding the right keywords for your SEO strategy. Here are some of the best tools to help you:
Google Keyword Planner: Free and perfect for beginners. It provides data on search volume, competition, and suggested keywords. For example, if you’re starting a blog about healthy recipes, Keyword Planner can show you related terms like “healthy meal prep ideas” or “easy dinner recipes“.
SEMrush: A powerful paid tool that offers in-depth keyword research, competitor analysis, and tracking. For instance, if you run an e-commerce store selling electronics, SEMrush can help you identify keywords like “best laptops for gaming” or “affordable smartphones.”
Ahrefs: Known for its robust keyword analysis, Ahrefs also helps you understand your competitors’ strategies. A website selling gardening tools can use Ahrefs to discover keywords like “best tools for gardening” or “how to start a vegetable garden.”
Ubersuggest: A user-friendly tool that provides keyword suggestions, search volume, and competition data.
Answer the Public: Ideal for finding questions people ask around your keywords, helping you create more targeted content. For example, searching “SEO” in this tool might provide questions like “How long does SEO take?” or “What are the basics of SEO?“
Key Elements of Keyword Research
Before you dive into choosing the right keywords, it’s important to understand the key elements that make up keyword research. These factors help you find keywords that not only drive traffic but also give you the best chance of ranking higher in search results. Let’s break them down:
Search Volume
Search volume tells you how many people are searching for a keyword. The more people search, the more popular the topic is. But just because a keyword is popular doesn’t mean it’s easy to rank for!
Keyword Difficulty
Keyword difficulty shows how tough it is to rank for a keyword. If lots of websites are targeting the same keyword, it’s going to be harder for you to stand out. Look for keywords that aren’t too crowded but still have some traffic. Usually, long-tail keywords have less competition.
Search Intent
Search intent is about understanding why people are searching for a keyword. Are they looking for information? Ready to buy something? Or just trying to find a specific website? Matching your content to what users are looking for helps you give them exactly what they need.
CPC (Cost Per Click)
If you’re running ads, CPC shows how much people are willing to pay for a keyword. A high CPC means the keyword is valuable, and businesses are fighting for a spot at the top of the search results.
Competition Level
Competition level is like how many people are trying to rank for the same keyword. If a lot of websites are targeting it, you’ll have to work harder to get noticed. Find keywords with some competition, but not so much that it’s impossible to rank. I would try to avoid keywords that have keyword difficulty of more than 40.
Trends and Seasonality
Keywords are like trends—they change over time. Some are popular year-round, while others might only be in demand during certain seasons (like “Christmas gifts”). Knowing which keywords are trending and when helps you plan your content.
How to Research Keywords for Your SEO Strategy
To build an effective SEO strategy, you need to research keywords in a way that aligns with your goals. Here’s how you can do it:
Understand Your Niche: Identify your target audience and the topics they care about. A website focused on sustainable fashion might target keywords like “eco-friendly clothing” or “sustainable fashion brands.”
Look at Competitors: Check out the keywords your competitors are targeting. You can use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to get a glimpse into their strategies. For instance, a competitor running a health blog might target keywords like “fitness tips” or “healthy eating.”
Use Keyword Tools: As mentioned before, tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest help you find keywords based on your niche and audience.
Prioritize Intent: Focus on keywords that match the user’s intent, whether it’s informational, transactional, or navigational. A user searching for “best running shoes for women” is likely ready to make a purchase, while someone searching “how to run a marathon” is looking for informational content.
Utilize Google Search Autocomplete: You can find relevant keywords by using Google’s search autocomplete feature.
For example, if you are trying to rank for “best women’s shoe,” you can type it in the Google search input box, and it will show related keywords as you can see in the image below:
As you can see, now you have a list of long-tail keywords which you can choose and rank.
You can also find related keywords at the bottom of the Search Engine Result Page (SERP) in the “People Also Search For” section. Look at the image below how we were able to find more keywords related to “Best women’s shoe”:
Now that you know how to find the right keywords, the next step is ensuring they’re seamlessly incorporated into your content. This is where on-page SEO comes into play, optimizing your website’s pages for both search engines and users.
Learn how to use your keywords effectively to boost rankings and improve user experience in our detailed guide on On-Page SEO!
FAQs
1. What is keyword research?
Keyword research is the process of finding the right words and phrases people search for in search engines. It helps you understand what topics to focus on in your content for better visibility.
2. Can I do keyword research for free?
Yes, you can use free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and Answer the Public to perform keyword research and get valuable insights without spending money.
3. How do I find my keywords?
Start by brainstorming topics related to your business. Then, use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find specific keywords related to those topics and analyze their search volume and competition.
4. What is an example of keyword research?
For a blog about healthy recipes, keyword research might lead you to target phrases like “easy healthy breakfast recipes” or “low-calorie snacks,” based on search volume and relevance.
5. Is keyword research difficult?
It can be tricky for beginners, but with practice and the right tools, you’ll become comfortable with the process. The key is understanding your audience’s search intent and using the data to guide your content creation.
6. How do I choose the best keywords for my business?
Focus on search volume, competition, user intent, and relevance. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush to analyze keywords based on these factors.
7. Can AI be used for keyword research?
Yes, AI tools like MarketMuse and Clearscope can assist in finding high-value keywords and optimizing content for better search engine performance.
8. How often should I update my keyword research?
Keyword research should be updated regularly to reflect changing search trends, audience preferences, and new competition. Regularly checking tools like Ahrefs ensures your content remains relevant.
📌 Related: Top 7 AI SEO Tools to Scale Agile Solutions Fast
Conclusion
Keyword research doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these 7 simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to boosting your SEO and driving more traffic to your website. Remember, SEO is a long-term game, so keep researching, optimizing, and refining your keywords as you go.
Get started with your keyword research today and see how the right keywords can make a big difference in your online success!
