Keyword research is when a business or website owner researches and identifies the best words or phrases to target so that they can rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
It is one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of any SEO campaign. By conducting thorough keyword research before starting your SEO efforts, you will have a clear idea of what terms and phrases you should target, which will help you achieve better results faster. This article will teach you everything you need to know about keyword research.
What is the definition of Keyword Research?
Keyword research is when a business or website owner analyzes and decides on the best keywords to target for their website or blog. This effort includes identifying high-volume, low-competition keywords that you can rank easily for and long-tail keywords that will help you attract more targeted traffic. Keyword research is an important part of any SEO campaign, as it will help identify which terms and phrases to target in an SEO optimization campaign.
How do you conduct Keyword Research?
There are several different ways that you can conduct keyword research. One way is to use a keyword research tool like Google AdWords Keyword Planner, Moz Keyword Explorer, or Ahrefs Keyword Explorer. These tools will allow you to enter a seed keyword and see related keywords, their average monthly search volume, and the competition’s intensity.
An alternative avenue to conduct keyword research is to simply use Google search. Start by typing in a seed keyword and then scroll through the results to see the most frequently used terms and phrases. You can also look at the “Related Searches” section to get more ideas at the bottom of the page.
Once your list of potential keywords is finalized, it’s essential to do further analysis to help decide which keywords will be the most impactful for your SEO campaign. This process includes looking at search volume, competition level, and keyword difficulty.
Why is Keyword Research important prior to starting an SEO campaign?
Keyword research is vital for several reasons:
- It will help you determine which keywords to target in your SEO campaign. If you don’t do keyword research, you could waste a lot of time and effort optimizing for keywords that no one is searching for.
- Keyword research will help you understand your audience better. By understanding what terms and phrases they are searching for, you can more effectively target them with your content.
- Keyword research can help you assess the competition level for different keywords.
If you’re trying to rank for a highly competitive keyword, it’s important to know that upfront to determine the level of effort required for your SEO strategy.
Who should be doing Keyword Research?
Ideally, keyword research should be conducted by someone with experience in SEO and marketing. However, you can still do it yourself if you don’t have access to someone with that expertise. There are several different keyword research tools that you can use to find the right keywords to target.
Does Keyword Research ever end?
No, keyword research is an ongoing process. Even after you’ve launched your SEO campaign, you should continue keyword research to find new keywords to target and keep up with changes in search behavior. Keyword research is a critical part of any successful SEO campaign, so make sure you’re giving it the attention it deserves.
Should I work with an SEO Digital Marketing Agency to do Keyword Research?
If you don’t have experience with keyword research or SEO, then working with an experienced SEO Digital Marketing Agency can be a great way to get started. An SEO Marketing Agency can help you understand the keyword research process and how to use the available tools. They can also provide guidance on which keywords to target and how to adjust your SEO strategy as needed. Working with an experienced SEO marketing agency is a good idea if you’re serious about launching a successful SEO campaign.
How long does Keyword Research take?
The amount of time required for keyword research will vary depending on the size and complexity of your project. If you’re just starting out, you may be able to do all of the keyword research yourself in a matter of hours. However, it may take days or weeks to complete the research if you’re working on a larger project or have a more complex SEO strategy. No matter how long it takes, keyword research is critical to any successful SEO campaign.
Is keyword research different for Spanish and English?
Yes, keyword research is different for Spanish and English or any language. If you’re targeting a bilingual or multilingual audience, you’ll need to do keyword research in each language you’re targeting. This process will help you understand the unique search behavior of your audience and find the right keywords to target.
Buyer intent keywords vs. information gathering keywords
When doing keyword research, it’s essential to understand the difference between buyer intent and information-gathering keywords. Buyer intent keywords indicate that the searcher is ready to make a purchase. On the other hand, information-gathering keywords are used by potential customers who are starting their research and are not yet ready to buy. If you have a small budget and need results fast, focusing on buyer intent keywords should be your first step in your SEO journey. Information gathering keywords are an excellent way to get potential customers into a sales funnel, but it is only recommended if you have a well-thought-out marketing plan to get nurture these website visitors.
Is the location of a business important to Keyword Research?
Yes, the location of a business can be critical to keyword research. If you’re targeting local customers, you’ll want to include your city, state, or region in the target keywords. For example, someone searching for “pizza delivery” is likely looking for a pizza place that delivers to their specific location. If you do not include location-specific keywords, you could be attracting potential customers to contact your business that will not be able to make a transaction and waste your valuable time.
How to get started with Keyword Research?
Use keyword research tools. There are several different tools available online that can help you with your keyword research. Some popular options include Google Keyword Planner, Wordtracker, Ahrefs, and SEMrush.
Look for keywords related to your business. Start by thinking about the products or services you offer and the keywords used to search for them.
Consider your audience’s needs. What are they looking for when they use search engines? What type of information are they trying to find?
Use your keyword research to create optimized content for search engines and your audience.
Publish your optimized content on your website
Establish a systemized effort to build backlinks to your website. This process involves promoting optimized content and encouraging other credible websites to reference your website pages as a source of excellent information within your industry.
Watch your keyword rankings increase and enjoy the benefits of attracting more potential customers to your website.
Keyword research is essential for anyone pursuing an SEO campaign. By taking the time to understand your audience and the keywords they use, you can create content that is more likely to be found by potential customers. And when your content is found, you will have more opportunities to convert website visitors into paying customers.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can get started with keyword research and begin to see the benefits of increased website traffic and improved SEO. So what are you waiting for? Start your keyword research today!
