Search Engine Optimization Strategy Begins here: SEO Keyword Research
What is an SEO keyword and what is SEO keyword research?
Keywords are words or phrases that users type into search engines to find relevant content for their queries. The selected keywords can provide important information on what the users are thinking. Users go through two phases when using different keywords to locate the data they need, information input and information processing. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is used to optimize and improve the ranking of websites in searches. The higher a site is ranked, the higher the chance a user will see it, bringing greater traffic to the website and generating more revenue.
Keyword research is the basis and most important part of SEO
To maximize the Impact of SEO and reach more target users, brands must create quality content with specific keywords at the top of mind. This means target users should have valuable, comprehensive, and attractive content.
When it comes to selecting the right keywords, thorough and correct SEO keyword research is vital. A complete and focused study of the user’s search motive should be performed to secure your target audience. Using the right keywords will help your content rise on the Search Engine Results Pages (SERP) and help you easily perform and execute your SEO work.
How to perform SEO keyword research and select the right SEO keyword?
Now that we know the goal and importance of keyword research, we can begin the following process to decide what the brand will promote and select a list of keywords to be used in the webpage and marketing material.
1. List all SEO keyword topics relevant to the brand’s business
It is important to create a relatively broad list of keyword topics for the client. These may correspond to the product’s core keyword category. If the brand has already begun to promote its content, then the client may already have some topics and keywords they are working on.
2. Expand the topics with a list of SEO keywords users currently use
Identify potential keywords that target users currently use and use this list of keywords to find more information, products, or services the brand provides. Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and other analysis tools from various websites can also be used to learn more about the amount of traffic different keyword searches are bringing in. Using this data, your team can now brainstorm ways to perfect your SEO keyword research list.
3. Brainstorm ideas for SEO keyword research
Here are some tips and tricks to enrich your SEO keyword list research. Type your keyword into Google and scroll to the bottom of the page and you’ll find a list of related keyword suggestions. To find out more about them, click on one of the suggested keywords and scroll down to see the suggestions on that keyword.
You might also consider using AnswerThePublic (up to 3 free searches per day) or Google’s Keyword Planner to see other keywords people are using.
We suggest using a mixture of core and long-tail keywords. Core keywords are highly competitive, while long-tail keywords are less competitive, they are more specific and have a clear search goal. Incorporate both types of keywords to create a balanced SEO keyword research strategy.
4. Inspect the strength of your SEO keyword
The simplest way of completing this step is to use a keyword planner, paid keyword research, or SEO tools. These tools can effectively assist in finding and giving ideas for the most relevant SEO search keywords, analyzing their search volume and competitiveness. The data is used to calculate and provide a list of high-volume and low-organic competition SEO keywords that you need.
5. Analyze your competitor’s SEO keywords
You can find valuable and effective keywords by analyzing your competitor’s keywords. Check the search engine results pages (SERP) and the ordering of keywords. If the results are filled with sites of brand names that are [currently] more highly ranked than yours, retry the search by refining your long-tail keyword list.
There may be one exception to the case, and that is when your competition has not published high-quality content. When that is the case, even if the competition spends more money on brand promotion, you can still gain better results when using better keyword length, quality, and layout.
Be reminded though, that not all keywords deserve the same amount of investment and attention. Your time and energy should be focused on brainstorming SEO keyword research that is relevant to your business, has high search volume, and has low ranking difficulty.
6. Breaking down SEO keyword search intent
The purpose of Google Search Engine is to help users find information and answers quickly and efficiently. Users do so because they have a need to find content on a specific topic. SEO keyword search intent demonstrates that Google values “what users want to learn about.”
How can we break down keyword search intent? We suggest recording the keyword or phrases with the corresponding user intent or creating a habit within your team to look up keyword intent before selecting those keywords or phrases to create new content. This will help your ranking in keyword search engines and also build a relationship with your target consumers.
The four types of search intent you need to pay attention to:
Informational: Your potential customer is looking to learn more
Navigational: They are looking for specific companies or websites
Transactional: They are comparing specific products and are close to making a purchase
Commercial: They are making a purchase now
SEO keyword research continues to be the basis and most important part of SEO keyword optimization. There will be a long list of keywords for which you’d like to be found. But the part compared with writing all the content is not the hardest. So, if you need to improve your SEO strategy or have any further inquiries, contact us and get started!