What is Keyword Research? Beginner's Guide

Have you ever wondered how people find your website? Why do some websites appear at the top of search results while others get buried? 

It’s all about keywords. Keyword research is like finding the golden words people use to search online. It helps search engines understand what your website is about. And connect you with the right audience.

In this blog post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about keyword research. From the basics to finding the best keywords for your website. 

We’ll also explore how keyword research ties into SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how an SEO consultant can help you master this strategy for your business.

What are Keywords?

Imagine yourself searching for a delicious recipe online. You’d probably type something like “best chocolate chip cookie recipe” into the search bar. Those words you use to find information? Those are keywords.

Keywords are the phrases and terms people enter into search engines like Google. The goal of keyword research is to connect potential customers to your website. 

Why is Keyword Research Important?

Here’s the key takeaway: the right keywords can make or break your online presence.

Keyword research isn’t just about getting tons of visitors. While website traffic is important. It’s important to attract the right kind of visitors. 

Think of keyword research as market research for the online world. Keyword research helps you understand who your ideal customer is in the online world.

How to Find the Best Keywords: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now that you understand the importance of keyword research. Let’s learn how to find the best possible keywords for your website.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get you started.

Step 1: Find Keywords You Already Rank For

Before hunting for brand-new keywords. See what keywords your website already ranks for in search engines. 

This gives you a good head start in your SEO journey. This lets you see what content resonates with your audience and gives you ideas for future content.

You can use free tools like Google Search Console to check this.

How to Use GSC (It’s Super Easy):

1. Go to Google Search Console (it’s free!).
2. Make a free account (if you don’t have one).
3. Tell Google you own your website (it’s quick!).
4. Look for “Performance” – that’s your treasure map!
5. See the words people used to find you!

Boom. You’ve found hidden keywords you already rank for. Now you can use this info to make your website even better and attract more visitors for free.

Step 2: Check on Your Competitors 

See what keywords your competitors rank for in search results. 

There are tools like Ahrefs or Keywords Everywhere that can help you uncover this information. This gives you ideas for keywords you might be missing.

Step 3: Use Keyword Research Tools

Several free and paid keyword research tools can help you refine your initial list. These tools provide valuable insights into keywords in your industry and niche. 

Here are some popular keyword research tools to consider:

Free

• Google Trends: Discover what people are searching for in your industry.
• Google’s “People Also Ask”: “: Discover the most common questions about a topic.
• Google Autocomplete: Get ideas from the search bar suggestions as you type.
• Keywords Everywhere: A free tool with basic search volume and competition data.

Paid

• Ahrefs / SEMrush: Powerful SEO tools with in-depth keyword research features. Both offer in-depth data on each keyword, including search volume and competition level.

Step 4: Analyse Keywords

Now that you have a list of potential keywords. It’s time to analyse them further. Here are some key things to consider:

• Search Volume: This tells you how many times a particular keyword is searched for each month. Generally, higher search volume is better, but don’t neglect keywords with lower search volume if they are super relevant to your niche.
• Competition: This indicates how difficult it will be to rank for a particular keyword. If everyone else is already targeting it, it might be harder for your website to show up on the first page of search results.
• LSI Keywords: These are other relevant keywords that users are searching for.
• Cost Per Click (CPC): This is relevant if you plan to run paid advertising campaigns. It shows the average cost per click for a keyword in online advertising platforms.

Step 5: Shortlist Your Keywords

Based on search volume, competition, and how well they fit your content strategy. Shortlist a mix of broad (shorter, more general keywords) and long-tail keywords (longer, more specific phrases).

4 Types of Keywords Based On User Intent 

Search terms can be categorized based on what the searcher is trying to achieve.

1. Informational Keywords: People use these to find answers to questions or general information on a topic. For example, “How to change a tyre.”
2. Navigational Keywords: These are used to find specific websites or brands. Think “YouTube” or “Gmail login.”
3. Commercial Keywords: Searchers use these when they’re considering buying something and want to learn more about products or services. Examples include “best laptops for students” or “best noise-cancelling headphones.”
4. Transactional Keywords: These have the highest buying intent. People use them when they’re ready to make a purchase. Examples include “buy running shoes online” or “restaurants delivering pizza near me.”

 Types of Keywords & User Intent

Step 6: Brainstorm Content Topics

Make a list of all the content topics you could potentially write about on your website. 

• What are some trending topics in your industry?
• What challenges does your product or service solve?
• What questions do your customers frequently ask you?
• What are the common pain points your customers face?

Brainstorm all the topics you could write about on your website. Are there any gaps you haven’t covered yet? Filling these gaps with fresh content that targets relevant keywords can attract new visitors.

Step 7: Continuously Monitor & Improve Keywords List

Keyword research is not a one-time activity. Search trends and user behaviour change over time. It’s necessary to regularly monitor your website’s performance and search rankings for chosen keywords.

This allows you to refine your keyword strategy and adapt to the ever-evolving online algorithms.

Use SEO tools to track your progress. See which keywords are driving traffic and which ones need improvement. Regularly review your SEO to identify areas for optimization.

Keyword Research & SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is all about improving your website’s ranking in search engine results pages. Keyword research plays a key role in SEO. Because it helps you optimize your website content for the terms people are searching for.

Here are some ways keyword research can be used for SEO:

1. Content Optimization: Use your target keywords throughout your website content. Including titles, meta descriptions, headings, and body text. This helps search engines understand the relevance of your content to specific search queries.
2. On-Page Optimization: Optimize your website’s technical structure. Including page speed and mobile-friendliness. To ensure it’s user-friendly and search engine crawlable.
3. Backlink Building: Build high-quality backlinks to your website from other relevant websites. This signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. Which can improve your ranking.

Still stuck? Don’t hesitate to consult QC Digital SEO consultant. Our professionals can provide expert guidance on keyword research and help you develop a targeted strategy for your website.

Take your website to the top of search results with QC Digital SEO Experts. 

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