How to Do Keyword Research for Successful SEO: A Guide for Beginners

Do keywords still matter in today’s SEO? Is keyword research still important? Well, the short answer is Yes. For more detailed analysis and explanation, please keep on reading the article.

SEO Keywords:What Are They?

In layman’s terms, keywords are what people type in Google or other search engines while searching for information about specific topics. SEO keywords can be short or long. They can be comprised of one, two,or three words, or they can be made of more complex phrases as used by your target audience.

Keywords are important when it comes to SEO ranking. By integrating relevant keywords in your content, you can help your potential customers find your web-pages more easily. When they type search terms for the products or services you offer, your website will appear on the top of the search engine result pages (SERPs), if you optimize your content properly with the search terms. This is how the right use of relevant keywords and key phrases will help you improve your page ranking and increase sales.

Keywords in SEO Are Dead – Is It True?

Keywords in SEO are dead – this is nothing but a myth. Some people believe this myth because of voice search. As it has become more convenient for people from being an occasionally-used option, some people started believing the myth.

But the truth is keywords in SEO are not dead. They still matter a lot to Google and other search engines when it comes to SEO ranking. People still use keywords while searching for information, and Google did not change how it was interpreting content with relevant keywords. So, it is fair to conclude that keywords still matter a lot when it comes to SEO ranking.

What Is Keyword Research and Why Is It Important?

Keyword research is a process of finding the actual search terms people often use while searching for information in Google or other search engines. When you successfully find the right keywords for your business and integrate them correctly, there are chances that your website or web-pages will rank high.

Keyword research is important when it comes to SEO. It will help you find what your target audience cares about or what terms and phrases they use while searching for the products or services you provide. By using relevant keywords in your content, you can provide your target audience with what they have been looking for.

How to Do Keyword Research for Successful SEO Campaign?

How to do keyword research – indeed a tough question for beginners. To help you with proper keyword research, we are here with this step-by-step guide. Please, have a close look at the below-mentioned points that will lead you towards a successful SEO campaign.

Step 1: Make a List of Relevant Topics Related to Your Business

Before you proceed further with the keyword research process, you should make a list of 5 to 15 topics you think are important for your business. Later, you can integrate relevant keywords or key phrases in the content you write about your chosen topics.

While choosing your topics, you need to put yourself in the shoes of your potential customers – what types of topics they search for while looking for the products or services you offer. For example – If you have an online store that offers refrigerators, your potential customers may search for the following topics – how to choose the best refrigerator, how to find the best refrigerator stores, etc.

Step 2: Find the Right Keywords for Your Chosen Topics

Now that you have made a list of relevant topics, it’s time for you to find the right keywords that fit your selected topics in the best possible ways. Also, it is necessary to check how frequently those keywords are used by your target audience. These keywords will help your website appear on the high position of the list in SERPs.

For a topic like how to choose the best refrigerator, you may use keywords like best refrigerators, best refrigerator shop, fridge shop, etc.

While researching keywords, you may seek help from tools such as Agency Dashboard. It offers a free keyword explorer that can be ideally used for both SEO and PPC keyword research. It can help you find relevant keywords, key phrases, and even the synonyms of keywords that your target audience uses. Also, they can help you collect a lot of information about search volume, competition, and more.

Keep on researching your keywords until you find the right ones. While researching, if you face any problems, you can head on over to SEO experts from a reliable company. You can also hire an SEO company for the entire keyword research part. For instance,Intlum offers the best-in-class keyword research analysis for businesses that want to rank higher with the most lucrative keywords. Once you get the keywords, you can proceed further with the SEO process.

Step 3: Research Similar Search Terms

This step is all about creativity. You need to think out of the box when following this step.

If it is too difficult for you to discover more search terms people use while searching about a certain topic, just go to Google and have a look at all the related terms that appear after you type a keyword. Also, when you scroll down at the end of a page, you will get some suggestions for related search terms, similar to your keyword. With these related keywords, you may write content about different topics for your potential customers.

Step 4: Find Long-Tail Keywords for Your Topics

Besides finding head terms, you also need to search for long-tail keywords. Now, what is the difference between head-terms and long-tail keywords? Well, head-terms are keywords that are shorter, usually formed of one to three words, and have a wider search intent. The search volume of head-terms usually remains higher than long-tail keywords. On the other hand, long-tail keywords are longer phrases that are more specific than head terms.

Finding both head-terms and long-tail keywords are necessary when it comes to SEO. Let us explain why it is absolutely necessary with an example. Suppose, you are an SEO copywriter and you provide content writing services. One of your topics for your potential customers can be – how to write a great blog quickly. Now, the head term for this topic can be “blogging”or “write blog” whereas the long-tail keyword can be – how to write a blog.

Which of the given terms you think will be easier to rank? The answer is the longer one. Your target audience is more likely to use the long-tail search terms rather than the short ones since the shorter ones have a wider range of search intent.

To put it simply, let’s assume, a searcher is searching for “write blog,” he/she may look for how to write blog, best sites to write blog, write blog and get paid, and a lot more! So, firstly, you may not even rank with the head terms since they have a skyrocketing competition. And even if you do rank, the chances are, you’ll get a lot of traffic that seeks different information/product/service than what you offer!

You will be able to improve your rank when your keyword lists have a mix of head terms and long-tail keywords. So, just follow the right keyword research techniques and make your list wisely.

Step 5: Do Some Research about Your Competitors

Just because your competitor is following a specific way does not mean you should choose the same. Likewise, just because your competitors pay attention to a specific keyword does not mean you should do the same. The keyword that is important for your competitors may not be that important for you. However, finding what keywords or key phrases your competitors are using to rank for is also necessary since it will help you make the right keyword list for successful SEO.

But, how do you know what keywords your competitors have been using to rank high? Fortunately, some keyword research tools (like Ahrefs or SEMRush) are there to help you find all the search terms your competitors use to rank. What you need to do is to enter your competitor’s domain in the search barof the keyword research tool and then you can start searching.

Step 6: Cut Down Your List and Be More Specific

This is the last step for them, who have been looking for ways of how to do keyword research. So, now that you have made a list of relevant search terms, it’s time for you to cut down your list or to become more specific about keywords.

There is a lot of tools that can help you narrow down your list. Just use the best tool and collect all numerical data regarding search volumes, competition, and more. Once you collect all the data, remove the search terms that seem to you not so important for your SEO campaign. You need to act smartly while making your keyword list.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Finally, you have become successful in making a list of keywords that will help your website rank higher. But your job does not end here. Make sure you re-evaluate these selected keywords and key phrases every month. By doing so, you will be able to improve your rank and drive more traffic towards your website.