How to do keyword research - Image by pch.vector on Freepik
Keyword research is discovering relevant keywords and phrases people use to search for information, products, or services online. Here are some steps you can take to conduct keyword research:
Brainstorm:
Start by brainstorming a list of keywords or phrases you think people might use to search for your product, service, or topic. For example, if you have a bakery, some keywords might include “cupcakes,” “bakery,” “pastries,” “birthday cakes,” “wedding cakes,” etc.
Use keyword research tools:
There are many keyword research tools available that can help you find relevant keywords and phrases. Some popular options include Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, and Keyword Tool. These tools can provide insights into search volume, competition, and related keywords.
Analyze your competition:
Look at your competitor’s websites to see what keywords and phrases they target. You can use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze their website content and see which keywords they are ranking for.
Consider long-tail keywords:
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases people use to search for information. These keywords can be less competitive and more targeted, making them easier to rank for. For example, “gluten-free cupcakes for weddings” is a long-tail keyword that might be more specific to your business than just “cupcakes.”
Use your research to optimize your content:
Once you have a list of relevant keywords, use them to optimize your website content, blog posts, product descriptions, and other online content. Be sure to use keywords naturally and avoid “keyword stuffing,” which can hurt your rankings.
Example:
Let’s say you run a fitness blog and want to do keyword research for a post about “weight loss tips.” You could start by brainstorming keywords like “how to lose weight,” “weight loss advice,” “diet tips,” “exercise for weight loss,” etc. You could then use a tool like Google Keyword Planner to see which keywords have high search volume and low competition. Then you might discover that “best exercises for weight loss” has a high search volume and low competition, so you could use that as your primary keyword and include related keywords throughout your post.
