The Ultimate Guide to Keyword Research (with step-by-step process)

Keyword research is the foundation of a successful content piece. By understanding what your target audience is searching for, you can create content that is relevant and engaging, and improve your website’s SEO. But what is keyword research, exactly? And why is it so important for your business?

What is keyword research?

Keyword research is the process of finding and analyzing the search terms that people enter into search engines. It is an essential part of search engine optimization (SEO), which is the practice of optimizing your website and content so that it ranks higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Why is keyword research important for websites?

Keyword research is important because it helps you to:

• Understand what your target audience is searching for
• Write content that is relevant to your audience’s needs and interests
• Improve your website’s SEO and attract more organic traffic
• Measure the success of your content marketing efforts

Benefits of keyword research

Here are some of the benefits of keyword research:

• Increased organic traffic: Keyword research helps you to identify the keywords that your target audience is searching for. By using these keywords in your website pages and blog posts, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in SERPs and attracting more organic traffic.
• Improved SEO: Keyword research is an essential part of SEO. By optimizing your content for relevant keywords, you can improve your overall visibility and ranking in SERPs.
• Better understanding of your audience: Keyword research can help you to better understand your target audience. By analyzing the keywords that people are searching for, you can learn more about their needs, interests, and pain points. This information can be used to create more relevant and engaging content for your readers.
• More effective content marketing: Keyword research can help you to create more effective content marketing campaigns. By targeting the right keywords, you can reach your target audience with the content that they are most interested in.

How to do keyword research

There are a number of different ways to do keyword research. One common approach is to use a keyword research tool. Keyword research tools provide you with a list of keywords related to your topic, as well as information such as search volume and keyword difficulty.

Another approach to keyword research is to analyze your competitors. What keywords are they targeting? What content are they creating around those keywords? By analyzing your competitors, you can get some ideas for keywords that you can target in your own website.

Once you have a list of keywords, you need to choose which ones to target. When choosing keywords, consider the following factors:

• Search volume: How many people are searching for this keyword per month?
• Keyword difficulty: How difficult is it to rank for this keyword?
• Relevance: Is this keyword relevant to your blog topic and target audience?
• Intent: What is the search intent behind this keyword (informational, commercial, etc.)
• Your content goals: What do you want to achieve with your content? Do you want to generate leads, increase brand awareness, or drive sales?

Once you have chosen your target keywords, you need to use them effectively in your content. Here are some tips:

• Use your target keywords in your blog post or web page titles and headings.
• Use your target keywords throughout the body of your text, but don’t overuse them.
• Write high-quality content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your target keywords.

Keyword research is an essential part of content marketing strategy. By taking the time to do keyword research, you can improve your website’s SEO, attract more organic traffic, and create more effective content marketing campaigns. In the next part of this guide we will go through a step by step process that will help you on your keyword research journey.

Step 1 — Brainstorming seed keywords

The first step in keyword research is to brainstorm a list of seed keywords. Seed keywords are the broad topics that you want to write about. To come up with seed keywords, think about the following:

• What are your areas of expertise?
• What topics are you passionate about?
• What problems can you help your audience solve?
• What products or services do you sell?

Once you have a list of seed keywords, you can use keyword research tools to generate more specific keyword ideas. For example, if one of your seed keywords is “cooking,” you can use a keyword research tool to generate a list of related keywords such as “easy recipes,” “healthy cooking,” and “vegetarian recipes.”

Examples of seed keywords and related keywords:

Seed keyword: cooking

Related keywords: easy recipes, healthy cooking, vegetarian recipes, vegan recipes, quick meals, dinner recipes, dessert recipes

Seed keyword: travel

Related keywords: budget travel, family travel, luxury travel, adventure travel, beach vacations, city breaks, hiking vacations

Seed keyword: technology

Related keywords: smartphone reviews, laptop reviews, computer tips, internet security, social media tips

In the next step of keyword research, we will analyze the seed and related keywords that we have brainstormed to identify the ones that are most relevant to our target audience and have the best potential for ranking in search engines.

We will also consider the search intent behind each keyword. For example, if someone is searching for the keyword “easy recipes,” they are likely looking for recipes that are quick and easy to make. On the other hand, if someone is searching for the keyword “fine dining restaurants,” they are likely looking for restaurants that offer a high-end dining experience.

By understanding the search intent behind each keyword, we can create content that is relevant and meets the needs of our target audience.

Step 2 — Analyzing your seed keywords

Once you have a list of seed keywords and related keywords, it is important to analyze them to determine which ones are most relevant to your target audience and have the best potential for ranking in search engines.

Here are four key factors to consider when analyzing your seed keywords:

1) Search volume: How many people are searching for this keyword per month? Search volume is an important factor to consider, as you want to target keywords that have a decent amount of traffic. However, it is also important to keep in mind that keywords with high search volume are also more competitive, meaning it will be more difficult to rank for them.

2) Keyword difficulty: How difficult is it to rank for this keyword? Keyword difficulty is a measure of how competitive a keyword is. It is important to choose keywords that have a keyword difficulty that is appropriate for your website and your SEO budget. If you are a new website, it is best to start by targeting keywords with a low or medium keyword difficulty.

3) Relevance: Is this keyword relevant to your blog topic and target audience? It is important to choose keywords that are relevant to your blog topic and target audience. This will help to ensure that your content is relevant to the people who are searching for those keywords.

4) Intent: What is the search intent behind this keyword (informational, commercial, etc.)? Search intent is the purpose behind a user’s search query. There are three main types of search intent: informational, commercial, and transactional. Informational search queries are used to find information about a topic. Commercial search queries are used to learn more about products or services. Transactional search queries are used to buy products or services.

Example analysis of seed keywords:

Let’s take a look at the following seed keyword and related keywords from step 1:

Seed keyword: cooking

Related keywords: easy recipes, healthy cooking, vegetarian recipes, vegan recipes, quick meals, dinner recipes, dessert recipes.

We can use a keyword research tool to analyze these keywords and gather information such as search volume and keyword difficulty. We can also use Google Search to understand the search intent behind each keyword.

Here is an example of how we might analyze the keyword “easy recipes”:

• Search volume: 100,000 searches per month
• Keyword difficulty: Medium
• Relevance: Relevant to our blog topic and target audience
• Intent: Informational

Based on this analysis, we can determine that the keyword “easy recipes” is a good keyword to target for our website. It has a decent amount of search volume, but it is not too competitive. It is also relevant to our website and target audience, and the search intent is informational, which means that people who are searching for this keyword are looking for information about easy recipes.

We can repeat this process for all of our seed keywords and related keywords. This will help us to identify a list of keywords that are relevant to our content strategy and target audience, have a decent amount of search volume, and are not too competitive.

In the next step of keyword research, we will choose our target keywords. This will involve selecting the keywords that we have analyzed and that we believe will be most effective for our blog. We will also need to consider our blog goals and target audience when choosing our target keywords.

For example, if our goal is to attract new readers to our blog, we might choose to target keywords with a high search volume. If our goal is to convert readers into customers, we might choose to target keywords with a commercial search intent.

Once we have chosen our target keywords, we can start to create content that is optimized for those keywords. This will help us to improve our blog’s SEO and attract more organic traffic.

Step 3 — Expanding your keyword list

Once you have a list of seed keywords, you can use a variety of methods to expand your keyword list. Here are a few tips:

• Use keyword research tools. Keyword research tools can help you to find related keywords, synonyms, and variations of your seed keywords. They can also provide you with information about search volume and keyword difficulty.
• Use synonyms and variations of your seed keywords. For example, if your seed keyword is “easy recipes,” you could also target keywords such as “quick and easy recipes,” “simple recipes,” and “family-friendly recipes.”
• Consider long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive than short-tail keywords. For example, instead of targeting the keyword “recipes,” you could target the long-tail keyword “healthy recipes for kids.”

Example of expanding a keyword list:

Let’s take a look at the following seed keyword and related keywords from step 2:

Seed keyword: cooking

Related keywords: easy recipes, healthy cooking, vegetarian recipes, vegan recipes, quick meals, dinner recipes, dessert recipes.

We can use a keyword research tool to find related keywords, synonyms, and variations of these keywords. For example, here are some related keywords for the keyword “easy recipes”:

• quick and easy recipes
• simple recipes
• family-friendly recipes
• 30-minute meals
• weeknight meals
• one-pot meals
• sheet pan meals
• slow cooker meals

We can also use synonyms and variations of the keyword “easy recipes.” For example:

• no-fuss recipes
• beginner recipes
• hassle-free recipes
• stress-free recipes
• foolproof recipes
• easy-to-follow recipes

Finally, we can consider long-tail keywords. For example:

• easy recipes for kids
• easy recipes for beginners
• easy recipes for weight loss
• easy recipes for vegetarians
• easy recipes for vegans
• easy recipes for busy weeknights
• easy recipes for one-pot meals

By expanding our keyword list in this way, we have generated a list of keywords that is more comprehensive and targeted. This will help us to improve our website’s SEO and reach a wider audience.

In the next step of keyword research, we will choose our target keywords. This will involve selecting the keywords from our expanded keyword list that we believe will be most effective for our blog. We will also need to consider our blog goals and target audience when choosing our target keywords.

For example, if our goal is to attract new readers to our content, we might choose to target keywords with a high search volume. If our goal is to convert readers into customers, we might choose to target keywords with a commercial search intent.

Step 4 — Choose your target keywords

Once you have expanded your keyword list, you need to choose your target keywords. This is an important step, as you want to choose keywords that will be effective for your website and that you have a good chance of ranking for.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing your target keywords:

• Search volume: How many people are searching for this keyword per month? Search volume is an important factor to consider, as you want to target keywords that have a decent amount of traffic. However, it is also important to keep in mind that keywords with high search volume are also more competitive, meaning it will be more difficult to rank for them.
• Keyword difficulty: How difficult is it to rank for this keyword? Keyword difficulty is a measure of how competitive a keyword is. It is important to choose keywords that have a keyword difficulty that is appropriate for your website and your SEO budget. If you are a new website, it is best to start by targeting keywords with a low or medium keyword difficulty.
• Relevance: Is this keyword relevant to your topic and target audience? It is important to choose keywords that are relevant to your topic and target audience. This will help to ensure that your content is relevant to the people who are searching for those keywords.
• Intent: What is the search intent behind this keyword (informational, commercial, etc.)? Search intent is the purpose behind a user’s search query. There are three main types of search intent: informational, commercial, and transactional. Informational search queries are used to find information about a topic. Commercial search queries are used to learn more about products or services. Transactional search queries are used to buy products or services.
• Your content goals: What do you want to achieve with your content? Do you want to attract new readers, convert readers into customers, or generate leads? It is important to choose keywords that are aligned with your blog goals.

Example of choosing target keywords:

Let’s take a look at the following expanded keyword list from step 3:

• easy recipes
• quick and easy recipes
• simple recipes
• family-friendly recipes
• 30-minute meals
• weeknight meals
• one-pot meals
• sheet pan meals
• slow cooker meals
• easy recipes for kids
• easy recipes for beginners
• easy recipes for weight loss
• easy recipes for vegetarians
• easy recipes for vegans
• easy recipes for busy weeknights
• easy recipes for one-pot meals

Now, we need to choose our target keywords. Let’s say that our goals are to attract new readers and convert readers into customers. We also want to target keywords that have a decent amount of search volume and a low or medium keyword difficulty.

Based on these criteria, we might choose the following target keywords:

• easy recipes for kids
• easy recipes for beginners
• easy recipes for weight loss
• easy recipes for busy weeknights
• easy recipes for one-pot meals

These keywords are relevant to our webiste topic and target audience, they have a decent amount of search volume, and they have a low or medium keyword difficulty. They are also aligned with our website goals, as they are likely to attract new readers and convert readers into customers.

Once we have chosen our target keywords, we can start to create content that is optimized for those keywords. This will help us to improve our blog’s SEO and attract more organic traffic.

For example, we could write blog posts on the following topics:

• 10 Easy Recipes for Kids That Your Kids Will Love
• 5 Easy Recipes for Beginners That Are Sure to Impress
• 10 Easy Recipes for Weight Loss That Are Actually Delicious
• 10 Easy Recipes for Busy Weeknights That You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
• 5 Easy One-Pot Meals That Are Perfect for Busy Nights

We can also use our target keywords in our post titles, headings, and throughout the body of our text. This will help Google to understand that our content is relevant to those keywords and that we should rank higher in search results.

By following these steps, we can choose target keywords that are effective for our website and that we have a good chance of ranking for. This will help us to improve our website’s SEO and attract more organic traffic.

Step 5 — Using your keywords effectively

Once you have chosen your target keywords, it is important to use them effectively in your content. Here are a few tips:

• Use your target keywords in your titles and headings. This will help Google to understand that your content is relevant to those keywords and that it should rank higher in search results.
• Use your target keywords throughout the body of your text. However, be careful not to overuse your keywords, as this can lead to your content being penalized by Google. A good rule of thumb is to use your target keywords once or twice per 100 words of text.
• Write high-quality content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your target keywords. This is the most important factor for ranking in search results. Make sure that your content is well-written, informative, and helpful to your readers.
• Promote your content on social media and other websites. This will help to increase traffic to your content and improve your chances of ranking in search results.

Example of using keywords effectively:

Let’s say that we have chosen the following target keyword: “easy recipes for kids.” We want to use this keyword effectively in a blog post title, heading, and body text.

Here is an example:

Title: 10 Easy Recipes for Kids That Your Kids Will Love

Heading: Easy Recipes for Kids: 10 Fun and Delicious Meals

Body text:

Looking for easy recipes that your kids will love? Look no further! This list of 10 easy recipes for kids is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. From quick and easy snacks to simple weeknight meals, there’s something for everyone on this list.

The first recipe on our list is for chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets are a classic kid-friendly meal that is easy to make and even easier to eat. Simply combine ground chicken, bread crumbs, eggs, and milk in a bowl and mix until well combined. Then, form the mixture into small nuggets and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10–12 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Another easy recipe for kids is grilled cheese sandwiches. Grilled cheese sandwiches are a simple and delicious comfort food that kids of all ages love. To make a grilled cheese sandwich, simply spread butter or margarine on two slices of bread and place a slice of cheese in between. Then, cook the sandwich in a pan over medium heat until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey.

These are just one example of easy recipes for kids that you can use on your blog. When using keywords in your blog posts, be sure to use them naturally and in a way that is informative and helpful to your readers.

Promoting your content

Once you have published your content, it is important to promote it on social media and other websites. This will help to increase traffic to your blog and improve your chances of ranking in search results.

Here are a few tips for promoting your blog posts:

• Share your content on social media. Share your posts on your social media channels, such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also join relevant social media groups and forums to share your posts with a wider audience.
• Submit your content to directories and aggregators. There are a number of directories and aggregators that you can submit your content to. This will help to get your posts in front of more people and improve your chances of ranking in search results.
• Reach out to other bloggers and influencers. Reach out to other bloggers and influencers in your niche and ask them to share your posts with their audiences. You can also offer to guest post on their blogs.

By following these tips, you can use your keywords effectively and promote your blog posts to reach a wider audience. This will help you to improve your blog’s SEO and attract more organic traffic.

Key points from the guide to keyword research

Keyword research is an essential part of any content strategy. By understanding what your target audience is searching for, you can create content that is relevant and engaging, and improve your blog’s SEO.

Here are the key points of keyword research:

• Brainstorm seed keywords: What topics do you want to write about? What keywords would your target audience search for?
• Analyze your seed keywords: Search volume, keyword difficulty, relevance, and intent.
• Expand your keyword list: Use keyword research tools, synonyms, and variations of your seed keywords, and consider long-tail keywords.
• Choose your target keywords: Consider search volume, keyword difficulty, relevance, intent, and your blog goals.
• Use your keywords effectively: Use your target keywords in your post titles, headings, and throughout the body of your text. Write high-quality content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your target keywords. Promote your content on social media and other websites.

Tips for ongoing keyword research

Keyword research is an ongoing process. As your website grows and changes, you will need to revisit your keyword research and update your target keywords. Here are a few tips for ongoing keyword research:

• Use Google Trends to track the popularity of your keywords over time.
• Use keyword research tools to find new and related keywords.
• Monitor your search engine analytics to see which keywords are driving traffic to your website.
• Analyze your competitors’ keywords to see what they are targeting.

By following the steps in this guide, you can do keyword research effectively and choose target keywords that are effective for your website and that you have a good chance of ranking for. This will help you to improve your website’s SEO and attract more organic traffic.