Keyword research isn’t just about picking the “obvious” keywords. It’s about finding keywords and keyword phrases that will help bring traffic to your website. Sometimes the obvious keyword phrase isn’t the best one to use. I utilize several keyword tools to come up with a recommended list.
When I am doing keyword research I need to know the intent behind that keyword, and whether or not a piece of content solves for that intent. That is done the keyword fit your business and your business goals.
What is keyword research
I’ll start with pretty much the Wikipedia version for context.
Keyword research is a practice search engine optimization (SEO) professionals use to find and research actual search terms that people enter into search engines.
So, the money part of that simplistic definition – actual search terms.
That’s the power behind keyword research for SEO – the ability to understand the exact phrases people use to search for the products, services, information, answers, and solutions that lead to them becoming your customers, but that’s just the beginning.
Keyword Research Planning
Keyword research tells you what topics people care about and, assuming you use the right SEO tool, how popular those topics actually are among your audience. The operative term here is topics — by researching keywords that are getting a high volume of searches per month, you can identify and sort your content into topics that you want to create content about. Then, you can use these topics to dictate which keywords you look for and target. It takes planning and execution to build a proper keyword set for your website.
Applying Keyword Research for Small Business
When applying keyword research for your small business, there are several important considerations to remember. Keyword research helps your small business optimize online content to attract more traffic and improve search engine rankings. Here are some ways to effectively apply keyword research for your small local business:
Sharpen Your Focus
Start by identifying the goals of your keyword research. Determine whether you want to optimize your main website pages or drive traffic to your blog content. Different goals may require different types of keywords, such as commercial keywords for shopping ads or less commercial keywords for blog content. Make a list of topics related to your business and brainstorm common terms associated with those topics. Use tools like Google or keyword research tools to generate keyword suggestions and refine your list.
Find The Core Keywords and Define Topic Clusters
Once you have a list of keywords, identify the core keywords that form the foundation of your keyword research. These core keywords will help you define topic clusters, groups of related keywords, and content. Topic clusters can improve your website’s overall SEO and help establish authority in your niche. Organizing your content around topic clusters can provide valuable and comprehensive information to your audience.
Use Keyword Research Tools
Use keyword research tools to gather valuable insights into search volume, competition, and related keywords. Tools like UberSuggest, Answer The Public, Keywords Everywhere, and Keyword Surfer can help you discover keyword ideas, understand search trends, and decide which keywords to target.
Consider Local SEO
Consider incorporating local SEO strategies into your keyword research if your small business operates within a specific geographic area. Include location-specific keywords to target potential clients in your local market. For example, if you own a pressure washing business in Clearwater, targeting keywords like “house washing in Clearwater” or “Clearwater driveway cleaning” can attract local clients searching for your products or services.
Create Quality and Relevant Content
Keyword research should guide your content creation efforts. Develop high-quality and relevant content that aligns with your target keywords. Focus on providing valuable information, addressing clients’ needs, and solving their problems. By producing content that resonates with your target audience, you can attract more organic traffic and improve your website’s visibility in search engine results.
Monitor and Adapt
Keyword research is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor the performance of your keywords and make adjustments as needed. Track the rankings of your targeted keywords, analyze website analytics to identify trends, and stay updated with changes in your industry. Regularly reviewing and refining your keyword strategy will help you stay competitive and ensure the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.
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