Wondering how to research and select the right SEO keywords even if you're just starting out? I feel you - keyword research can be overwhelming but it's so important for getting your site found.
Picking keywords real people search that are relevant to your biz is key for pulling in targeted visitors from search engines. But with so many terms to choose from, how do you pinpoint the best ones?
Fear not my SEO padawan! In this post, I'll explain my process for effective keyword selection step-by-step so any beginner can nail their research. Implement these tips and you'll be picking high-value SEO keywords that boost your rankings and convert visitors into customers in no time. Let's dive in!
Why Keywords Matter for Rankings
First question - why stress over picking perfect keywords anyway?
Well, keywords are the backbone of SEO. By optimizing your site and content for keywords people are actually searching for, it's way easier to get found by your ideal visitors.
Ranking for relevant, popular keywords leads to:
- More targeted organic traffic to your site
- Higher click-through rates since keywords match your content
- Increased conversions because visitor intent aligns with your goals
Bottom line - meticulous keyword research directly impacts your revenue by pulling in visitors ready to buy what you're selling.
How to Start Keyword Research from Scratch
If SEO is all Greek to you, here's a quick step-by-step process for conducting keyword research:
1. Brainstorm Target Keywords
Make a big list of possible keywords related to your products, services, brand, and industry. These will be your "seed keywords" to use for further research.
Jot down any terms and phrases you think potential customers might search to find your business. Consider common questions, industry lingo, product names, and keyword variations.
Go for quantity here - the more keywords you start with, the better.
2. Leverage Keyword Research Tools
Next, plug your seed keywords into free tools like Google's Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Moz to pull monthly search volume data and additional suggested terms.
Focus on keywords getting 1,000+ searches per month, indicating higher demand. But any search volume indicates people are seeking that solution.
3. Organize Keywords by Theme
Review all the keywords you've compiled and sort them into topics or categories, like product type, service, location, question format, etc.
This organization helps match keywords to relevant pages on your site during optimization.
4. Prioritize the Most Important Keywords
Look at your keyword list and highlight the essential "moneymaker" keywords you want to target first.
Usually, a few core keywords will drive more value than chasing hundreds of obscure long tails. Start with keywords closely matching your most important solutions.
How to Select the Most Effective Keywords
You've got a beefy keyword list assembled. Now, use these criteria to narrow it down to the best ones to go after:
🔎 Search volume - Prioritize keywords with at least 1,000 monthly searches. More volume means more potential visitors.
🥇Competitiveness - How hard is it to rank for the keyword? Assess if you can reasonably out-optimize competitors.
🔗Relevance - Keywords should closely relate to your products, services and existing content.
💰Intent - Does the keyword indicate visitors are ready to buy, rather than just researching?
📈Keyword difficulty - Choose easier keywords you can rank for as a beginner before tackling the most competitive.
💵CPC rates - Look for keywords advertisers pay more for, indicating moneymaking potential.
Balance these factors to narrow down the highest potential keywords, while including a mix of top-level main terms, easier long tails, and directly relevant niche keywords.
Optimizing Your Site for Keywords
You've got your target keyword list. Now it's go time to work them into your site architecture:
🚀 Use in URL slugs - Get the exact keyword phrase into page URLs where possible
🏷️Optimize page titles - Place keywords at beginning of title tags
📑 Include in meta descriptions - Work keywords in naturally without overstuffing
🖼️ Add to image names & alt text - Incorporate keywords for extra optimization
🔥Pop into H1 & H2 headers - Emphasize keywords in headings without going overboard
📃Sprinkle into content - Naturally use keywords in body content around 1-3% density
💫Link relevant internal content - Connect related pages linking keywords to pass authority
Advanced Keyword Research Tactics
Once your core research is done, dig deeper with these advanced strategies:
🔎 Research competitors' keywords - Reveal more options they rank for
📚 Mine industry content for ideas - See what fellow sites target
🤞 Leverage autocomplete suggestions - Get keywords from suggested searches
❓ Identify common questions - Find keywords in searches people ask
🔍 Uncover long tail versions - Use tools to find longer hidden gems
📅 Analyze seasonality - Some keywords fluctuate by time of year
Don't get overwhelmed by all the data. Focus on picking terms relevant to your brand and audience. Proper keyword selection is crucial for SEO success, but no need to overcomplicate it.
Key Takeaways for SEO Keyword Research
- Start broad then narrow down keywords using volume, intent, relevance and competitiveness
- Organize keywords by theme to map to relevant pages
- Work chosen keywords into pages naturally through titles, URLs, content, etc
- Analyze competitors and leverage tools to uncover more keyword opportunities
- Targeting the right keywords leads to higher rankings, traffic and conversions!
I know keyword research seems daunting as an SEO beginner. But taking the time to identify effective keywords that align with searcher intent is well worth the effort. Just follow the process!
Let me know if you have any other questions on picking winning keywords!
){kind=link}
0 Comments