Keyword research is the process of searching for words and terms that both relate to the useful, authoritative content you’re creating for your site and the relevant search terms that people are searching for concerning your topic. (For example, if you were a purveyor of kid’s squeaky shoes, then keywords would be “kid’s shoes”, “squeaky shoes”, “kid’s squeaky shoes”, etc.) Keyword research also then refers to using these terms to improve SEO or search engine optimization, which is how you help your website rank higher in search engine results, which then leads more people to your website, creating more potential customers.
Choose the right keywords
Here are a few ways to choose the right keywords.
Identify your goals.
Are you trying to grow leads? Increase sales? Do you want more people engaging with your website, eg, reading blogs and browsing? Having a clear idea of what you’re trying to accomplish will help narrow down what keywords and search terms you choose to focus on.
Ask the opinion of others in your business.
To create a seed list of keyword ideas, talk to your employees or co-workers and ask what they would search for to “find your business, your products, your services, or your content.” There’s no need to be picky at this point- you are just brainstorming.
Put yourself in your customer’s shoes.
What are they looking for? What do they want? What problem are they trying to solve? Then imagine you are the customer about to search for answers or solutions on Google—what would they be typing? It might also be helpful to consult family or friends and see what they would search for as well.
Look at what keywords your competitors are using.
While you never want to assume that your competitors are doing things right, they can be a source of helpful information and inspiration. This is especially true if they are outranking you on the search engines. You can find out what keywords they’re using by looking at their content and noticing what words and phrases are repeated. You can also go one technical step further and right-click on one of their web pages and select the “View page source” option. This will take you to an intimidating (potentially) page of code, but with a little hunting, you’ll be able to view their meta tags, which are the keywords used on that page.
Also, check out the topics of their web pages, see what they are talking about on social media, what their public relations team (if they have one) is saying, and what is prominently appearing in their search results. Looking at the competition can help generate ideas, confirm words and phrases you’ve already thought of, and fill in any potential gaps in your list.
Use the Long Tail Keyword.
Long tail keywords are three or more words or a phrase that tend to attract more people to your site. They may have fewer search results overall, but the people who do use long-tail keywords in their searches are more likely to be buying customers. For example, “shoes” is a keyword. “Kids shoes” is more specific, and “squeaky shoes 4-year-old kids”, is the long tail keyword. Using long-tail keywords can generate trust in potential customers, meaning that even if they don’t buy from you right then and there, they’re more likely to come back to your website when they’re ready to make a purchase.
Find Keyword Research Tools.
There are dozens of free keyword research tools out there. If you are using Google ads, they have one as well. Consider that tool, as well as the ones from Moz, SEMRUSH, and Raventool. When searching for keywords, it’s important to remember the search intent. Searcher intent helps find the people who will convert into customers. It’s also important to put your keywords into a search engine and see what pops up. Is it blog posts or product pages? These results can help you tailor how you use keywords on your website. While a Keyword research tool can help you find what search terms will attract the most traffic, make sure you pay attention to what makes sense for your business. What’s more important than high volume is finding the keywords or search terms that will help solve your potential customer’s problems.
Examine the results and adjust as necessary.
Like lights on a ship in the ocean, keywords are signals that help people find your site, and like waves on the ocean, keywords will flow in and out of relevance. Stay up to date with what keywords are driving traffic to your site and pay attention to any trending keywords in your industry and to what your competitors are doing.
CadenceSEO Knows Keywords
Whatever your keyword needs, CadenceSEO is here to help! CadenceSEO is a full-service digital marketing agency. Cadence SEO believes in providing a high-quality experience for all its clients, one that is customized to suit their individual needs and budget.
CadenceSEO has experience helping business owners just like you with their keyword research, and with finding the right longtail keywords that best suit the products and services their clients offer. From a free consultation to full-service SEO consulting, their team of SEO experts and consultants is here to help you make keyword research translate into more enthusiastic customers.
Do you need help with keyword research for your digital marketing strategy? Contact us here at CadenceSEO for more information!
