7 Tips for Getting Started with Keyword Research
Keyword research is one of the most important steps in a successful search engine optimization (SEO) campaign. By using the right keywords, you can ensure your website comes up on the top of search results and maximize the reach of your content. Here are seven tips to get started in keyword research.
Tip #1: Look Beyond Simple Search Terms
When looking for potential keywords, don't limit yourself to only exact phrases or words. Consider long-tail keyword combinations which are more likely to be used in searches by potential customers. It is also worth considering different variations of your main keywords like plural forms or synonyms as these terms can bring new visitors to your website and increase overall visibility.
Tip #2: Think Like a Customer
To effectively do keyword research, think about what customers might type into their web browsers if they were looking for your product or service. This can help you find relevant keywords that could be used on various landing pages and nested topics related to the core focus of the page. To get an understanding of how other people use these terms you can even conduct surveys amongst current customers or read reviews from people who have used similar services before. You can also use tools like Answer The Public to get ideas on what people are searching for.
Tip #3: Take Advantage Of Autocomplete & Related Searches
Google and other major search engines offer autofill suggestions when users type certain phrases into their search bar so take advantage of this feature by searching for related terms. You can also look into YouTube auto-complete or Twitter's autocomplete feature as these can be great resources too - providing deeper insight into how people are really using the language around any given topic.
Tip #4: Analyze Your Competitors' Strategies
By monitoring which websites appear when you enter specific keywords into your search engine, you quickly get an idea as to who may be competing in this space along with where they rank among competitors with similar offerings. It's a great way to formulate potential optimizations that would help your own website rank higher than theirs - either using meta tags, sitemaps etc - so it would definitely be worth taking a look at and noting opportunities for improvement here!
Tip #5: Focus On High Volume Queries
Make sure to focus on high volume queries when conducting keyword research-they tend to generate more traffic but also cost more money due to bidding competition on popular terms/phrases so make sure to not only seek out generic "seed" keywords but also ones that relate specifically to what business offers/sells which saves time by limiting unnecessary requests from irrelevant markets who may never convert anyway.. Once you have pinpointed several popular searches use tools like Google Adwords' Keyword Planner tool and Ahrefs Keyword Explorer tool to help uncover related highly sought queries & determine additional metrics such as click through rate (CTR) etc so one knows where their marketing efforts should go first without wasting advertising budget elsewhere that doesn't serve main goals.
Tip #6: Use Branded Search Embeddings & Voice Search Friendly Queries
Make use of branded searches while creating semantic SEO structures within websites - this will allow them to stand out better & appear quicker when someone makes voice searches since usually such queries come without actual words being mentioned e.g instead of typing out "best makeup products" voice searchers might just say "makeup" instead (because it already recognized domain). It's crucial capture expected querieso much easier than having searchers spell things out phonetically! For example, if you're selling shoes online then pay attention to not only classic shoe shapes but contemporary ones too. Perhaps start introducing few brand embeddings such as items like loafers wedges...etc.
Remember keep note of all trending topics because those words very well reflect what people actually are interested in world wide which would indicate a possible number one position in the near future!
Tip #7: Track Performance Metrics Regularly
Once you identify relevant target keywords, it is essential to track their performance metrics on a regular basis. Monitor increases and decreases in data to see if any changes need to be made. For example, altering CTR levels or keeping them the same could affect your desired outcome, so be sure to analyze your data before completing the phase, and determine whether the changes worked or not. Then you can proceed with Plan B if a plausible threat is on the horizon.
Beware of jumping into unfamiliar waters as they may be perilously treacherous. That said, regularly monitoring your data helps you gain insight into which keywords are more important and relevant for driving increased traffic generation.