Best Tips for Keyword Research with Examples

What is keyword research?

Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing search terms that people use in search engines to find information, products, or services. It's a crucial component of search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing strategies.

Why is Keyword Research Important?

Keyword research is essential because it:

1. Helps understand user intent and behavior

By delving deep into keyword analysis, organizations can uncover the precise language and queries potential customers use when seeking information, products, or services. This profound understanding allows for creating highly targeted and relevant content that directly addresses user needs and expectations.

Example:

A fitness equipment company discovers through keyword research that users frequently search for "best home workout equipment for small spaces." This insight leads them to create content and products specifically addressing this need.

2. Guides content creation and optimization

Keyword insights enable marketers and content creators to develop precise, purposeful content strategies. Instead of guessing what audiences want, businesses can now craft materials that precisely match search intentions, ensuring maximum engagement and relevance.

Example:

A recipe blog finds that "quick vegan dinner ideas" is a popular search term. They then develop a series of articles and videos featuring 15-minute vegan recipes, directly addressing this user interest.

3. Improves search engine rankings

Implementing carefully researched keywords helps search engines comprehend and categorize website content more accurately. This strategic approach increases the likelihood of achieving higher rankings, making websites more visible and accessible to potential visitors.

Example:

An online bookstore optimizes its product pages with specific book titles and author names as keywords. As a result, their pages start appearing higher in search results when users look for particular books.

4. Increases organic traffic

Well-executed keyword strategies naturally attract more qualified traffic. By aligning content with specific search terms, websites can draw in users genuinely interested in their offerings, resulting in higher-quality interactions and potential conversions.

Example:

A gardening supplies website creates in-depth guides on "how to start a vegetable garden," incorporating relevant keywords. This content attracts a steady stream of beginner gardeners to their site, increasing their customer base.

5. Provides insights into market trends

Keyword research transcends traditional marketing boundaries, functioning as a real-time market intelligence tool. It provides invaluable insights into emerging trends, shifting consumer preferences, and evolving industry dynamics.

Example:

A fashion retailer notices a spike in searches for "sustainable clothing brands." They use this information to expand their eco-friendly product line and adjust their marketing strategy to highlight their sustainable practices.

Elements of Keyword Research

The key elements of keyword research include:

• Search volume
• Keyword difficulty
• Relevance to your content
• User intent
• Competition analysis

Search Volume

Search volume refers to the average number of times a particular keyword is searched for in a given period, typically per month. This metric helps you gauge the potential traffic a keyword might bring to your website.

Example: The keyword "healthy breakfast ideas" might have a monthly search volume of 50,000, indicating high interest in this topic.

Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty measures how challenging it is to rank for a specific keyword in search engine results. It considers factors like competition and the authority of currently ranking pages.

Example: A highly competitive keyword like "best smartphones" might have a difficulty score of 85 out of 100, suggesting it would be challenging for a new website to rank for this term.

Relevance to Your Content

This factor assesses how well a keyword aligns with your content, products, or services. Using relevant keywords ensures that you attract the right audience to your site.

Example: If you run a vegan recipe blog, the keyword "plant-based protein sources" would be highly relevant to your content.

User Intent

User intent refers to the purpose behind a user's search query. Understanding this helps you create content that meets the searcher's needs, whether they're looking for information, making a purchase, or seeking a specific website.

Example: The keyword "how to tie a tie" indicates informational intent, suggesting users want a step-by-step guide rather than to make a purchase.

Competition Analysis

This involves examining the websites currently ranking for your target keywords to understand the level of competition and identify potential opportunities or gaps in the market.

Example: When analyzing competition for "organic skincare products," you might find that top-ranking pages focus on ingredients, giving you an opportunity to create content about the manufacturing process or ethical sourcing.

How to Research Keywords for Your SEO Strategy

1. Start with Brainstorming Relevant Topics

Begin by listing topics related to your business or content. This helps you generate initial keyword ideas based on your expertise and understanding of your audience.

• Example: A fitness blog might brainstorm topics like "home workouts," "nutrition tips," and "weight loss strategies."

2. Use Keyword Research Tools

Utilize specialized tools to expand your keyword list and gather data on search volume and competition. Tools like lOOkkle Keyword Research, Google Keyword Planner, and SEMrush can provide valuable insights.

• Example: Using lookkle keyword research for "home workouts," you might discover related terms like "no-equipment exercises" or "quick living room fitness routines."

3. Analyze Competitor Keywords

Examine the keywords your competitors are ranking for to identify opportunities and gaps in your own strategy.

• Example: A running shoe company might find that a competitor ranks well for "best marathon training shoes," prompting them to create content around this keyword.

4. Consider Long-Tail Keywords

Focus on longer, more specific phrases that typically have lower competition but higher conversion potential.

• Example: Instead of targeting just "healthy recipes," a food blog might target "quick healthy breakfast recipes for busy professionals."

5. Evaluate Search Intent

Understand the purpose behind searches to ensure your content matches what users are looking for.

• Example: The keyword "apple pie recipe" suggests users want step-by-step instructions, while "best apple pie in New York" indicates they're looking for restaurant recommendations.

6. Check Keyword Difficulty and Search Volume

Assess how challenging it will be to rank for a keyword and how many searches it receives to prioritize your efforts.

• Example: A new tech blog might choose to target "beginner's guide to building a PC" (lower difficulty) over "best gaming laptops" (higher difficulty) to establish initial rankings.

How to Search for Keywords on a Website: 8 Tips

1. Use Browser Search Function

Most web browsers have a built-in search function activated by pressing Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac). This allows you to quickly find specific words or phrases on a page.

• Example: When analyzing a competitor's blog post about "sustainable fashion," you can use Ctrl+F to search for related terms like "eco-friendly" or "ethical clothing."

2. Utilize Site Search Operators in Google

Google's site search operator allows you to search for keywords within a specific website.

• Example: To find pages about "organic gardening" on example.com, you would type "site:example.com organic gardening" into Google's search bar.

3. Employ SEO Tools for Website Analysis

SEO tools can provide comprehensive keyword analysis for entire websites.

• Example: Using a tool like lookkle, you can analyze a website's content to identify the most frequently used keywords and their distribution across pages.

4. Check Meta Tags and Headers

Examine the page's meta title, description, and header tags (H1, H2, etc.) for important keywords.

• Example: On an e-commerce site selling running shoes, you might find keywords like "lightweight running shoes" or "marathon training footwear" in the product page headers.

5. Analyze Internal Link Anchor Text

The text used in internal links often contains important keywords that indicate the linked page's content.

• Example: A travel blog might use anchor text like "best beaches in Bali" to link to a relevant article, highlighting a key keyword phrase.

6. Review Image Alt Text

Alt text for images often contains relevant keywords that describe the image and its context.

• Example: An image of a red sports car might have alt text "Ferrari 488 GTB supercar," indicating important keywords for the page's content.

7. Examine URL Structures

URLs often contain keywords that reflect the page's content and structure.

• Example: A URL like "www.example.com/healthy-recipes/vegetarian-pasta-dishes" clearly indicates the page's focus on vegetarian pasta recipes.

8. Use Website Crawling Tools

Crawling tools can analyze entire websites, providing insights into keyword usage across all pages.

• Example: Using a tool like Lookkle Keywords Analytics, you can crawl a website and generate reports on keyword frequency, meta tag usage, and content structure.

How to Find and Choose Keywords for Your Website

1. Identify Your Target Audience and Their Needs

Understanding who your audience is and what they're looking for is the foundation of effective keyword selection.

• Example: A fitness equipment company might identify their target audience as health-conscious adults aged 25-45 who are interested in home workouts. Their needs might include finding space-efficient exercise equipment and workout routines for busy schedules.

2. Use Keyword Research Tools to Discover Relevant Terms

Utilize tools like lookkle keyword research, Google Keyword Planner, or SEMrush to find keywords related to your business and audience interests.

• Example: Using these tools, the fitness equipment company might discover keywords like "compact home gym equipment," "foldable exercise bike," or "quick HIIT workouts."

3. Analyze Search Volume and Competition

Look at how often keywords are searched and how difficult it would be to rank for them.

• Example: The keyword "best home exercise equipment" might have high search volume but also high competition, while "space-saving workout gear for apartments" might have lower volume but less competition.

4. Consider User Intent Behind Searches

Understand why users are searching for certain terms to ensure your content matches their expectations.

• Example: Someone searching for "how to set up a home gym" is likely looking for informational content, while someone searching for "buy adjustable dumbbells" has a clear purchase intent.

5. Group Keywords by Themes or Topics

Organize your keywords into related clusters to help structure your content strategy.

• Example: The fitness company might group keywords into themes like "cardio equipment," "strength training gear," "workout routines," and "fitness for small spaces."

6. Prioritize Keywords Based on Business Goals

Align your keyword strategy with your overall business objectives.

• Example: If the fitness company's goal is to increase sales of their compact treadmills, they might prioritize keywords like "best folding treadmills" or "treadmills for small apartments" in their content and product pages.

Best Keywords for SEO

The best keywords for SEO typically:

• Have moderate to high search volume
• Show clear user intent
• Have manageable competition
• Are relevant to your content and business
• Include a mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords
• Align with your target audience's needs