Keyword research is the process of identifying keywords (the words and phrases your target audience uses to find what they’re looking for) so you can create content that meets their needs. Keyword research is important because it helps you find terms you can use in your content to improve your chances of appearing in relevant search results.
By doing keyword research, you figure out which words or phrases your potential customers use to find the products, services, or information you offer. You can then include those terms in your content so Google can analyze those words (along with other signals) to decide whether to show your content and connect searchers with your site.
Here’s how you can do keyword research:
- Brainstorm topics. Think of the main subjects your website covers. For a cooking blog, these might include breakfasts, desserts, and quick dinners.
- Use research tools. Check tools like Google Search Console, Google’s Keyword Planner, Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool, or the People Also Ask section in Google to see which terms people use most often.
- Compare and prioritize. Study each term’s search volume and competition level, so you can target words that have enough searches but aren’t too difficult to rank for in search engines.
- Consider search intent. Think about what people want when they search for a certain keyword, so you can tailor your content accordingly. Are they searching for an article or a video? Are they looking for information or trying to find a particular website?
- Implement and track. Place your chosen keywords in your content, titles, headings, and meta tags. Review your results with a tool like Google Search Console to see if your pages appear for those keywords.
Use keywords naturally and avoid repeating the same phrase too many times. Write for readers first, then optimize for search engines.
Further reading: How to Do Keyword Research for SEO
