Basic Keyword Research: A Guide to Better SEO Rankings
Think of basic keyword research as something similar to making a map for your website. Just like a map helps you find your way to a new place, keywords help people find your website when they search online. In this guide, we’ll show you how to pick the right keywords to help more people find your website. We’ll use lots of examples to make everything easy to understand.
Understanding Basic Keyword Research
What Are Keywords?
Keywords are the words people type into Google when they’re looking for something. They’re like bridges that connect what you write about to what people want to find. For example, if someone wants to go to the beach, they might type “best beaches in Florida” or “cheap hotels in Miami.”
Why Keywords Matter
Keywords help Google understand what your website is about. They’re like labels on boxes that tell you what’s inside. When you use the right keywords, your website is more likely to show up when people search for topics you write about.
Types of Keywords
Short-Tail Keywords
These are quick, simple search words like “pizza” or “shoes.” While lots of people search for these words, they’re hard to rank for because so many websites use them. It’s like trying to open a pizza shop in the middle of New York City – there are lots of customers but also lots of other pizza shops.
Long-Tail Keywords
These are longer search phrases like “veggie pizza delivery near me” or “running shoes for flat feet.” Fewer people search for these, but you have a better chance of showing up in search results. It’s like opening a special pizza shop in a neighborhood – you might get fewer customers, but they’re more likely to choose your shop.
Related Keywords
These are words that go with your main keyword. If you’re writing about coffee, related keywords might be “how to make coffee,” “coffee beans,” and “coffee machines.” They help Google better understand what your content is about.
Essential Tools for Basic Keyword Research
Free Tools
Google Keyword Planner
- Great for beginners
- Shows how many people search for words
- Tells you if lots of other websites use these words
Google Trends
- Shows if keywords are getting more or less popular
- Helps you spot seasonal trends
- Shows where people search for certain things
Paid Tools
SEMrush
- Gives lots of details about keywords
- Shows what keywords other websites use
- Helps track how well keywords work
Ahrefs
- Shows how hard it is to rank for keywords
- Tells you if people click on search results
- Helps find keywords you might have missed
Step-by-Step Basic Keyword Research Process
1. Making Your First List
Start with simple words about your topic. If you sell handmade jewelry, you might start with:
- Handmade jewelry
- Handmade necklaces
- Custom earrings
- Special rings
2. Growing Your List
Use keyword tools to find more words. Look for questions people ask. For handmade jewelry, you might find:
- How to clean handmade jewelry
- What birthstones mean
- Wedding jewelry ideas
3. Understanding What People Want
Match keywords to what people are trying to do:
- Learning something: “How to clean silver jewelry”
- Looking for options: “Best handmade jewelry shops”
- Ready to buy: “Buy custom silver necklace”
Analyzing Keyword Competition
Understanding Keyword Difficulty
Think of keyword difficulty like choosing a hiking trail:
- Easy (0-30): Like walking in a park
- Medium (31-70): Like hiking up small hills
- Hard (71-100): Like climbing a mountain
Competitor Research
Check out the other websites that show up when you search for your keywords. Look at:
- The quality of their content
- How well-known their website is
- Number of backlinks
- How many people read their content
Using Keywords the Right Way
Placement
Put your keywords in these places:
- Page titles
- Headers
- First paragraph
- Picture descriptions
- Website addresses
Making It Sound Natural
Write like you’re talking to a friend. Don’t stuff too many keywords in your writing – it’s like putting too much salt in food. Focus on writing helpful content that naturally uses your keywords.
Using Different Forms of Keywords
Mix up how you use your keywords. If your main keyword is “bake chocolate cake,” you can also use:
- Baking chocolate cakes
- Best chocolate cake recipe
- How to bake a chocolate cake This is like having different ways to say the same thing, making your writing more interesting.
Grouping Related Keywords Together
Put related keywords on the same page. If you’re writing about dogs, keep all the “dog training” keywords on one page and “dog food” keywords on another. It’s like organizing your clothes – keeping all your shirts in one drawer and pants in another makes them easier to find.
Making Special Pages for Big Keywords
Create separate pages for your most important keywords. If you sell both “running shoes” and “hiking boots,” make a special page for each one instead of mixing them together. This helps people find exactly what they’re looking for, like having different sections in a store.
Common Basic Keyword Research Mistakes
Only Going After Popular Words
Don’t ignore less popular keywords. Having 100 people who really want what you offer is better than 10,000 people who are just browsing.
Not Understanding What People Want
Match your content to what people are looking for. If someone searches “how to make pizza,” they want a recipe, not a place to buy pizza.
Forgetting About Location
If you have a local business, use location words. Instead of just “coffee shop,” use “coffee shop in downtown Seattle.”
Using Outdated Keywords
Don’t stick with old keywords forever. Language changes over time, like how people now say “mobile phones” instead of “cell phones.” Check what words people are using now and update your keywords to match.
Copying Competitor Keywords Exactly
Don’t just copy what other websites use. It’s like following someone else’s map without knowing where you’re going. Instead, learn from competitors but create a keyword list that fits your specific website and audience.
Not Using Question Keywords
Many people search by asking questions. If you ignore these, you miss out on helping people who ask things like “how do I” or “what is the best.” It’s like ignoring customers who raise their hands to ask questions in a store.
Checking How Well Keywords Work
Things to Watch
Search Rankings
This shows where your website appears when people search for your keywords. If you show up on the first page of Google (spots 1-10), you’re doing well. Think of it like a race – being in first place means more people will see you.
Website Visitors
This tells you how many people come to your website. It’s like counting how many customers walk into a store. More visitors usually means your keywords are working well.
Click Rate
This shows how many people click on your website when they see it in search results. If 100 people see your website in search and 5 click, your click rate is 5%. It’s like seeing how many window shoppers actually come into your store.
Conversions
This tells you how many visitors take action on your website, like buying something or signing up for emails. It’s the most important number because it shows if you’re attracting the right people with your keywords.
Time on Website
This shows how long people stay on your website. If they leave quickly (like in 5 seconds), your keywords might be bringing the wrong people. If they stay longer (like 3 minutes or more), they probably found what they were looking for.
Regular Updates
Check your keywords every month, just like you’d check your grades in school. But you can’t just look at the numbers – you need to understand why they’re changing:
- Search Trends: People’s interests change with time. For example, “winter boots” becomes more popular in cold months. Keep an eye on Google Trends to spot these changes.
- Competitor Changes: Watch what other websites in your field are doing. If they start using new keywords and doing well, think about why those keywords work.
- Seasonal Changes: Different times of year need different keywords. A beach resort would use “summer vacation” in spring but “winter getaway” in fall.
- Google Updates: Sometimes Google changes how it shows search results. When this happens, you might need to adjust your keywords to stay visible.
Remember, basic keyword research isn’t a one-time thing. It’s like tending a garden – you need to keep checking on it and making changes to help it grow. Set a monthly reminder to review these numbers and make small improvements to your keyword strategy.
Closing Thoughts on Basic Keyword Research
Good keyword research isn’t about finding the most popular search words. It’s about finding the right words that help you connect with people who want what you offer. Start by doing good research, pick keywords that match what people are looking for, and write helpful content. Remember to check how well your keywords work and make changes when needed. Here’s something you can do today: Pick one page on your website, find some good keywords using the tools we talked about, and update your content. Then watch over the next few months to see if more people find your website.
