Are you trying to improve your search ranking? There are many ways you can do it, and focusing on keyword research is one of the best strategies. It is at the same time the most popular topic in the SEO field. That’s because it has such an influence on what you are trying to achieve. Before you start focusing on your keywords, you should take time to think about and define your goals. Even though this might sound like the most logical thing to do, people do not always think ahead and sometimes they don’t set clear goals. The truth is that only after that will you be able to synchronize your goals with your keyword research. Read on and you will find out more about 5 timeless keyword research hacks.
What are the Typical Mistakes to Avoid?
Before we start discussing the best keyword research hacks, we should try to understand why they are so important. The choice of keywords should be your first step in creating SEO-friendly content. Keywords are the bridge between you and your prospective buyers. You are the one to decide what material you will use to build it.
To help you better understand what you can do with the right choice of keywords, let’s just quickly go through some of the mistakes that people make when choosing the wrong ones:
- If you target the wrong keywords, you are going to attract the wrong people. We could compare this with fishing for a certain type of fish. Wrong keywords would be the wrong bait that is not going to catch us the fish we wanted.
- If you choose the key phrase that is too long – not many people will be interested in reading. Your bait is too big, so most of them are not even trying to bite. That means that you will miss out on traffic.
- If you opt for the most popular keywords – you will have to compete for the attention with many more companies doing the same thing. You are fishing with the same bait as everybody else, and there are thousands of you trying to catch the same fish. Similarly, you will not rank your moving company in Google search only by advertising the best prices for your services. There are some keyword research hacks that you have to know about.
Comprehension of Different Keyword Types
You might be familiar with the sales funnel often used to describe the customer’s journey towards the purchase. The top of the funnel is reserved for awareness, the middle part for consideration while the bottom means conversion. According to this funnel, your audience consists of those who are aware of your product, those who are thinking of buying it, and those who are ready to do so. This is important to know since the three main types of keywords belong to the three mentioned stages in the funnel. You should know how to reach customers at every stage of their journey.
The keywords your customer is searching can usually indicate the stage of the funnel he or she is at.
Here are the words you can use to target the customers at each level:
- Best way to, how-to, a guide to, 5 steps to, etc. – these are the phrases that are suitable for the customers from the top of the funnel, those who are searching for information;
- Ways to avoid, ways to do properly, how to stop, how you can fix, etc. – the phrases for the middle of the funnel, for people searching for solutions;
- Affordable, order, get today, compare prices, where to buy, etc. – these are the phrases that people who are ready to buy will type in their search bar; they are the ones from the bottom of your funnel.
Ask yourself: What level of the funnel should I increase? After that, you will know which keywords and phrases you should focus on. This decision is predetermined by your business type as well. For example, if you are an exclusive car dealer, you shouldn’t expect that people will type the right keywords in their search bar, find you and just decide to buy a car from you. It doesn’t work like that. You should be focusing on building a long-term relationship with your audience and address the top and the middle of the funnel. On the other hand, if you are an e-commerce website, you should select your keywords to speak to the users from the bottom of the funnel.
SEO Hacks: The Best Keyword Research Tips
Here are five timeless keyword research hacks to refine your SEO strategy and achieve better results.
1. Leverage Competitor Analysis
One of the most insightful keyword research tips involves analyzing your competitors. Identify your top competitors and examine the keywords for which they are ranking. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz can help you discover which keywords drive traffic to their sites. This approach not only reveals keywords you might have overlooked but also highlights potential gaps in your strategy.
How to Do It:
- Use competitor analysis tools to input your competitors’ URLs.
- Review their top-ranking keywords and analyze their content strategy.
- Incorporate relevant keywords into your content while ensuring it remains unique and valuable.
2. Utilize Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are specific phrases that typically have lower competition and higher conversion rates. These keywords are more focused and often reflect a user’s intent more accurately. For instance, instead of targeting the broad keyword “shoes,” you might use “shoes for women with arch support”. Incorporating long-tail keywords into your content can help you target a more niche audience and improve your chances of ranking higher in search results.
How to Do It:
- Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find long-tail keyword variations.
- Analyze search volume and competition for these keywords.
- Integrate these keywords naturally into your content, including headings and meta descriptions.
3. Explore Google’s “People Also Ask” and “Related Searches”
Google’s “People Also Ask” and “Related Searches” sections are goldmines for keyword research. These features provide insights into common questions and related topics that users are searching for. For example, if you’re writing about “home office setup,” Google’s suggestions might include related queries like “work from home setup ideas” or “home office necessities” By addressing these associated queries and topics, you can create content that meets users’ needs and captures additional search traffic.
How to Do It:
- Perform a Google search for your target keyword and explore the “People Also Ask” box.
- Scroll to the bottom of the search results page to review “Related Searches.”
- Use these insights to generate content ideas and optimize your keywords accordingly.
4. Monitor Keyword Trends with Google Trends
Google Trends is a powerful tool for tracking keyword popularity over time. It helps you understand seasonal trends, emerging topics, and shifts in search behavior. By keeping an eye on these trends, you can adjust your SEO strategy to align with current interests and maximize your content’s relevance.
How to Do It:
- Enter relevant keywords into Google Trends to see their search volume trends.
- Compare different keywords to identify which ones are gaining traction.
- Adjust your content strategy based on the trending topics and keywords.
5. Use Keyword Research Tools Wisely
Keyword research tools are invaluable for discovering and analyzing keywords. However, using them wisely involves understanding their features and limitations. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz offer extensive data on keyword volume, competition, and related keywords. For instance, Ahrefs can help you identify keywords that are gaining momentum and Moz can provide insights into keyword difficulty. Make sure to explore all functionalities to fully leverage these tools for your SEO strategy.
How to Do It:
- Familiarize yourself with the tool’s features, such as keyword difficulty scores and traffic estimates.
- Analyze keyword data to identify high-potential keywords and content opportunities.
- Regularly update your keyword list based on fresh data and evolving trends.
Mastering keyword research is crucial for a successful SEO strategy. By leveraging competitor analysis, exploring long-tail keywords, utilizing Google’s features, monitoring trends with Google Trends, and using keyword research tools wisely, you can enhance your SEO efforts and achieve better search engine rankings. Implement these keyword research hacks to stay ahead of the competition and drive more targeted traffic to your website.
