How to Get the Best Keywords: The Complete 2024 Keyword Research Guide

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How to Get the Best Keywords: The Complete 2024 Keyword Research Guide

01/06/2024 3:00 PM by Admin in Ai tools


How to Get the Best Keywords for SEO Success

 

how to get keywords


Keywords are the foundation of any successful SEO strategy. Choosing the right keywords can help you rank higher in search engines, drive more qualified traffic to your site, and boost conversions. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to research and select the best keywords to target for your business.

 


Keyword Research Basics

Before diving into keyword research, it's important to understand some basics about keywords and SEO:

What are keywords? Keywords are the words and phrases that users type into search engines like Google to find information online. For SEO, you want to identify keywords that are relevant to your business to optimize your pages around.

Types of keywords: There are a few main types of keywords:

  • Head keywords - The main keyword or phrase someone searches for. For example "keyword research".
  • Long-tail keywords - More specific keywords with 3 or more words. For example "best keyword research tools for SEO". Long-tail keywords tend to have less competition.
  • Geo-target keywords - Keywords that include a location. Like "keyword research for businesses in San Francisco".

Keyword competition - This refers to how hard it will be to rank for a particular keyword. Keywords with high search volume but low competition are ideal to target.

Relevancy - You want to choose keywords that are highly relevant to your business offerings and website content. These will convert better than irrelevant keywords.

Search intent - Keywords can represent different types of user intent, like informational, navigational, or transactional. Target keywords that match your ideal customer's intent.

 


Steps for Conducting Keyword Research

Follow these key steps to research and select the best SEO keywords to focus your efforts on:

1. Brainstorm a List of Potential Keywords

Start by simply brainstorming a big list of keywords that are related to your business, products, or services. Think about words and phrases customers would use to find you. Be expansive in this initial brainstorming phase - you can narrow it down later.


2. Use Keyword Research Tools

Leverage keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Moz Keyword Explorer, UberSuggest, and Soovle to expand your keyword list and get keyword statistics like:

  • Monthly search volume - How many people search for the keyword each month? Aim for decent volume - at least 500 searches/month.
  • Competition - How hard it will be to rank for the keyword. Tools provide metrics like low, medium, or high competition.
  • Suggested bid - For paid search ads. Can indicate commercial intent.
  • Related keywords - Other keyword suggestions to consider.


3. Analyze Keywords for Relevancy and Competition

Once you have a big list from your brainstorming and keyword tools, go through and analyze the top keywords to identify the ones that are most relevant with decent volume and manageable competition. Eliminate irrelevant or uncompetitive keywords.


4. Identify Top Keyword Targets

Create groups or tiers of your top keyword targets from your research, which may include:

  • 3-5 primary focus keywords - usually more competitive head keywords.
  • 10-20 secondary keywords - decent volume/competition long tail and geo-targeted keywords.
  • 50+ tertiary keywords - low competition long tail versions of your head keywords.


5. Categorize Keywords by Topic and Page

Take your refined keyword list and break it down by category, topic, and specific pages on your website. This will make optimization easier. Identify which groups of keywords should be used on which pages.


6. Ongoing Keyword Tracking

Keyword research is an ongoing process. Continuously add new keywords and monitor existing keyword performance in search engine rankings and site analytics to refine your targets over time.

 


Powerful Keyword Research Tools and Resources

how to get keywords

Leveraging the right keyword research tools is key to finding your best keyword opportunities. Here are some of the top free and paid tools:

Google Keyword Planner

Google's free keyword planning tool lets you see monthly searches, competition and suggested bid prices for keywords. Integrates with Google Ads. Requires a Google Ads account to access detailed data.


SEMrush

SEMrush offers robust keyword research options including detailed volume, competition, and ranking data. Paid tool but offers a limited free version. Great for in-depth research.


Ahrefs

Ahrefs is another paid SEO tool with excellent keyword research functionality. Shows keyword difficulty scores and detailed ranking analysis. 7-day $7 trial available.


Moz Keyword Explorer

Moz's keyword tool gives keyword volume, competition, and search trends data. Part of their paid Moz Pro service, but offers some free keywords.


KWFinder

KWFinder is a fast free keyword research tool that generates many long-tail keyword suggestions quickly with volume estimates. Easy to use with flexible filters.


UberSuggest

UberSuggest is a free keyword suggestion tool from Neil Patel. It generates lots of long-tail keywords and shows monthly search volume and cost-per-click data.


Answer the Public

This free tool generates keyword suggestions based on common question formats people use like "how to" etc. Helpful for getting conversational keywords.


Soovle

Soovle is a free multi-keyword research tool that shows keyword volume, trends, and keyword ideas. No competition data but easy to use.


KeywordTool.io

KeywordTool is a paid tool but offers some basic free keyword research functionality without needing an account. Shows keyword difficulty and CPC data.

 


Tips for Choosing the Best Keywords

Keep these tips in mind as you evaluate keywords:

  • Relevancy first - Make sure keywords closely match your content and offerings. Don't force irrelevant keywords.
  • Optimize pages for topics not just keywords - Craft compelling content around keyword themes. Don't awkwardly over-optimize.
  • Prioritize long-tail versions - Long-tail keywords are less competitive and more specific to convert.
  • Consider commercial intent - Look for keywords more likely to represent someone ready to buy.
  • Check historical data - Use keyword tools to see if a keyword is declining or increasing over time.
  • Compare tools - Keyword data can vary across tools. Look at multiple sources to get the full picture.
  • Think locally - Ranking is often easier for geo-targeted keywords - including cities, states, etc.

 


Optimizing Pages for Keyword Targets

Once you've selected your target keywords, use them strategically throughout your website pages:

  • In the page title tags
  • At the top of your content and in subheadings (H1, H2 tags)
  • Naturally in the body content
  • In image file names and alt text
  • In meta descriptions
  • In URL structure when possible

Focus on providing useful, relevant content that answers searcher intent while seamlessly working keywords into the page for SEO. Avoid awkwardly stuffing keywords.

 


Tracking Keyword Performance

Monitor your keyword rankings in search engines to see if your optimization is working. Use tools like SEMrush, Moz Pro, or Ahrefs to check rankings.

Look at website traffic sources and keyword reports in Google Analytics to identify the highest converting keywords driving visits.

Refine your targets and optimization strategy over time based on performance. Keyword optimization is an ongoing process.

 


FAQ About Keyword Research

Q1: What are the best free keyword research tools?

A: Some of the top free keyword research tools are Google Keyword Planner, UberSuggest, Answer the Public, KWFinder, and KeywordTool. They provide keyword ideas, search volume data, and related keywords.


Q2: How do you do competitor keyword research?

A: Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz to analyze the keywords your top competitors rank for. See which are driving their organic traffic. Identify any keywords they rank for that you don't to find new targets.


Q3: How many keywords should you target on a page?

A: Ideally focus on optimizing each page for 1-3 main keyword themes only. Trying to target more becomes ineffective. Include related long-tail keywords, but keep the core focus limited per page.


Q4: What are exact match keywords?

A: Exact match keywords are search phrases typed in verbatim with quotation marks like "buy shoes online". They signal high commercial intent so are very valuable for conversion. Tools display exact match data.


Q5: Should you use keywords in meta descriptions?

A: Include your target keywords in meta descriptions - this helps click-through rate. But don't awkwardly overstuff. The description should sound natural and compel clicks.

 


Conclusion

Keyword research is a crucial ongoing process for SEO success. By leveraging the right tools to identify low-competition, high-commercial-intent keywords that are relevant to your business, you can drive more organic traffic and customers to your website.

Use this guide to research, select, optimize for, and track top-performing keywords over time. With the right keywords powering your SEO strategy, you can improve website visibility and performance in search engines.
 


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