A Beginner's Guide to Keyword Research for Bloggers [2024]

Download Template
  • 2:45 am
Table of Contents

As a blogger, driving traffic to your website is crucial for success. However, many bloggers need help attracting their target audience simply because they must understand how to conduct efficient keyword research.

They must consider the terms and phrases their ideal readers search for online to create content. Luckily, with the right strategy and tools, keyword research can become a straightforward process that ensures your blog content ranks well in search engines and reaches the people you want to connect with. In this beginner’s guide, you’ll learn the basics of keyword research that will help you build a loyal readership and grow your online presence.

What Are Keywords?

Keywords are words that people use to search online. It helps search engines understand your website and decide when to show it to users. For example, if someone is looking for a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, they might type “best chocolate chip cookie recipe” into the search bar. The “Chocolate chip cookie recipe” is the keyword in this case.

What Are the Types of Keywords?

Keywords are crucial because they determine how easily people can find your website. When you use the right keywords, your website is more likely to appear at the top of search engine results pages. This leads to increased visibility, attracting more visitors to your website. With the right keywords, your website might stand out among the many other websites.

To optimize your website, you can use different types of keywords:

  • Short-tail Keywords: These are short and general keywords, usually one or two long. They are broad and less specific. For example, “gardening tips” or “healthy recipes.”
  • Long-tail Keywords: These are longer and more specific keywords, usually three or more long. They are more targeted and help attract a particular audience. For example, “Top 10 Travel Destinations in Europe on a Budget” or “Effective Home Workouts for Busy Professionals.”
  • Branded Keywords: These keywords include a brand name or variations of it. They help people find your website specifically. For example, “Nike shoes” or “Amazon Prime.”
  • Transactional Keywords: These indicate a user’s intent to make a purchase. They often include words like “buy,” “order,” or “price.” For example, “buy iPhone online” or “best deals on laptops.”

What is Keyword Research?

Keyword Research is the process of finding the words and phrases that people look for in search engines. Using the right keywords helps your website appear higher in search results, making it easier for people to find your content. For instance, if you have a recipe blog, adding popular keywords like “easy dinner recipes” or “healthy dinner recipes for family,” people searching for that term will likely discover your site.

This can help increase your website traffic and engagement. Additionally, keywords can help search engine crawlers better understand your website’s content, allowing it to rank higher in search engine results. This is important as higher rankings can lead to more organic traffic. Therefore, using keywords effectively in your content is important to ensure that your website is visible and accessible to potential customers.

Keywords on your website show what your business is about. Effective keywords help search engines determine where to show your site on search results. Ranking higher gets you more visitors. Even if you’re not #1, being on the first page dramatically helps. As more people search online, visibility enables you to get more clicks. Keywords also help you stand out from others and will help bring more visitors to your site.

Why Is Keyword Research Important?

Choosing the correct words for your website can help it appear higher in search results, making it easier for customers to find you. If you run a bakery, strategically using keywords like “fresh bread” or “homemade cakes” can attract more visitors to your site. This is where the significance of keyword research matters for your online presence. It’s about understanding the language your potential customers use when searching online. With keyword research, you can discover what words or phrases are most commonly used by your target audience. This can help you optimize your website and content for higher search engine rankings. Additionally, keyword research can also help you create targeted ads that are more likely to be clicked on.

Identifying popular search terms for your business allows you to tailor your website content to match their search intent. This strategic approach boosts your site’s visibility in search engine rankings and enhances the user experience, leading to increased engagement and ultimately driving sales.

When To Do Keyword Research?

Keyword research involves discovering and studying the words and phrases people use on search engines like Google to find information, products, or services online. It helps websites and online businesses make content that matches their audience’s wants and gets noticed in search results.

Here’s a simple breakdown of when to do keyword research:

  • When starting a new website or blog: Begin with keyword research to understand essential terms in your field, helping you create content that attracts visitors naturally. For instance, if you’re starting a blog about healthy eating, research keywords like “healthy recipes” or “nutrition tips” to guide your content.
  • Before creating new content: Conduct keyword research to shape your topics and optimize your content for search engines. For example, if you run an online store selling yoga equipment, research keywords related to yoga, such as “yoga mats” or “yoga accessories,” when adding products or writing blog posts.
  • When updating existing content: Use keyword research to find new keywords or variations to attract more traffic and keep your content relevant. For instance, if you have a blog post about gardening tips, periodically update it by researching keywords like “easy gardening for beginners” or “gardening hacks.”
  • When planning your SEO strategy: Prioritize keyword research to understand what terms your audience uses and improve your website’s visibility and ranking. For example, conduct keyword research to identify popular terms like “best SEO practices” or “SEO tips” to target and enhance your website’s visibility in search engine results.

What is Search Intent?

Search intent, also known as user intent or query intent, refers to the underlying goal or purpose behind a user’s search query. Understanding search intent is crucial for delivering relevant and satisfactory search results, optimizing content and improving the overall user experience.

There are four main types of search intent:

  1. Informational Intent: Informational search intent means that the user seeks information, facts, or answers to a specific question. Examples include searches like “What is the capital of France?” or “How to change a tire?”
  2. Navigational Intent: Navigational intent is The second type of intent. When users try to locate a specific website or online destination such as “Facebook” or “Amazon”, they are more likely to access the main site. Ensure your website appears in search results when a user searches for your company’s name online.
  3. Transactional Intent: The third type of intent is transactional intent. An example is when a user wants to complete a transaction, such as purchasing or downloading something. Examples include searches like “buy running shoes online” or “download free antivirus software.”
  4. Commercial Intent: The fourth type of search intent is commercial intent or commercial investigating intents. This happens when a user seeks a product or service to make a future purchase decision. Examples include searches like “best DSLR cameras” or “reviews for hybrid cars.”

Understanding search intent is crucial for search engines to provide relevant results and for businesses and content creators to optimize their websites, content, and overall digital presence. By aligning content with the user’s specific search intent, businesses can improve user experience, increase engagement, and drive more conversions and sales.

Top Free Keyword Research Tools

Keyword research tools are essential for search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing strategies. They help identify relevant keywords and phrases users search for, allowing businesses to optimize their website content. Businesses can also use keyword research tools to analyze their competitors’ content and identify opportunities for content optimization. This helps businesses stay ahead of the competition and ensure their content is relevant and up-to-date.

Here are some popular keyword research tools:

  • Keyword Generator: Helps find popular words people are searching for. For example, if you’re interested in animals, it might suggest words like “cute puppies” or “funny cats.” This helps you write content that’s more likely to get seen by many people.
  • Answer The Public: Finds questions people ask online. So, if you’re writing about sports, it might suggest questions like “How to improve basketball skills” or “What are the rules of soccer?” This way, you can create content that directly answers what people are curious about.
  • ChatGPT: Gives starting words to search for more ideas. For example, if you’re researching cars, it might suggest words like “electric vehicles” or “car maintenance tips.” This makes it easier to explore topics related to your interests or work.
  • Ahrefs Webmaster Tools: Finds words that aren’t too competitive. If you’re blogging about healthy eating, it might suggest words like “easy vegan recipes” or “healthy snacks for kids.” This helps you target keywords for which you can rank better.
  • Google Keyword Planner: Shows words related to what you’re interested in. For instance, if you’re into gardening, it might suggest words like “organic gardening” or “flower garden ideas.” This way, you can discover related topics to cover in your content.
  • Google Search Console: Alerts you if certain words are becoming less popular. So, if you’re writing about fashion, it might show that words like “vintage clothing” are getting fewer searches. This helps you stay updated on changing trends in your field.
  • Google Trends: Tells you what words are becoming popular right now. For example, if you’re writing about technology, it might show you that “smart home devices” are trending. This allows you to capitalize on current interests and create timely content.
  • SERP Checker: This helps see how much traffic you might get from a word. If you’re interested in finance, it might show how many people click on websites about “saving money tips.” This helps you gauge the potential audience for your content.
  • Keyword Difficulty Checker: Tells how hard it might be to rank for a word. For instance, writing about travel might tell you if “budget travel tips” is easy or hard to rank for. This helps you focus on keywords where you have a better chance of getting your content seen.

How to Conduct Basic Keyword Research?

Conducting keyword research is important for improving your website on search engines like Google. In addition, it helps you understand what people search for online.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to do basic keyword research step by step to improve your website and get more visitors.

  1. Identify the Parent Topic

When picking the parent topic, you choose the main thing your blog post is all about. It’s like selecting the big idea you’ll explore in your writing. For instance, if you’re writing about animals, your parent topic might be something broad like “endangered species” or “animal habitats.” This main topic sets the stage for what your blog post will cover, helping you stay focused and on track with your writing.

  1. Study the Search Intent

Understanding search intent means understanding why people type things into search engines. It’s like figuring out what they’re looking for when they search for something. For example, if someone Googles “best hiking trails,” they probably want to find cool places to hike, not just random information about trails. When you know this, you can create content that matches what people are looking for, making it more useful and relevant to them.

  1. Use Keyword Research Tools

Utilize online tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or SEMrush to explore keyword ideas further. These tools provide data on search volume, competition, and related keywords to help you refine your list.

  1. Analyze Keyword Strength

Assess the strength of each keyword by considering factors like search volume and competition. Aim for keywords with a decent search volume but relatively low competition to improve your chances of ranking well.

  1. Consider User Intent

Think about why someone might be searching for a particular keyword. Are they looking for information, products, or services? Tailor your keyword selection to match different user intents, such as informational (“how to…”) or transactional (“buy…”). For instance, when someone looks up “how to tie a tie,” they want instructions. So, provide a guide or video on tying a tie. Similarly, if you have an online shoe store and want to sell red high heels, optimize your page for “Buy Red High Heels” to attract buyers. This way, you align with what users are looking for, making it more likely to turn visitors into customers.

  1. Refine Your Keyword List

Review your keyword list and prioritize those that align best with your website content and target audience. Keep highly relevant keywords that are likely to attract quality traffic, and remove any that are too generic or unrelated.

  1. Monitor and Adjust

Regularly monitor the performance of your chosen keywords using tools like Google Analytics. Keep an eye on changes in search trends and adjust your keyword strategy accordingly to stay relevant and maximize your website’s visibility.

How do I find a keyword to write a blog?

When looking for a keyword to write for your blog, it is essential to identify your main topic first. Then, use keyword research tools to find popular keywords related to that topic. These tools show how many people search for a keyword and how competitive it is. Additionally, brainstorming ideas and checking Google Trends for trending keywords should be considered. This ensures you select a keyword that fits your blog post and attracts more readers. For example, if you’re writing about healthy eating, you might discover terms like “nutritious recipes” or “balanced diet tips”.

Learn more about keyword research and how to optimize your content for search engines. We have more SEO resources for you to explore further and enhance your online presence.

If you’re struggling with keyword research, let us assist you! Contact us today and let us optimize your digital presence.

 

Rienzi Mosqueda
Rienzi Mosqueda
Rienzi is a bonafide SEO Professional who specializes in local SEO as well as e-commerce SEO helping clients maximize ROI and has a diverse background in content marketing as well as affiliate marketing.

Share if useful to your audience!

Get a free site audit!

  • 2:45 am
Scroll to Top