How to do Keyword Research (And Why It Matters)

How do you find what you’re looking for online?

Would you type into Google: “floral plants with petals for purchase” or “florists near me?”

Language is important. With our florist example, the “right” language is obvious, but more often than not it isn’t that clear cut. The closer you are to a business, the harder it is to look at it from an outsider’s perspective. 

This is why it’s so important to conduct keyword research.

What is a Keyword? And What is Keyword Research?

“Florists near me” is example of a keyword, something you would type into Google (or, increasingly, speak into your phone) to find what it is you’re looking for. 

There are two primary types of keywords: short tail and long tail keywords. Short tail keywords are only one or two words, while long tail keywords are longer phrases.

Example:
Short Tail Keyword: SEO
Long Tail Keyword: What is On-Page SEO?

As a business on the other side of the equation you have to tap into that consumer mindset to find the right keywords to use in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Simply put, SEO is a way of “speaking Google’s language” to make sure that your website is best positioned to rank highly in those search results. It involves using keywords sprinkled in optimized content in order to improve your chances of ranking online for similar searches. 

Keyword research is a mix of database research, anthropological study, statistics and psychology. It’s matching what you know about your business with what people search for online. 

How Do I Research Keywords?

Step 1: Start Broad

You’ll want to start off your keyword research by starting basic. Think about your business and the 5 – 10 generic keywords that describe your business. For example, for BizzyWeb that would be:

• Digital Marketing
• Web Design
• Email Marketing
• Social Media Marketing
• SEO

These will be the high-level keywords you’ll want to use. HubSpot marketing describes these keywords as a “bucket” that will house other, more specific keywords.

Step 2: Get Specific

Once you have your high-level “bucket” words, it’s time to start filling the bucket. Start with each category and think about what related keywords people may be searching.

Try to think of a mix of some longer keywords and shorter keywords. 

For example, let’s take “web design” and break that down into some more specific keywords:

• User experience web design
• Web design in Minneapolis
• WordPress web design
• How web design affects SEO
• Is web design digital marketing

As a business on the other side of the equation you have to tap into a consumer mindset to find the right keywords to use in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

If you’re unsure what keywords to use, there are a few ways to find them:

1. Go to Google and type in “how/what/where/when/why” and then your “bucket word” to see what suggested search terms up – for example, typing in “how digital marketing”  shows the following suggested terms which could all be long-tail keywords:

2. Use a tool like Google Trends or Answer the Public to find keywords that are related to your “bucket” words.

3. Interview your gold star clients – what did they search to find you? What do they search for in Google?

At this stage, it’s ok to have more keywords than you’ll end up targeting. Step 3 will help you zone in on your most valuable keywords.

Step 3: Use Tools to Narrow Down Your List

When you’ve gathered a sizable list of possible keywords, it’s time to dig into Google’s Keyword Planner. This tool will show you how much traffic each keyword receives each month, how much it will cost if you want to advertise using that keyword, as well as a rough idea how competitive the keyword is.

This can help you decide which short tail and long tail keywords you want to pursue for the best chance of increasing your rankings. 

Additionally, it will show you what you’re currently ranking for. You may be surprised to learn it’s not what you thought. 

You can also use tools like SEMrush and Keywords Everywhere to find suggested long tail keywords. However, it can be challenging to find the right keywords – you may find that the ones you want to go after have no search volume.

This is where an SEO expert can help you identify strategic keywords that strike a balance between being relevant and having a decent search volume.

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Need a new digital marketing or web design plan? We are a Minneapolis SEO, digital marketing, social media marketing, web design and HubSpot inbound marketing agency. Stop on by and get started – and while you’re here, pick up a free honey stick (yes, we love our bee-related theme).

Summary

Article Name

How to do Keyword Research (And Why It Matters)

Description

As a business, you have to tap into that consumer mindset to find the right keywords to use in SEO. Here's how to tackle keyword research.

Author

Dave Meyer

Publisher Name

BizzyWeb

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