You will come across many marketing strategies. Some might work for you, and some might not. But they all have one thing in common – keyword research – one that sets the stage for successful marketing campaigns. They are like directions to decode online success stories. As we have just entered 2024, auditing our websites and setting the basics right becomes more necessary. 

The important question is: Why should you care about SEO keyword research?

Imagine having a fantastic website. Fully-responsive. A stellar product/service. But no one knows about it. How would you feel? Are you getting me? That’s why search engine optimization is a must. Experts offering professional SEO services believe that it all begins with keyword research. 

If people search for what you are offering but are not finding you, there is no point in running a business. SEO keyword research ensures that your products/services reach the right people in the right way. 

Basic Understanding of SEO 

Simply put, it's the detective work behind figuring out what words or phrases your potential audience is typing into search engines. Why is this detective work crucial? Well, it's the roadmap to understanding your audience's needs, helping you tailor your content to what they're looking for. 

If you look at professional SEO services companies, they dissect keywords in two flavours – short-tail and long-tail. Short-tail keywords are like the VIPs of the digital world – broad and high in search volume. Their subject matter experts have concluded that a good strategy has a balance of both. You can’t master search engines with just one direction of focus. You need to think and plan centrally. 

What are the important tools that help in keyword research?  

1. Google Keyword Planner

The OG of keyword tools. It's like having a conversation with Google itself. It gives you insights into search volumes and competition and even suggests related keywords. Best part? It's free. 

2. SEMrush

SEMrush helps you learn about your competitors and reveals their strategies. It also has features that give information about keywords and outline the related keywords. 

3. Ahrefs

The best feature of Ahrefs is its ability to reveal in-depth insights about backlinks. 

Building a Solid Keyword Strategy

1. Identifying your target audience 

It’s time to sing the song in a chorus now. So, first up, you need to learn about your audience. Treat them as VIPs invited to your launch party. Ask yourself: Who are they, what are they interested in, where do they usually visit, etc. Choosing your target audience is like choosing your playlist to tune into. 

So, start with demographics, like age, location, gender, etc., and the interests and behaviour of your potential audience. Ensure to figure out what problems you are trying to solve so that you can tailor your keywords to match the exact search queries instead of beating around the bush. 

2. Analyzing competitor keywords 

Now, it's time to wear your detective hat and spy on your competitors. What keywords are they ranking for? It's not about copying but understanding the digital terrain. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs (the ones we discussed earlier) can be your secret agents in this mission.

It’s time to wear your detective hat now. Yes, you are on the lookout for all the information about your competitors. It would help if you learned that secret sauce that works wonders to get into the good books of search engines instantly. 

Identify the keywords that make your competitors rock the SEO dance floor. It's like peeking into their recipe book without stealing the secret sauce. Learn from them, tweak it, and make it your own. It's a fair game in the digital realm. 

3. Balancing competitiveness and search volume 

It would help if you mixed up competitive and low-volume keywords in your strategy. Only then will you be able to balance your outreach with authority and explore new and endless possibilities for reaching new audiences? 

Tools like Google Keyword Planner give you a sneak peek into the search volume, and tools like SEMrush spill the beans on the competition. Aim for that sweet spot – keywords with decent search volume but aren't a battlefield. 

4. Long-term vs. short-term keyword strategies 

You will most likely come across two kinds of strategies – short-term and long-term. Short-term strategies are like sprinters – quick wins with immediate results. They are great at kickstarting your marketing strategy. You can use it to boost your search engine rankings if you haven’t been doing anything for your website for a while. Or you can use it to raise the ranks of new keywords. 

On the other hand, you have long-term keywords. They take time to rank but last the longest. They save you time and cost. They are the OG of keywords because they will continue to boost your organic traffic even if you don’t focus on them for a while. So, the key is to get the right balance of keywords for your keyword strategy. 

Mastering On-Page SEO with Keywords

1. Optimizing title tags and meta descriptions 

Your titles should be eye-catching and anticipate what’s inside. Experts say that keeping your meta title under 60 characters is optimal because, beyond that, the search engines truncate the words. And for meta descriptions, it's around 155 characters. 

2. Incorporating keywords into headers and content 

Sprinkle your chosen keywords in headers naturally. Don't force it; think of it as seasoning – a dash here and there for flavour.

Keyword stuffing and keyword sprinkling are two very different things. You need to sprinkle your keywords in your meta title and meta description to keep it genuine. 

Also, in your body content, use your target keywords seamlessly. Talk around your keyword and keep your topic centred around the keywords. This will add relevancy to your content, and Google would love that. 

3. The significance of URL structure in SEO 

Using your keywords in your website URL enhances the authority of your business. It adds to the recall value of your brand. If you have pages about your products/services, you can use subdomains with those keywords to gain a perspective from your audience. If you are writing articles, including your keywords in the permalink of your blog also adds credibility to your content. 

For example, if your blog is about healthy recipes, a good URL could be "yourwebsite.com/healthy-recipes/easy-chicken-salad."

You need to avoid messy URLs and create a systematic and operative chain of URLs subject to your 

4. Leveraging multimedia content for keyword optimization 

Using multimedia content not only enhances the visual appeal of your website but also helps in keyword optimization. How? Suppose you’re using images and videos. You get a chance to add Alt text for those multimedia content. You can use your keywords strategically to inform users about your images or videos and let Google know how they are related to your keywords. This sends positive signals to the search engines that your content is enriched with data and information. 

How Do You Measure And Analyze Your Keyword Performance? 

After running your campaigns, it becomes necessary to learn how they fare – by measuring and analyzing them. Here are three things you need to do. 

  1. Set up Google Analytics for keyword tracking. Through this way, you will learn where your keywords rank, the number of searches about them leading to your website, the bounce rates, and much more. 
  2. Interpret the data received to fine-tune your keyword strategy. The goal is to reach the top of the rankings. 
  3. Adjust your tactics based on the key performance indicators. 

What are Common Keyword Research Mistakes to Avoid? 

There are very common mistakes that most marketers end up committing. It would help if you learned about them to make your keyword research strategy error-proof. 

1. Do not overlook long-tail keywords. 

They lead to strategic targeting, as fewer search volumes and less competition for these keywords exist. And if someone is typing long phrases, it only means they are looking for their exact needs. 

2. Do not ignore user intent in keyword selection. 

If a user only needs information about a keyword, do not try to sell with it. If a user needs to buy something, sending information over your blog post will cost you a customer. 

3. Do not focus solely on high-volume keywords. 

If you only look to target high-volume keywords, you will face very stiff competition in ranking your keywords. So, start with low-volume and low-competition keywords relevant to your business. Try to get familiar with the search engine first. 

Key Takeaways 

Phew! We've navigated the digital seas, unravelling the secrets of SEO keyword research. Before parting ways, taking your keyword strategy step-by-step is the only food for thought. And give due consideration to every step. Only then will you be ready to embark on your SEO journey? And no objective will be difficult to conquer.