Keyword Research: The First Step In The Right Direction for SEO Marketing
The complex nature of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), with Google’s SEO algorithms constantly being updated, has kept people sitting on the edge.
But the one thing that has served as a consistent basis for successful SEO, is keyword research. This axiom has been with inbound marketers looking to optimize their websites since search engines came into existence.
It does not matter on the type of digital marketing in question. Proper keyword research is always necessary, be it general digital marketing, social media marketing, video marketing, influencer marketing, and more.
And yes, knowing the proper keyword research will also allow you to help you to build your website. To summarise, keyword research has been proven time and time again to be a step in the right direction as it serves as the basis for the good SEO.
What Is Keyword Research And Why Is It So Important?
Keyword research is basically the process of analyzing the most commonly used search terms that online users enter into Google’s search engine. The keywords learnt from targeted audiences can then be used to develop a content strategy as well as expanding an existing marketing strategy. Keywords reveal a lot more about users and what they are struggling with.
Research And Strategize Keywords For Your Site
The key to understanding your website’s SEO as well as learning how your competitors operate is definitely researching the proper keywords.
Though it may be the first step towards successful SEO, it is definitely the most important of the bunch when it comes to moving in the right direction.
So important that there are professionals who specialise specifically in this line of work.
However, it does not mean that you have to be an SEO specialist yourself to understand which keywords are the most effective. Weapons are the great equalizer, and one weapon that may prove effective in your keywords battle is the keyword research tool.
There are a number of programmes out there. They range from free to paid ones.
Free ones are usually limited in features, such as only providing a limited number of keyword searches per day, while paid ones open these restrictions and also include more features.
SEMrush is one of the most recommended keyword research tools out there. It provides you with statistics that may be important to you as you build your list of targeted keywords.
Other features include statistics that show monthly search volume, cost-per-click for each keyword and a list of related keywords or phrases that may be ideal to be included in your keyword targeting strategy (a.k.a. LSI, or Latent Semantic Indexing).
With the research tool that you choose, you should begin your research by understanding your targeted audience. The goal is to understand what the masses are typing into the search engine.
With a little bit of research, you will produce a keyword list based on your audience’s interests. Ideally, you will also need to consider a keyword’s search volume and how difficult it is to rank when choosing the best keyword. The easiest method is to simply choose a keyword with the lowest difficulty.
Another method is to quickly divide a keyword’s difficulty by its search volume, thereby normalizing the difficulty rating to 1 and the ‘real’ search volume can be determined. This is especially useful in situations where you’re trying to compare two keywords which have similar search volume and difficulty ratings.
If you understand the right keywords then it can be used in various ways. Consider including them in blog articles, web-based seminars, and whitepapers that will attract your audience.
Whatever strategy you choose, remember to prioritise the targeted keyword and optimize your content with it for a better chance of ranking on Google searches. Good luck!