Is keyword research still relevant when doing SEO? The short answer is: absolutely, yes!
Conducting keyword research is one of the very first and most critical steps in any SEO or online marketing campaign. Without it, content creators, marketers, and site owners would risk writing content nobody even searches for.
In this article, we’re going to discuss why keyword research is important for SEO. By the time you reach the end of this article, you’ll also have some tips on how to do better keyword research for your website.
What Is Keyword Research?
Before we discover why is keyword research so important, let’s first see what it means.
Keyword research is the method of discovering what terms or phrases individuals are entering into Google or other search engines when they are searching for something.
As an example, if you have a food website, keyword research can reveal popular terms such as “how to bake a cake” or “easy dessert recipes.”
This should always be the first step for anyone developing online content, whether it’s for their site or a client.
Why Keyword Research Matters to SEO
Why Keyword Research Matters to SEOThere are a lot of aspects of SEO—such as optimizing website speed or acquiring backlinks—but keyword research is one you never want to skip. Let’s explore why it’s so crucial:
1. Find Out What People Are Looking For
One major reason why is that keyword research allows you to know precisely what your audience is searching for.
When you conduct keyword research, you discover what actual people are searching in search engines. That informs you as to whether your content concept is worth your time or not. Always write your content based on keywords people are already typing on search pages.
2. Know Who You’re Competing With
Another wonderful thing about keyword research is that it reveals to you who you’re competing with.
Suppose you have a blog post idea. Before you write anything, you can look for related keywords and observe which sites are already ranking for them. This informs you about how competitive the fight is and determines whether you have any potential to appear on the first page of Google.
3. Identify Keywords with Low Competition
Keyword research also identifies easy wins—keywords with little competition.
It is easy to rank your content by targeting the low-competition keywords. Conversely, you know which keywords to skip because large sites already take over.
Most keyword tools will allow you to filter by difficulty. For example, searching for “free keyword research tools” may have medium competition. But if you search for something like “free keyword research tools for SEO,” the competition level could be low, making it even easier to rank.
4. Understand Search Intent
Google desires to present to users the most applicable content based on what they are searching for. This is why it is necessary to know why a person is searching for a specific keyword; this is referred to as search intent.
Through keyword research, you will be able to determine the purpose of a search. For instance, when a person searches for “free keyword research tools,” they are likely seeking recommendations or comparisons, rather than intending to make a purchase. If your content is what the searcher wants, then you stand more of a better chance of ranking highly.
If you wish to produce content on that keyword, a Google search will quickly reveal that the top of the rankings are occupied by blog posts and lists of tools. That indicates the intent of the search is informational, so your content must similarly intend to inform, not sell.
If you want to compare tools, you may prefer using a keyword such as “best keyword research tool” instead.
5. Find Fresh Content Ideas
Still asking yourself why is keyword research useful? It also provides you with loads of new content ideas.
If you ever find yourself at a loss for what to write about next, keyword tools can be useful. Simply type in a competitor’s site, and you’ll know what they’re ranking for. That can make it easy for you to write the next blog post.
Types of Keywords
Let’s cover the two broad types of keywords before moving on to tips:
Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are most probably 5 or more words. One example is: “What food is good for health?”
These keywords are simpler to rank for and tend to be better for conversions since they’re more specific.
Short-Tail Keywords
Short-tail keywords are only 1 or 2 words long, such as “healthy food.”
These are usually very broad and super competitive. It’s harder to rank for them unless your site already has a lot of authority. Plus, they don’t always bring in the right kind of traffic, so the conversion rates can be lower.
If you’re just starting, it’s smarter to focus on long-tail keywords first.
Keyword Research Tips
Here you can follow simple tips to make your keyword research more beneficial:
1. Use Keyword Clusters
A keyword cluster is a group of keywords that have the same meaning.
For example:
- New games for kids
- Games for beginners
- Games to earn online for beginners
Instead of creating separate content for each, combine them into one strong article. This helps avoid keyword stuffing and keeps your content useful.
2. Use Google Suggest
When you type a phrase on Google, it shows you suggestions. They are perfect for picking up on long-tail keywords that individuals tend to search.
3. The “People Also Ask” Section
Google’s “People Also Ask” area reveals typical questions tied to your subject. Utilize these questions to produce informative content that responds to the very things users want to know.
So, is keyword research still relevant to SEO? Yes—more so than ever.
It helps you visualize exactly what your audience desires, who your rivals are, and what type of content you need to produce. Worst of all, it eliminates the guesswork and assists you in making better choices when launching or expanding your SEO campaign.
If you wish your site to expand, always start with keyword research.
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