Keyword research is a vital part of SEO that helps businesses find and target the words people use to search for their products or services online. This guide explains a step-by-step process for effective keyword research, starting with brainstorming relevant keywords from your audience’s perspective.
Using tools like Google Autosuggestion and Google Keyword Planner, you can refine and expand your list of keywords. The guide also covers filtering and organizing the list, using advanced tools like Ahrefs and Moz Bar to finalize keywords, and clustering them to boost SEO efforts.
Following these steps can improve search engine rankings and increase website traffic.
Step 1: Brainstorming
Think of yourself as a business user, and create a list of keywords and queries that your users could search on Google. For instance, if you operate a men’s fashion store, consider the needs and preferences of your customers. They can search online for men’s fashion stores, men’s jeans, men’s t-shirts, and more.
Step 2: Google Autosuggestion
Select keywords one by one from your brainstorming list, and only copy and paste keywords into the Google search bar; don’t search it (note: clear your browsing history first). Once you enter a keyword, you will receive some related suggestions from Google. Next, note the suggested keywords that are relevant to your business, compile them into a list in Google Sheets or Excel, and also brainstorm additional keywords. Do the same process with every keyword.
Step 3: Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is one of the most important tools for keyword research, and the amazing thing is that it is absolutely free of charge. Open the Google Keyword Planner tool, click on Discover new keywords, and select your targeted location and language. Now, copy 10–10 keywords, put them into Google Keyword Planner, and click on search. Now, you will get a full list with your mentioned keywords and other suggested keywords. Now, select the option to export the data as either a Google Sheet or an Excel sheet, depending on your preference. Do the same process with 10–10 keywords and download the file. Copy all the data from each file into a single file.
Step 4: Filtering and Minimizing the List
- Delete all columns except Keyword, Volume, Competition, and Competition Index Value.
- Remove all the keywords with high and medium competition.
- Find all unwanted or irrelative keywords and remove their rows.
- Create a group of similar keywords, such as “online men fashion store,” “fashion store,” “men fashion store,” and “online men fashion,” which are all the same keywords. Create a single keyword, such as “online men’s fashion store,” which encompasses all of the previously mentioned keywords.
- Now, you have a shorter and final list.
However, the main steps are now underway to finalize our keyword in order to rank better and faster.
Step 5: Download extensions and open the necessary tabs.
- To access this tool, you must download the “Moz Bar” extension on your Google Chrome and register yourself with Moz’s Gmail ID.
- Open the first Google tab, “Ahrefs Keyword Generator.”
- Open the second tab, and simply type “allintitle” into the Google search bar. Avoid searching because you need to enter your keyword after “allintitle,” such as “allintitle:online men fashion store.”
Step 6: Finalizing the keyword is a crucial step.
- Copy the keyword from your list, paste it into the “Ahrefs Keyword Generator Bar,” and select the targeted location.
- Now, you will see a list of suggested keywords. Ignore the challenging and medium-difficult keywords, and select only easy or NA KD from the list. Remember, keywords should be meaningful and relevant. Meaningful implies that you should refrain from selecting keywords such as “men fashion online store” or “fashion online men store.”
- If you can’t find any relevant or meaningful keywords with easy or NA KD in the list, then ignore this list and copy another keyword from your Excel or Google Sheets of keywords.
- With either Easy or NA KD, follow the same process to obtain your targeted keyword.
- Now, copy and paste the keyword you obtained from the Ahrefs keyword generator tool in front of “allintitle” in another tab, then search for it like “allintitle:best online men fashion store.”
- Now, click on the tool option and see the result. Remember this point: results should be less than 25. If the results are greater than 25, leave that keyword and use another keyword until the results are less than 25.
- Once you find a keyword with less than 25 results using the “allintitle” tag, move on to the third step of your keyword research journey.
- Activate the Moz bar and check the Moz bar logo’s blue color.
- Now, search that keyword on Google, which you got from the “allintitle” tag, and you will see a strip below all the results.
- Now, you have to check only one thing: is there any website ranking in the top 10 positions with less than 20 DA? If the answer is yes, you have your final keyword for your article; if not, try a different keyword.
Step 7: Clustering
Keyword clustering is the final step in your keyword research journey. Create a keyword cluster for your final keyword with the help of ChatGPT or any tool like this. Keyword clustering will help you rank for more and more similar keywords.
Step 8: Create high-quality content with good heading structure and clusters.
This process is a little bit long, but trust me, you will see the result in your ranking and traffic. Your client will be satisfied and happy.
In conclusion, following a structured keyword research process is essential for enhancing your SEO strategy and boosting your online presence. By brainstorming relevant keywords, leveraging tools like Google Autosuggestion and Keyword Planner, and refining your list through filtering and advanced analysis, you can identify the most effective keywords for your business.
Finalizing and clustering these keywords ensures your content is optimized for search engines, leading to better rankings and increased traffic. This comprehensive approach not only helps in attracting more visitors but also satisfies your clients with noticeable improvements in their online visibility and performance.