If you’ve ever wondered how to do keyword research the right way, read this guide.
Why do keyword research?
You can’t climb to the top of google rankings without content.
To rule the search results, you need to be the answer to people’s burning questions and provide a solution that’s better than your competition. That’s why savvy SEOs spy on top-ranking pages before they even start typing their next article or landing page. Some folks prefer to use editing tools to do their research, but no matter which tool you pick, make sure it fits with your content strategy like a glove.
But the real genius SEOs take it to the next level by automating their analysis with tools. Because tools have something human analysis can never offer: data, cutting-edge algorithms, a direct line to Google API, and a flawless robot brain. It’s like a shortcut to the top of google, without all the headaches. Keyword research is a crucial component of search engine optimization (SEO) and digital marketing. With the right target keywords, you can drive more traffic to your website and increase your chances of ranking higher on search engines.
We use SEMrush.
SEMrush is a popular tool to help with keyword research, but it can be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with it. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to use SEMrush for keyword research.
It’s not the only SEO tool out there––we’ve also used AHREFs, Mangools KW, Surfer SEO, Google Analytics, and more. They’re all useful in their own ways and the learning curve differs for all of them. If you’re serious about learning keyword research, I recommend trying all of them to see which suits your style best.
SEO knowledge is power.
At Well Versed Copywriting, we understand the importance of keyword research for SEO and digital marketing. Our team of experienced professionals can do keyword research for you, but we also know that not everyone has the budget for it. That’s why we believe it’s important for you to have a basic understanding of keyword research so you can understand what you’re getting when you use us for your SEO. Knowledge is power, and by knowing a little bit about keyword research, you’ll be better equipped to make informed decisions about your SEO strategy. Whether you choose to do the keyword research yourself or use our team of experts, we’re here to help you succeed and grow your online presence.
Where do I find keyword ideas?
Keyword ideas are your starting point for any successful SEO o campaign. These the words and phrases people use when searching for products, services, or information like yours online. Keyword ideas can come from a variety of sources, including your own industry knowledge, customer feedback, and competitor research.
One effective way to generate keyword ideas is to use tools like SEMrush, Google Keyword Planner, or Ahrefs. Another approach is to ask your customers what they would search for when looking for your products or services, and consider the language they use. You can also look at the keywords used by your competitors and see if there are any opportunities to target similar ones.
What are long tail keywords?
Long tail keywords are specific and detailed phrases that people use to search for products, services, or information online. They’re called “long tail” because they are usually longer and more specific than traditional keywords. For example, instead of using a general keyword like “shoes,” a long tail keyword might be “women’s running shoes for flat feet.”
A keyword phrase is important for SEO because it’s more specific and targeted, which means it’s more likely to drive relevant traffic to your website. It’s also less competitive than a traditional keyword.
Using long tail keywords can help you reach potential customers more likely to be interested in your products or services. They also provide a way to target niche markets and differentiate your website from your competitors.
How to access Semrush for free?
You can try SEMrush for free through the SEMrush free tool, and it’s a great way to get a feel for the tool and see if it can help you with your keyword research and SEO efforts.
To sign up for the free trial, simply visit the SEMrush website and click on the “Free Trial” button. Fill out the form with your personal information and choose the plan you want to try. The free trial lasts for 7 days and gives you access to all the features and tools that SEMrush has to offer. During the trial period, you can test the tool and see if it meets your needs. When the 7 days are done, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan if you want to continue using it.
How to get started with keyword research.
Step 1: Sign up for SEMrush
The first step to using SEMrush is to sign up for an account. You can choose from several pricing plans, including a free trial, to see if SEMrush is the right tool for you. Once you have created your account, log in and navigate to the Keyword Magic Tool.
Step 2: Using the Keyword Magic Tool
The Keyword Magic Tool is SEMrush’s primary keyword research tool. To use it, simply enter a keyword or phrase that you think is relevant to your website or business. The tool will generate a list of related keywords, along with information such as search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty. This is your keyword overview data.
Step 3: Refine your Keyword List
The Keyword Magic Tool will generate a large list of keywords in its keyword overview, but not all of them will be relevant to your website or business. To refine your list, you can use filters such as keyword length, location, and device type. You can also sort the keywords by relevance, search volume, or keyword difficulty to find the target keywords that are most relevant to you.
Step 4: Analyse Keyword Metrics
Once you have a refined list of keywords, you can analyse the metrics for each keyword. This includes information such as search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty. This information will help you determine which keywords are worth pursuing and which ones you should avoid.
Step 5: Use the Keyword Research Toolkit
The Keyword Research Toolkit is a collection of tools that can help you with keyword research. It includes the Keyword Magic Tool, but also includes additional tools such as the Keyword Overview, Keyword Manager, and Keyword Gap. These tools can help you find additional keywords, analyse keyword trends, and compare your keywords to your competitors.
Step 6: Monitor Your Keywords
Once you have found the keywords that you want to target, it’s important to monitor them regularly. This will help you see how your keywords are performing and make adjustments if necessary. SEMrush offers a keyword tracking tool that can help you monitor your keywords and see how they’re performing.
What is organic keyword research and do you need organic keywords?
Organic search refers to the natural or non-paid results that appear in SEO results pages (SERPs) when a user performs a search. These results are based on the relevance and authority of the webpage, as determined by the search engine’s algorithm. Organic search is important for businesses and websites because it provides a way to reach potential customers without paying for advertising.
Organic search is considered the most valuable form of traffic for a website because it is targeted and relevant. When a user performs a search, they are actively looking for information or a solution to a problem. By appearing in the organic search results, businesses and websites have the opportunity to reach potential customers who are looking for their products or services.
In addition, organic search is considered more trustworthy and credible than paid advertising. Search engines aim to provide the most relevant and useful results to their users, and organic search results are seen as the most relevant because they are based on your webpage content and authority.
What about keyword density?
Once you have a list of your target keywords, what do you do with them? Where do they go in your webpage, blog, or other content?
Keyword density is a metric used in SEO to measure the frequency of keywords or phrases in a piece of content compared to the total number of words in the content. It is expressed as a percentage and is calculated by dividing the number of times a keyword or phrase appears in the content by the total number of words in the content and multiplying by 100.
The ideal keyword density for a webpage or piece of content is a matter of debate in the SEO community. In general, keyword density refers to the number of times a keyword or phrase appears in a piece of content compared to the total number of words in the content. A high keyword density is often seen as a sign of keyword stuffing, which is an unethical SEO practice that can result in penalties from search engines.
The commonly recommended range for keyword density is between 1-3%. This means that the keyword should appear 1 to 3 times for every 100 words of content. However, it’s important to keep in mind that search engines are becoming more sophisticated and are able to recognize high-quality content even if the keyword density is lower.
The most important factor in determining keyword density is the quality of the content. The content should be well-written and provide value to the reader, regardless of the keyword density. It’s also important to use the keyword naturally and not in a forced or unnatural way.
So, to sum up, the ideal keyword density can vary depending on the content and the keyword, but a keyword density of 1-3% is a safe and reasonable range. The focus should be on creating high-quality content that provides value to the reader, rather than on achieving a specific keyword density.
How do I do competitor research?
Competitor research is an equally vital component of SEO. Here’s how to do it:
Start with Competitor Keywords:
To start your competitor research, go to the Keyword Overview tool in SEMrush and enter the domain of your competitor. This will give you a list of the keywords that your competitor is ranking for and their positions in the search results. You can use this information to identify new keywords to target and to see how you can improve your own rankings.
Analyse Competitor Backlinks:
Backlinks are an important factor in how well your site ranks. SEMrush’s Backlink Analytics tool allows you to see the backlinks of your competitors and to analyse their link profiles. You can see the quality of the links, the anchor text used, and the pages that are linking to your competitor’s website.
Study Competitor Traffic:
SEMrush’s Traffic Analytics tool allows you to see the organic traffic and paid traffic of your competitors. You can see which pages are driving the most traffic, which countries the traffic is coming from, and the keywords that are driving the traffic. This information can help you better understand your competitor’s traffic and how you can improve your own traffic.
Look at Competitor Ad Campaigns:
SEMrush’s Advertising Research tool allows you to see the PPC campaigns of your competitors. You can see which keywords they’re targeting, which ads they’re running, and how much they’re spending on their campaigns. This information can help you identify new opportunities and improve your own PPC campaigns.
Monitor Competitor Rankings:
SEMrush’s Position Tracking tool allows you to monitor the rankings of your competitors and your own website. You can see how your rankings change over time and how you can improve your own rankings.
SEMrush is a powerful tool for keyword research. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can use SEMrush to find the right keywords for your website or business and improve your SEO and digital marketing efforts.