Why keyword research is so important in SEO | Do’s & Don’ts

According to Demandsage, on average, 8.55 billion searches happen daily on Google. 8.55 billion searches mean 8.55 billion queries/ keywords people search on Google. With so many keywords, finding the relevant and right keywords for your business is crucial. So, from these statistics, you might have understood how important it is to find the right keywords for your business. Before understanding why keyword research is important, let’s know what keywords are and how to identify them.

1. Role Of Keyword Research In SEO

What is Keyword Research?

First, let’s understand what a keyword is. Keywords are the queries or concerns that people search in search engines. Suppose you’re looking for a new phone and have a specific budget. Now, you go to Google and type “Best Phone under 40000,” so “Best Phone under 40000” is the keyword. & Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing the search terms that your targeted audience uses to find particular things on the Internet. Now, You must be thinking about why keyword research is important, right? Let’s Explore

2. Importance of Keyword Research in SEO

Targeting the Right Audience

The primary purpose of keyword research is to target the potential audience. By selecting keywords that match the intent of the target users, you ensure that your content attracts those most likely to engage with it. Understanding user intent, whether informational, navigational, or transactional, allows you to create content that meets their needs at different stages of the buyer's journey. Keywords provide us with ideas about what people are searching for, which helps us to understand the level of the funnel the particular user is in so we can target the specific audience. Targeting the right keywords means approaching a potential audience or reaching potential customers. That’s why keyword research is important.

Let's understand how to understand the intent behind keywords. For example, searching for “How to do keyword research?” means that the person intends to get information about a particular topic. Also, if someone is Searching “Best tools for keyword Research,” the person is looking for the best keyword research tools. We can say that he is at the considering stage of looking for the best tool for keyword research. So, like this, you can understand the user's intent behind the keyword and can target the right audience.

Improving Search Engine Rankings

Keywords are the primary mechanism through which search engines understand and rank content. Incorporating well-researched keywords into your content increases your chances of appearing in relevant searches. Keywords closely aligned with search intent contribute to higher rankings, especially with high-quality content and effective on-page SEO practice.

As we saw in the above example, to understand the purpose behind keywords, you need to understand keywords first. What are people searching for, and what’s their real intent behind those searches? Understanding the intent behind the keyword will give you an idea about what type of content your potential audience wants. So you can plan your content strategy accordingly. This means that relevant and engaging content will help you rank better.

Enhancing Content Strategy

As we discussed above, Keyword research is integral to content strategy. It informs what topics to cover and how to structure your content for maximum impact. By focusing on the keywords that matter most to your audience, you can create relevant & valuable content, improving user satisfaction and increasing the likelihood of return visits.

You might have heard many people say that Content is King. If you’re not creating content that provides value to your users, or, in simple words, if someone is searching for the Best strategies for keyword research and opens your website but your content gives more emphasis on why keyword research is essential, this is not something that a searcher wants, and this will increase website’s bounce rate.

Increasing Organic Traffic

The ultimate goal of SEO is to increase organic traffic. Well-researched keywords are the cornerstone of this effort, as they drive content creation that attracts users from search engines. By targeting keywords with high search volume and low competition, you can attract more visitors to your site without relying on paid advertising.

Competitive Advantage

Understanding the keywords your competitors are targeting can help you identify gaps in your strategy that you can exploit. Knowing your competitors' keywords will also give you an idea about which potential keywords you can use to outrank them or which keywords you are missing out. You can estimate which keywords you should target by analyzing competitors' keyword strategies for better results.

Tools for Keyword Research

Various tools can assist in effective keyword research, each offering unique features that can help you refine your strategy.

Google Keyword Planner: A free tool that provides keyword ideas and metrics such as search volume and competition.

SEMrush: A comprehensive tool that offers in-depth keyword analysis, including competitive research.

Ahrefs: Known for its robust backlink analysis, Ahrefs also offers powerful keyword research tools that provide keyword difficulty scores and click-through rates.

Moz: Offers keyword analysis with insights into keyword difficulty, SERP features, and more.

3. The Do's of Keyword Research

Focus on User Intent

Understanding the different types of intent, informational, navigational, and transactional, allows you to target keywords that align with your audience's needs. For example, a user searching for "best running shoes" likely has a transactional intent, meaning they are close to making a purchase. Crafting content that matches the user's intent can lead to higher conversions.

Use a Mix of Short-Tail and Long-Tail Keywords

A balanced approach to keyword selection involves using both short-tail and long-tail keywords. Short-tail keywords like "running shoes" are broad and often have high search volumes and competition. Long-tail keywords, like "best-running shoes for flat feet," are more specific and have lower search volumes but are often less competitive. Using proper blend of both types of keywords helps to achieve your SEO goal.

Regularly Update Your Keyword List

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and so are the keywords that drive traffic. Regularly updating your keyword list ensures that your content remains relevant and competitive. By monitoring trends and shifts in user behavior, you can adjust your keyword strategy to stay ahead of the curve. Don’t forget to track your keywords regularly.

Analyse Competitor Keywords

Competitor analysis is a crucial component of keyword research. By understanding which keywords your competitors rank for, you can identify opportunities to outrank them. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs allow you to analyze your competitors’ keyword strategies, providing insights that inform your approach. Analyse competitor's keywords.

Incorporate Keywords Naturally

While keywords are essential for SEO, it's vital to incorporate them naturally into your content. Overloading your content with keywords (known as keyword stuffing) can negatively impact readability and user experience, leading to higher bounce rates. Instead, focus on creating high-quality content where keywords are seamlessly integrated into the text.

4. The Don'ts of Keyword Research

Avoid Multiple Keyword Targeting

A Common mistake beginners make is that they try to target multiple keywords on a single page. Don’t do this, as this will confuse Google. Instead, try to target a maximum of 4 to 5 primary keywords with supporting LSI keywords.

Don’t Rely Solely on High-Volume Keywords

High-volume keywords may seem attractive, but they often come with high competition. Relying solely on these keywords can make ranking harder, especially for newer or smaller websites. Instead, focus on a mix of high-volume and long-tail keywords, which can provide more targeted traffic with less competition.

Don’t Ignore the Power of LSI Keywords

Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) keywords are related terms that help search engines understand the context of your content. Incorporating LSI keywords into your content can enhance its relevance and improve its chances of ranking for a broader range of search queries. These keywords also help avoid keyword stuffing by providing natural variations of your primary keywords.

Don’t Forget Mobile and Voice Search Trends

With the increasing use of mobile devices and voice search, it's essential to adapt your keyword strategy to these trends. Mobile and voice searches often involve more conversational phrases and questions, so optimizing your content for these queries can improve your chances of ranking in mobile and voice search results.

Don’t Overlook Local SEO Keywords

For businesses with a physical presence or those targeting local markets, local SEO keywords are crucial. Including location-specific keywords in your content can improve your visibility in local search results, making it easier for nearby customers to find your business.

6. Conclusion

Keyword research is the backbone of a successful SEO strategy. It guides the creation of content that ranks well on search engines and resonates with your target audience. Keyword research ensures that you’re targeting the terms people are searching to find your business online. By understanding and implementing the principles of keyword research, you can ensure that your website remains competitive in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

The world of SEO is dynamic, and so should your approach to keyword research. Regularly revisiting and refining your keyword strategy will keep your content relevant, competitive, and in tune with the latest trends. This will improve your search engine rankings and build lasting connections with your audience.