How to Choose the Right Keywords: A Step-by-Step Guide

Keywords are words or phrases that users type into search engines to find relevant content for their queries. Incorporating these terms into your content strategy helps search engines rank your website pages and users find your content when looking for it.

Finding Keywords

There are several ways to find the right keywords for your website. You can look up your competitors’ keywords and try to rank for the same keywords or use them to find similar keywords. You can also use keyword research tools that uncover hundreds of keyword ideas, along with their SEO metrics, based on just one word or phrase.

Another way is to drill down into your website’s traffic sources, and sift through your organic search traffic bucket to identify the keywords people are using to arrive at your site.

Google Ads Keyword Planner is another tool that can help you choose the right keywords to get your ad in front of the right customers.

Keyword Research Tools

There are several popular keyword research tools that you can use to find the right keywords for your website. Some of these tools include:

  • Semrush: Semrush works a little differently than the other tools. Instead of entering a seed keyword, you enter a competitor’s URL and get a list of all the keywords they’re ranking for.
  • Google Keyword Planner: Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that allows you to find the right keywords for your website. It’s a very popular keyword research tool among SEO’s and almost most people started doing keyword research with this tool only.
  • Ahrefs Keywords Explorer: Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is a powerful keyword research tool that allows you to find the right keywords for your website. It provides you with a list of all the keywords that your competitors are ranking for.
  • KeywordTool.io: KeywordTool.io is a free keyword research tool that helps you find the right keywords for your website. It provides you with a list of all the keywords that people are searching for on Google.

Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when choosing keywords:

  • Choosing keywords that are too broad: If you choose keywords that are too broad, you’ll have a hard time ranking for them. Instead, choose keywords that are more specific to your business.
  • Choosing keywords that are too competitive: If you choose keywords that are too competitive, you’ll have a hard time ranking for them. Instead, choose keywords that are less competitive.
  • Ignoring long-tail keywords: Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive than short-tail keywords. They’re also more likely to convert into sales.
  • Not considering user intent: When choosing keywords, it’s important to consider user intent. What are people searching for when they use these keywords?