{"id":8237,"date":"2025-05-14T03:33:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T03:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/?p=8237"},"modified":"2025-05-14T03:33:21","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T03:33:21","slug":"keyword-research-basics-how","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/keyword-research-basics-how\/","title":{"rendered":"Keyword Research Basics: How to Find the Right Terms to Target"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"114\" data-end=\"375\"><strong>Keyword Research Basics: How to Find the Right Terms to Target<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"114\" data-end=\"375\">If content is the fuel of digital marketing, keywords are the <strong data-start=\"176\" data-end=\"187\">compass<\/strong> that guides it. Whether you\u2019re writing a blog post, launching a product page, or creating a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/YouTube\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a> video, targeting the right keywords is essential to reach your audience and your goals.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"377\" data-end=\"551\">In this post, we\u2019ll break down the <strong data-start=\"412\" data-end=\"442\">basics of keyword research<\/strong>, including what it is, why it matters, and how to find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/build-your-own-stack-how-to\/\">high-impact<\/a> terms that drive traffic and conversions.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"553\" data-end=\"556\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"558\" data-end=\"589\">\u00a0What Is Keyword Research?<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"775\"><strong data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"611\">Keyword research<\/strong> is the process of identifying the words and phrases people use in search engines when they\u2019re looking for information, products, or services. These terms tell you:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"776\" data-end=\"894\">\n<li data-start=\"776\" data-end=\"808\">\n<p data-start=\"778\" data-end=\"808\">What your audience cares about<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"809\" data-end=\"840\">\n<p data-start=\"811\" data-end=\"840\">How they search for solutions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"841\" data-end=\"894\">\n<p data-start=\"843\" data-end=\"894\">Where opportunities exist to rank in search results<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"896\" data-end=\"973\">It\u2019s not just about volume\u2014it\u2019s about <strong data-start=\"934\" data-end=\"972\">relevance, intent, and opportunity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"975\" data-end=\"978\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"980\" data-end=\"1014\">\u00a0Why Keyword Research Matters<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1016\" data-end=\"1053\">Effective keyword research helps you:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1320\">\n<li data-start=\"1054\" data-end=\"1109\">\n<p data-start=\"1056\" data-end=\"1109\"><strong data-start=\"1056\" data-end=\"1085\">Attract qualified traffic<\/strong> that matches your offer<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1110\" data-end=\"1141\">\n<p data-start=\"1112\" data-end=\"1141\"><strong data-start=\"1112\" data-end=\"1141\">Improve your SEO rankings<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1142\" data-end=\"1202\">\n<p data-start=\"1144\" data-end=\"1202\"><strong data-start=\"1144\" data-end=\"1169\">Uncover content ideas<\/strong> that resonate with your audience<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1203\" data-end=\"1267\">\n<p data-start=\"1205\" data-end=\"1267\"><strong data-start=\"1205\" data-end=\"1233\">Understand search intent<\/strong> (informational vs. transactional)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1268\" data-end=\"1320\">\n<p data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1320\"><strong data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1292\">Avoid wasting time<\/strong> on terms that won\u2019t convert<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1322\" data-end=\"1400\">Bottom line: It helps you <strong data-start=\"1348\" data-end=\"1381\">get found by the right people<\/strong> at the right time.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"1402\" data-end=\"1405\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"1407\" data-end=\"1459\">\u00a0Step-by-Step: How to Do Basic Keyword Research<\/h2>\n<h3 data-start=\"1461\" data-end=\"1496\"><strong data-start=\"1465\" data-end=\"1496\">1. Start With Seed Keywords<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1497\" data-end=\"1601\">Begin with broad topics related to your business or industry. These are your <strong data-start=\"1574\" data-end=\"1591\">seed keywords<\/strong>, such as:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1602\" data-end=\"1670\">\n<li data-start=\"1602\" data-end=\"1621\">\n<p data-start=\"1604\" data-end=\"1621\">\u201cEmail marketing\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1622\" data-end=\"1639\">\n<p data-start=\"1624\" data-end=\"1639\">\u201cRunning shoes\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1640\" data-end=\"1670\">\n<p data-start=\"1642\" data-end=\"1670\">\u201cFreelance graphic designer\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1672\" data-end=\"1684\">Think about:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1685\" data-end=\"1768\">\n<li data-start=\"1685\" data-end=\"1709\">\n<p data-start=\"1687\" data-end=\"1709\">Your products\/services<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1710\" data-end=\"1737\">\n<p data-start=\"1712\" data-end=\"1737\">Common customer questions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1738\" data-end=\"1768\">\n<p data-start=\"1740\" data-end=\"1768\">Problems your audience faces<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"1770\" data-end=\"1807\"><strong data-start=\"1774\" data-end=\"1807\">2. Use Keyword Research Tools<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1808\" data-end=\"1894\">Tools help you expand seed ideas and find related keywords. Some popular ones include:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1895\" data-end=\"2146\">\n<li data-start=\"1895\" data-end=\"1956\">\n<p data-start=\"1897\" data-end=\"1956\"><strong data-start=\"1897\" data-end=\"1923\">Google Keyword Planner<\/strong> (free with a Google Ads account)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1957\" data-end=\"1985\">\n<p data-start=\"1959\" data-end=\"1985\"><strong data-start=\"1959\" data-end=\"1974\">Ubersuggest<\/strong> (freemium)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1986\" data-end=\"2041\">\n<p data-start=\"1988\" data-end=\"2041\"><strong data-start=\"1988\" data-end=\"1998\">Ahrefs<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2000\" data-end=\"2011\">SEMrush<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"2013\" data-end=\"2020\">Moz<\/strong> (paid, but powerful)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2042\" data-end=\"2100\">\n<p data-start=\"2044\" data-end=\"2100\"><strong data-start=\"2044\" data-end=\"2063\">AnswerThePublic<\/strong> (great for questions and long-tails)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2101\" data-end=\"2146\">\n<p data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2146\"><strong data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2126\">Keywords Everywhere<\/strong> (browser extension)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2148\" data-end=\"2167\">Look for data like:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2168\" data-end=\"2371\">\n<li data-start=\"2168\" data-end=\"2230\">\n<p data-start=\"2170\" data-end=\"2230\"><strong data-start=\"2170\" data-end=\"2187\">Search Volume<\/strong> \u2013 How often the term is searched per month<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2231\" data-end=\"2298\">\n<p data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2298\"><strong data-start=\"2233\" data-end=\"2260\">Keyword Difficulty (KD)<\/strong> \u2013 How hard it is to rank for the term<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2299\" data-end=\"2371\">\n<p data-start=\"2301\" data-end=\"2371\"><strong data-start=\"2301\" data-end=\"2308\">CPC<\/strong> \u2013 How much advertisers are paying (a sign of commercial value)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"2373\" data-end=\"2408\"><strong data-start=\"2377\" data-end=\"2408\">3. Understand Search Intent<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2409\" data-end=\"2500\">Not all keywords are created equal. Match the content to <strong data-start=\"2466\" data-end=\"2499\">what the user is trying to do<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<div class=\"_tableContainer_16hzy_1\">\n<div class=\"_tableWrapper_16hzy_14 group flex w-fit flex-col-reverse\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<table class=\"w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)\" data-start=\"2502\" data-end=\"2986\">\n<thead data-start=\"2502\" data-end=\"2582\">\n<tr data-start=\"2502\" data-end=\"2582\">\n<th data-start=\"2502\" data-end=\"2522\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Intent Type<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"2522\" data-end=\"2547\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Example Keyword<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"2547\" data-end=\"2582\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Best Content Type<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"2663\" data-end=\"2986\">\n<tr data-start=\"2663\" data-end=\"2743\">\n<td data-start=\"2663\" data-end=\"2683\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Informational<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"2683\" data-end=\"2708\">\u201chow to make sourdough\u201d<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"2708\" data-end=\"2743\">Blog post, guide, video<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2744\" data-end=\"2824\">\n<td data-start=\"2744\" data-end=\"2764\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Navigational<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"2764\" data-end=\"2789\">\u201cCanva login\u201d<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"2789\" data-end=\"2824\">Homepage or login page<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2825\" data-end=\"2905\">\n<td data-start=\"2825\" data-end=\"2845\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Transactional<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"2845\" data-end=\"2870\">\u201cbuy standing desk\u201d<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"2870\" data-end=\"2905\">Product page, comparison<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2906\" data-end=\"2986\">\n<td data-start=\"2906\" data-end=\"2926\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Commercial<\/td>\n<td data-start=\"2926\" data-end=\"2951\" data-col-size=\"sm\">\u201cbest laptops 2025\u201d<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"2951\" data-end=\"2986\">Reviews, comparisons, listicles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"sticky end-(--thread-content-margin) h-0 self-end select-none\">\n<div class=\"absolute end-0 flex items-end\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 data-start=\"2988\" data-end=\"3022\"><strong data-start=\"2992\" data-end=\"3022\">4. Find Long-Tail Keywords<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3023\" data-end=\"3060\">These are more specific phrases like:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3061\" data-end=\"3132\">\n<li data-start=\"3061\" data-end=\"3097\">\n<p data-start=\"3063\" data-end=\"3097\">\u201cBest running shoes for flat feet\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3098\" data-end=\"3132\">\n<p data-start=\"3100\" data-end=\"3132\">\u201cHow to start a podcast in 2025\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3134\" data-end=\"3274\">They may have <strong data-start=\"3148\" data-end=\"3171\">lower search volume<\/strong>, but they often convert better because they reflect <strong data-start=\"3224\" data-end=\"3242\">clearer intent<\/strong> and have <strong data-start=\"3252\" data-end=\"3273\">lower competition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3276\" data-end=\"3310\"><strong data-start=\"3280\" data-end=\"3310\">5. Analyze the Competition<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3311\" data-end=\"3342\">Google the keyword and look at:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3343\" data-end=\"3452\">\n<li data-start=\"3343\" data-end=\"3371\">\n<p data-start=\"3345\" data-end=\"3371\">Who\u2019s ranking on page one?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3372\" data-end=\"3414\">\n<p data-start=\"3374\" data-end=\"3414\">Are the results dominated by big brands?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3415\" data-end=\"3452\">\n<p data-start=\"3417\" data-end=\"3452\">Is the content outdated or shallow?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3454\" data-end=\"3526\">If you spot weaknesses in current rankings, you\u2019ve found an opportunity.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3528\" data-end=\"3563\"><strong data-start=\"3532\" data-end=\"3563\">6. Prioritize Your Keywords<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3564\" data-end=\"3623\">You don\u2019t need to chase every keyword. Prioritize based on:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3624\" data-end=\"3728\">\n<li data-start=\"3624\" data-end=\"3656\">\n<p data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3656\"><strong data-start=\"3626\" data-end=\"3656\">Relevance to your audience<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3657\" data-end=\"3676\">\n<p data-start=\"3659\" data-end=\"3676\"><strong data-start=\"3659\" data-end=\"3676\">Search volume<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3677\" data-end=\"3700\">\n<p data-start=\"3679\" data-end=\"3700\"><strong data-start=\"3679\" data-end=\"3700\">Competition level<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3701\" data-end=\"3728\">\n<p data-start=\"3703\" data-end=\"3728\"><strong data-start=\"3703\" data-end=\"3728\">Likelihood to convert<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3730\" data-end=\"3844\">Create a spreadsheet or use a tool like <strong data-start=\"3770\" data-end=\"3780\">Trello<\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3792\">Notion<\/strong>, or <strong data-start=\"3797\" data-end=\"3809\">Airtable<\/strong> to organize your keyword strategy.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"3846\" data-end=\"3849\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"3851\" data-end=\"3866\">\u2705 Bonus Tips<\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"3868\" data-end=\"4106\">\n<li data-start=\"3868\" data-end=\"3947\">\n<p data-start=\"3870\" data-end=\"3947\">Use Google\u2019s <strong data-start=\"3883\" data-end=\"3899\">autocomplete<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"3904\" data-end=\"3923\">People Also Ask<\/strong> for more keyword ideas.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3948\" data-end=\"4009\">\n<p data-start=\"3950\" data-end=\"4009\">Group related keywords together to target them in clusters.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4106\">\n<p data-start=\"4012\" data-end=\"4106\">Monitor trends with <strong data-start=\"4032\" data-end=\"4049\">Google Trends<\/strong>\u2014especially helpful for seasonal or news-related content.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-start=\"4108\" data-end=\"4111\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"4113\" data-end=\"4155\">\u00a0Next Steps: Putting Keywords to Work<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4157\" data-end=\"4195\">Once you have your list, it\u2019s time to:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"4196\" data-end=\"4369\">\n<li data-start=\"4196\" data-end=\"4248\">\n<p data-start=\"4198\" data-end=\"4248\"><strong data-start=\"4198\" data-end=\"4230\">Integrate keywords naturally<\/strong> into your content<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4249\" data-end=\"4311\">\n<p data-start=\"4251\" data-end=\"4311\">Use them in <strong data-start=\"4263\" data-end=\"4311\">titles, headers, URLs, and meta descriptions<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4312\" data-end=\"4369\">\n<p data-start=\"4314\" data-end=\"4369\">Focus on <strong data-start=\"4323\" data-end=\"4342\">user experience<\/strong> as much as keyword density<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"4371\" data-end=\"4502\">Remember: Good SEO starts with keywords, but great SEO is built on <strong data-start=\"4438\" data-end=\"4468\">valuable, relevant content<\/strong> that meets your audience\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"4504\" data-end=\"4507\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"4509\" data-end=\"4526\">Final Thought<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4528\" data-end=\"4720\">Keyword research isn\u2019t just about search engines\u2014it\u2019s about <strong data-start=\"4588\" data-end=\"4620\">understanding your customers<\/strong>. When done right, it becomes the foundation for content, ads, and messaging that actually connects.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4722\" data-end=\"4859\"><strong data-start=\"4722\" data-end=\"4795\">Start with curiosity, use the right tools, and stay focused on intent<\/strong>\u2014and you\u2019ll uncover the terms that drive both traffic and trust.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keyword Research Basics: How to Find the Right Terms to Target If content is the fuel of digital marketing, keywords are the compass that guides it. Whether you\u2019re writing a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8237"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8250,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8237\/revisions\/8250"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aderonkebamidele.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}