How to Do Keyword Research for Blog Posts on Your Website: A Step-by-Step Guide

Keywords are at the heart of every successful blog post. They guide your content strategy, improve search engine visibility, and connect you with your target audience. This guide will cover different types of keywords, simple methods for keyword discovery, and effective keyword research tools to use.

Understanding Types of Keywords

Knowing the types of keywords helps you cover a variety of user intentions, ensuring your blog appeals to readers at different stages in their journey. Here are the primary types:

1. Navigational Keywords: Keywords used when someone wants to go directly to a specific website or page. Examples: “DSTV login,” “CNN news.”
2. Informational Keywords: Used when someone is seeking information on a topic. Examples: “how to optimise images,” “benefits of playing school rugby.”
3. Commercial Keywords: Keywords indicating interest in a product or service but not yet ready to buy. Examples: “best laptops for graphic design,” “top SEO software.”
4. Transactional Keywords: Keywords showing an intent to buy or take action. Examples: “Buy a Ford from Eastern Cape Motors,” “sign up for SEO course.”
5. Local Keywords: Keywords with a geographic intent, typically to find services near the user. Examples: “best coffee shop in Cape Town,” “website design in Port Elizabeth.”

Keyword Research Methods

Below are easy and effective methods to discover and validate keywords.

1. Google Alphabet Soup Method

The Google Alphabet Soup Method is great for generating multiple keyword variations.

• Steps:

  1. Go to Google and type a base keyword related to your topic.
  2. Add each letter of the alphabet (e.g., “SEO tips A,” “SEO tips B”, “SEO tips C”) and observe Google’s auto-suggestions.
  3. Note down relevant suggestions, which reflect popular search queries.

• Why It’s Useful: Google’s suggestions are based on popular search terms, so it gives insight into what real users are searching for.

2. People Also Asked Method

The “People Also Asked” box on Google provides additional queries that can guide your content.

• Steps:

  1. Enter your base keyword into Google.
  2. Scroll down to find the “People Also Asked” section, where Google lists related questions.
  3. Expand each question to reveal additional queries and take note of any that are relevant.

• Why It’s Useful: These are real questions that people are asking, allowing you to cover topics that users are actively interested in.

3. Related Search Method

Google’s Related Searches section at the bottom of search results pages provides valuable keyword insights.

• Steps:

  1. Search for your keyword on Google.
  2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the “Related searches” section.
  3. List any relevant keywords that appear; these terms are directly related to your original search and indicate similar topics users are searching for.

• Why It’s Useful: This method shows additional search terms, helping you discover related keywords that you might not have considered.

4. Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a tool for finding keywords and their search volume, particularly useful for commercial and transactional keywords.

• Steps:

  1. Go to Google Keyword Planner, and sign in with a Google account.
  2. Choose “Discover new keywords” and enter your base keyword.
  3. Google will provide a list of related keywords along with their average monthly searches and competition level.
  4. Select keywords with high search volume but moderate competition to optimise your blog posts.

• Why It’s Useful: This method helps assess keyword popularity and competition, help you choose keywords that balance volume with competitiveness.

5. The Site: Method for Competitor Analysis

The “site:” method lets you find keywords that competitors are targeting, giving you insight into industry-relevant keywords.

• Steps:

  1. In Google, type site:competitorwebsite.com followed by a topic or keyword, like site:competitorwebsite.com SEO tips.
  2. Google will return indexed pages from that site related to the topic. Examine the meta titles, descriptions, and headings for keywords they’re targeting.
  3. Take note of keywords or topics that align with your blog’s goals.

• Why It’s Useful: This method shows you what keywords top competitors are using, revealing gaps or opportunities for content that your website could cover.

Validating Keywords

Once you have a list of potential keywords, validate them to ensure they align with your goals and offer SEO value. Here’s how to do it:

1. Check Search Volume and Competition

• Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest are great tools for validating search volume and competition.
• Choose keywords with a balance of decent search volume (showing interest) and moderate-to-low competition (giving you a better chance to rank).

2. Analyze Search Intent

• Ensure that each keyword aligns with the content you want to produce. For example, if the keyword is “how to optimise images,” the intent is likely informational, so focus on an educational post.
• Misalignment between keyword intent and content can result in high bounce rates, negatively impacting SEO.

3. Look at Keyword Difficulty (KD)

• Keyword difficulty (KD) scores from tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush estimate how hard it will be to rank for a keyword.
• Start with “low hanging fruit” (low to moderate-difficulty keywords) to improve ranking chances, especially if your blog is new or has lower domain authority.

4. Consider Long-Tail Keywords

• Long-tail keywords are longer phrases with lower search volume but usually less competition. They often reflect specific user intent, such as “best web design tools for beginners.”
• Including these keywords improves the likelihood of attracting targeted traffic to your blog.

Practical Example: Keyword Research for a Blog Post on “Website Design”

1. Use the Google Alphabet Soup Method:

   • Type “website design” followed by letters: “website design a,” “website design b,” etc.
   • Example Suggestions: “website design agency,” “website design basics,” “website design cost.”

2. Use the People Also Asked Method:

   • Search for “website design” and expand the questions in “People Also Asked.”
   • Example Questions: “What are the basics of website design?” “How much does website design cost?”

3. Use the Related Search Method:

   • Scroll to the bottom of the search page for “website design” and look at related searches.
   • Example Related Searches: “affordable website design,” “website design trends,” “website design tools.”

4. Google Keyword Planner:

   • Search for “website design” to find related keywords with search volume and competition data.
   • Example Keywords: “website design trends 2024,” “website design services,” “how to start website design.”

5. Site: Method to Analyze Competitors:

   • Search site:competitorwebsite.com website design tips.
   • Note the keywords and topics used in the competitor’s headings and titles, such as “web design mistakes to avoid,” or “top website design tips.”

Conclusion

Effective keyword research is the foundation of a strong SEO strategy. By using methods like Google’s Alphabet Soup, People Also Asked, Related Search, Keyword Planner, and the Site: method, you can discover a wide range of keywords and validate their potential to drive traffic to your blog. Remember to diversify your keyword choices by including navigational, informational, commercial, transactional, and local keywords, creating content that matches user intent and enhances search engine visibility. With the right keywords, your blog posts can become valuable assets that attract traffic, build engagement, and support your overall SEO goals.