Effective Keyword Research Techniques For Improved Organic SEO Traffic

Did you know that 68% of online experiences begin from a search engine? Think about that for a moment. 

More than half the time people get into the internet, the first thing they do is type something in that search box. You could be losing mountains of beneficial traffic and customers if your website is not set up with the right search terms.

You can grab this opportunity by conducting effective keyword research. It’s not just about looking for common phrases; it is about comprehending what the market audience looks for online and making sure you’re ready for it. 

At Abedin Tech we work with different types of SEO Strategies and made this guide from our experience. 

Let’s explore the effective keyword research techniques for improved organic SEO traffic. 

Fundamentals of Keyword Research

Once you identify the right keywords, you are likely to reach out to the people who are already interested in what you have to offer. It is like identifying the most effective way to bring potential clients right to your site.

If you get it right, you will enhance visibility, get the right kind of traffic, and above all, fulfill your audience’s expectations.

What is Search Intent in Keyword Research

Keyword research is more than just picking words with good rankings.At the heart of it, it is understanding the reasons why a search is made: search intent..

Search intent can be defined as the goal or purpose of a particular query, or in other terms, what the user wants to accomplish. Search intent can be categorized mainly into four groups:

Informational Intent

In this, the user wants useful information about something. For instance, a user searching for “how to make iced coffee,” does not intend to buy anything but simply seeks to learn.

Navigational Intent

This, on the other hand, occurs when someone already knows the brand and is trying to access it. For example, someone searching for a “YouTube login” is already familiar with YouTube and wants to access their account directly.

Commercial Intent

With this, users do not address what they intend to purchase directly but rather use keywords to get information about the product or the service. “Best laptops for students” shows that the user is in the consideration stage.

Transactional Intention

In this, the user is ready to perform a specific action: complete a purchase, book something, or subscribe to a service. He or she is in the mindset to finish the transaction. The term ‘buy running shoes online’ is clear evidence of a user’s willingness to do a transaction.

If your content is properly targeting what searchers are looking for, chances are that you will improve your relevance in the eyes of the search engines and eventually engage your readers more.

Tools You’ll Need to Get Started

Now that you know about search intent, focus on tools that make keyword research quick and easy. The following tools will help you discover keywords, evaluate their value, and find golden opportunities:

Google Keyword Planner

This is an especially useful tool for novice users. It is free and offers keywords, search volumes, and the level of competition. Just remember, Google’s keyword planner is primarily built for marketers, so not all of the metrics will be user-friendly for SEO professionals.

SEMrush

This is a keyword research tool that does much more than its name suggests. It helps users to analyze search intent, competitors, and even website traffic. Perfect for those seeking to strategize at a greater depth.

Ahrefs

With an extensive keyword database, Ahrefs specializes in providing users with high-ranking keywords easily. This tool is also best at providing users with a list of keywords their competitors are using to rank high on Google.

AnswerThePublic

This tool is exceptionally different as it turns search queries into questions, comparisons, and phrases. It focuses on long-tail keywords while showing users the various questions their target audience is searching for in their business industry.

Editor’s Note: There are tons of SEO tools for keyword research. But we don’t want to make things complicated for you at the beginning. These tools are trusted and most industry experts use these tools. 

Effective Keyword Research Techniques For Improved Organic SEO Traffic

Finding the right keywords to target authentic customers is the most important aspect of an effective SEO strategy. Keyword research is all about understanding what your audience is searching for so that you can create content that meets those needs. 

Let’s find out how to start this process. 

Read More: Organic VS Paid Search

Find Seed Keywords

Seed keywords are the basic phrases used to define your business or your services. These are usually general phrases like “coffee shops” or “affordable laptops” that help you to formulate more targeted and useful keywords.

Using AI tools can make this process easier. For instance, ChatGPT can help in suggesting seed keywords based on the market niche of your business. Suppose that you run a bakery. 

You just simply ask ChatGPT to give you some seed keywords for your bakery shop. If you want a location-based seed keyword, you can add that to your prompt. 

Once you get the list you can pick those that are relevant to your business. You can also brainstorm seed keywords that are connected to your business. 

Competitor Analysis

Your competition provides a wide range of suggestions for keywords. SEMrush has made competitor analysis simple and thorough. SEMrush helps you to input a website and review its organic search performance for the keywords and pages with the highest traffic.

But remember, it does not end there. Try to find keyword gaps also. Those are the keywords that your competitors are ranking for that you do not target. 

For instance, suppose you have an online clothing store and your major competitor ranks for eco-friendly activewear and you don’t have any page on that. You can add that page and product and start targeting potential customers.

Exploring Search Engine Suggestions

Search engines themselves are one of the simplest yet effective methods to derive keywords. Just try typing a word or two into Google and observe the suggested phrases in the search bar. 

For example, for the keyword “wedding cakes,” people search for “wedding cakes near me” or“ wedding cakes on a budget.” All these are actual search terms posed by individuals, making them packed with prospects.

Lastly, don’t forget to look through the bottom portion of the results page. Opportunities for additional keywords are given such as ‘unique wedding cake designs’ or ‘wedding cake flavors.’

Check SERP Results

Analysing Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) is closely similar to the predicting game of what Google thinks is the best-matched keyword. Type one of your keywords into the search box and check the pages that come up on the first page of the search. What do they say? 

Is it a video, a list, or a comprehensive how-to guide on a certain aspect of the keyword?

Also, SERP analysis can assist in understanding the user intent better. Most of the pages ranked at the top as a result of the keyword “how to bake bread” in Google are most likely step-by-step tutorials and not product pages. 

This helps to formulate an instructional guide around the concept which is similar to a product you want to sell.

Filtering Keywords Based on Relevance and Competition

Targeting all keywords is not a viable strategy. The chosen keyword must consider the volume of searches it can get, how much competition there is in the field, and how relevant it is to your organization. 

While the high search volume keywords are thrilling to chase after, they do come with very high competition which makes ranking tougher. On the other hand, very niche keywords have little competition but also very low search volume which makes them a little less useful.

This task is made easier with tools such as Ahrefs or Ubersuggest. Make sure to check for keywords that are relevant to your audience but have low to medium competition. 

As an example, instead of using the phrase ‘Birthday cakes’ consider ‘Custom Birthday cakes in Austin.’ This way, the competition will be less but the ROI will be greater.

If you feel overwhelmed you can always hire an SEO expert to do the task for you. 

Advanced Keyword Research Strategies

To remain relevant in the fast-moving SEO market, you must reach above the fundamentals. This is why advanced keyword research strategies come in handy. We have given some tips that will help you improve your SEO skills.

Clustering Keywords for Broader Coverage

Grouping search phrases into sets is called keyword clustering. It involves grouping possible keywords and phrases based on their usage intents and similarities in the SERPs. 

Instead of creating distinct pages that target each keyword separately, clustering allows for a single page to be optimized for a group of related keywords. 

Here’s an example cluster for a bakery targeting people interested in cupcakes:

By pursuing all these keywords within a single page, which is relevant and of high quality, not only do you save time, but you also optimize your page’s SEO potential. 

SEMrush, Ahrefs, or other similar tools can suggest which clusters of keywords to target by examining top-ranking results.

Find Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords possess tremendous potential due to their high-intent nature, though they may have lower search volumes. These keywords are useful for reaching niche markets and minimizing competition. Instead of searching for “cupcakes” in Los Angeles, try “vegan chocolate cupcakes in Los Angeles.”

Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer or Google Keyword Planner helps you to find these long-tail keywords effortlessly. When searching, enter a general term like “dessert recipes,” and you’ll receive targeted suggestions like, “easy gluten-free dessert recipes for beginners.” They do not possess high individual fingers but combined they would reach a high volume.

Incorporating Semantic Keywords

These are related keywords that assist in ranking an SEO keyword phrase and giving it context. If the main keyword is “best pizza in Chicago”, then semantic keywords would be “thin crust” and “deep dish” or paint delivery services. 

These give meaning and depth to the content while allowing it to rank for a broader audience.

SEMrush’s Topic Research and the AnswerThePublic keyword tool can prove helpful when looking for semantic keywords. 

They show you other relevant queries or phrases being searched, which helps you understand the content users would wish to see and what would rank well in searches.

Analyzing Demand vs. Supply

Not all keywords are equal and for the best results, you need to analyze demand (the search volume) and supply (the competition). 

These two factors will allow you to find a gold mine for your content. Keywords with high volume might be appealing on paper but if they have fierce competition, it becomes hard to secure the keyword. On the bright side, keywords with low volume might be easy to rank for, but they usually have little search interest.

For example, these keywords tell a different story:

The second keyword has less demand but less competition. Therefore,  it is a better fit for a smaller restaurant looking to target a niche audience.

Overlooked and Unique Techniques

Some Overlooked and Unique Techniques

You could be missing out on a lot of rich keywords if you only utilize the traditional methods of keyword research. Some less popular techniques can provide brand new distinctive opportunities for you to stay ahead in the competition of SEO.

Utilize Customer Conversations and Questionnaires

Your customers are like gold. Each conversation, each piece of feedback, and each survey can yield incredible insights about the words they use and the problems they want to solve. 

A survey can help you discover people searching for “cheap date night restaurants in Chicago” which can turn into a new keyword for your site.

Nowadays, creating surveys is simple with software such as Typeform and Qualtrics. You can begin with key questions like, “What terms do you use when searching for products like ours?” and, “What problems do you encounter when selecting [your product/ service]?”

For example, if you run a bakery and clients often say ‘custom desserts for small weddings’, then that’s what you need to focus on as part of your marketing strategy. 

Putting together content based on actual customer feedback ensures relevance and increases the chances that you will be found on highly specific, intent-focused searches.

Analyze Niche Forums and Online Communities

Sites like Reddit, Quora, and specialized forums are frequently underutilized for keyword research. These places have everyone’s real conversations where they talk about the things they face, what are some questions they have, and what they want answers and help to.

Begin by searching for forums and threads that relate to your niche. For example, if you have a fitness center then you would want the Health and Wellness forums. 

Search for common questions such as, ‘What is the best exercise for weight loss at home?’ or comments that use the phrase, ‘I only want to try gentle yoga for beginners.’ These comments and questions will help you think of new keywords and new content ideas.

For instance, on Reddit, check out subreddits such as r/SEO and r/Fitness to see what phrases people from your industry are already using. 

Or on Quora, type in your niche or industry check out the most looked-up questions and take note of them. Every engaging phrase you see can become an opportunity for long-tail keywords.

Mobile-Specific Keyword Optimization

As mobile users occupy the majority of web traffic, optimizing for mobile-specific keywords is not just an option; it’s a necessity. Mobile queries are most often locational-based, including search phrases such as “near me.”

As an example, if you manage a restaurant, optimizing for phrases such as “best pizza near me” or “family-friendly dining near downtown” can be quite effective. Google Trends is terrific for identifying trends in mobile searches, while Google Search Console shows how mobile users find your site.

Yet another consideration is conversational language. Mobile users’ queries are not always typed, or rather, they often use conversational queries such as, “Where can I find vegan cupcakes nearby?” targeting these kinds of mobile user queries can improve your mobile visibility by a great deal.

How to Track and Refine Keyword Efforts

You cannot simply ‘set and forget’ a keyword strategy as it is constantly evolving. Always remember, that visibility or traffic is a race, and competitors will apply any tactic to stay on top of it. So how exactly do you keep track of your keyword strategy and adjust accordingly? Let’s take a look.

Monitor Performance with Analytics

Using keyword analysis tools such as Analytics and Google Search Console can greatly ease the process of managing keyword tracking. 

Google provides some important analytics features such as click rates, rank of keywords, and even general search impressions that can help understand how a webpage is performing on search engines.

If Google ranks your page for some keywords but its overall performance drops, there may be an issue with your website. You should not focus on certain pages only. The entire website should perform well. 

The second analytics software worth mentioning is Ruler Analytics, as it goes beyond simple monitoring of how the selected keywords are performing in terms of revenue generation. 

This helps you to concentrate on phrases that result in conversions, rather than just drive clicks. 

Regularly checking analytics helps you track growth and stay ahead of competitors.

Update Old Content with New Keywords

The power of updating old content is often underestimated. Simply altering the keywords in a web page or blog post can cause it to gain new life by increasing traffic and ranking.

The first step is to find content that is not performing well. With the aid of SEMrush, identify the blog posts that are experiencing a drop in rankings or clicks. After that, change the keywords to reflect the new search trends.

For instance, if an article was written with the key phrase “best coffee makers” three years ago, it needs to be updated. 

The target audience today is looking for “eco-friendly coffee makers” or “smart coffee machines for home”. Adopting these new search terms into the content ensures that it is still relevant and competitive.

Do not stop exploring how to increase the quality of your old blogs or articles by capturing new internal links, enhanced metadata, and new information. It is always good to check how the modifications have affected rankings and traffic after every update.

Editors Note: If the page with the old keyword is still getting traffic then please don’t use this approach. In that case, just update the page as Google loves fresh content. You should apply this strategy if only the content is not relevant these days. 

Keep Your Strategy Dynamic

Search trends change. You are dealing with real people, not with machines. Keep that in mind. If you want to stay ahead of the competition you should always monitor your pages and see what your competitors are doing. 

Make it a habit and you will see your website will not lose a drastic amount of traffic at any time. 

How to Find Keywords for AI Search Tools

We can not ignore that people don’t entirely depend on Google these days to answer their queries. Tools like chatGPT, Perplexity, and new sensations DEEP SEEK are changing the SEO. 

These tools can search the internet and provide links to the users. You don’t want to miss that opportunity. What if someone lands on your site from Perplexity? That will help to increase your brand value. 

Well, there are no special techniques to find keywords for AI tools. But you should focus more on long-tail keywords. 

Also, use schema markup in your website so that AI tools understand what information you are trying to provide.

Let Abedin Tech Do the Hard Work for You 

We hope this article on effective keyword research techniques for improved organic SEO traffic was helpful to you. 

If you are not an SEO expert and want someone to do the task for you, we have a talented team to do the task for you. 

At Abedin Tech we are serving people around the globe to prosper their business with SEO services. 

If you need a hand just send us a message and we will be in touch with you soon.  

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