In the digital terrain of blogging, we’ve all heard the mantra, “Keyword research is vital.” But have you ever paused to ponder over the true essence of this much-touted concept?
What exactly constitutes ‘good’ keyword research? And more importantly, does the effort invested in meticulously curating your keywords genuinely make a difference? The answer is a resounding yes (in case you couldn’t tell!
The significance of keyword research in blogging cannot be understated; it’s the compass that guides your content strategy, ensuring your blogging efforts do not merely vanish into the vast abyss of the internet.
In this article, we’re going to explain why you need to invest in good keyword research and why scraping by on the “bare minimum” of SEO efforts can hurt you in the long run.
Quick SEO Recap
Do you remember our old friend who insisted on being invited to every blogger’s party? Yeah, that ever-demanding, slightly nerdy (but we love him anyway) guy—Search Engine Optimization (or call him by his initials—SEO).
Now, SEO has this tiny, slightly obsessive-compulsive habit. He adores keyword research. Yes, for EVERY single blog post you craft, he insists on a custom-made keyword just for him. It’s cute but slightly creepy for him; for you as a blogger, it’s a necessary tribute to this omnipresent friend. Without it, your blog is unlikely to rank well on search engines like Google.
But let’s remember what SEO ultimately wants: he needs you to deliver the best possible content that answers people’s questions and solves their problems. So, while a keyword might be vital for getting your foot in the door, remember that it’s merely a means to an end. The ultimate goal is to create valuable, engaging content that keeps your audience returning.
Beyond Bare Minimum: Good Keyword Research
So, we’ve established that SEO beseeches you to appease him with at least a token effort towards keyword research. But let’s be clear: doing the bare minimum won’t win you any tangible rewards.
Imagine showing up at the world’s most exclusive party with a cheap, last-minute gift. It’s not going to impress anyone, least of all our demanding friend, SEO. But that other blogger who arrived with a high-quality, informative gift? Oh yeah, she’s getting invited to the VIP section SEO has set up at the top of the Google search results page.
You need to do more than just scrape the surface to make an impact. You need to do good keyword research. This goes beyond simply identifying a relevant keyword and stuffing it into your blog post. Good keyword research involves understanding your niche, determining what your target audience is searching for, and finding those best keywords with high search volumes and low competition.
Good keyword research allows you to find that sweet spot – the right keywords that are relevant and in demand but not so saturated that they’re impossible to rank for. This is what impresses SEO. And when SEO is impressed, he rewards you with increased visibility, improved rankings, and, ultimately, more traffic to your blog posts.
Keyword Strategy Example: Lily’s Cleaning Hacks Blog
Let’s use an example to better illustrate the difference between bare minimum and good keyword research.
Meet Lily. She’s creating a blog dedicated to cleaning hacks, “The Flower Girl’s Guide To Cleaning.”
Bare Minimum Keyword Research
Lily starts by doing some basic keyword research. She uses a free keyword research tool and identifies “cleaning hacks” as a popular keyword. She decides to utilize this keyword in her next blog post.
In the post, Lily strategically places “cleaning hacks” in the title, several times in the body of the text, and even adds it in the alt text of her images. However, despite her efforts, her blog post doesn’t manage to climb the rankings.
Why? Because “cleaning hacks” is an incredibly broad and competitive keyword. While it has a high search volume, it’s a keyword that countless other websites are also trying to rank for.
In other words, it’s the equivalent of a super popular product or item everyone you know seems to have, like a Starbucks coffee mug! You know, the kind usually attached to gift baskets of coffee; nothing that special, just a mug with a logo. It’s cute, though!
Good Keyword Research
Frustrated with the lack of results, Lily decided to dive deeper into keyword research. She uses a more sophisticated keyword research tool that provides data like search volume and keyword difficulty and even suggests a few variations of long-tail keywords.
This time, Lily discovers a relatively untapped keyword – “eco-friendly kitchen cleaning hacks.” It’s a narrower, more specific keyword with a lower search volume and far less competition. In this instance, let’s imagine Lily found an Ember Smart Mug to rival the bland, boring coffee mugs she used before.
Lily decides to tailor her next blog post around this focus keyword phrase, creating a comprehensive guide to eco-friendly kitchen cleaning hacks. She not only uses the new keywords strategically, but also ensures that her content is high-quality, informative with relevant keywords, and genuinely valuable to her readers. This time, her blog post begins to climb the Google rankings, reaching her target audience more effectively.
Yes, Lily could continue to scrape by with her ceramic, run-of-the-mill Starbucks mug… but that Ember mug? SEO LOVED it and thought it was the greatest thing ever!
So, how do we find our own Ember mug to impress SEO with at the next party? That’s where good keyword research comes into play. With the right tools and strategies, you can uncover those hidden gems that will set your blog posts apart from the rest.
Beginning Your Good Keyword Research Journey
Despite how daunting the task may seem, conducting good keyword research is a process that can be broken down into manageable steps. Below, we’ve outlined a method to help you get started:
- Understanding Your Audience: Begin by identifying your target audience and the kind of content they like. What are their questions, concerns, or problems that your content could help address? The answers to these questions can provide you with potential keywords.
- Brainstorming Initial Keywords: Based on your understanding of your audience, brainstorm a list of potential keywords. This initial list should be broad and all-encompassing. Don’t worry about filtering or refining it yet—that comes next.
- Utilize Google Search Console: Google Search Console is a fantastic free tool that provides valuable insights about your website’s performance on Google search pages. It shows you what search queries are driving traffic to your site, which of those pages are performing well, and where there are opportunities for improvement. This data can help you identify successful keywords and suggest new ones you might not have considered.
- Refine Your Keywords: Now it’s time to refine your list. Use a keyword research tool to evaluate each keyword’s search volume, competition, and relevance. Ideally, you’re looking for keywords relevant to your content with a high search volume and low competition. Google’s Keyword Planner is a free tool to help with this step.
- Create a Keyword Map: Once you’ve refined your list, segment your keywords into groups or categories. Each group should represent a different topic area or theme in your content. This keyword map will guide your content creation process, helping you craft content that is valuable to your audience and optimized.
Remember, good keyword research isn’t a one-time activity. Your keywords will likely need to shift and change as your blog grows and evolves.
It’s like trends; you must always stay on top of what’s popular, well-liked, and impressive. Regularly revisiting your keyword strategy will ensure that you remain competitive and continue to produce content that resonates with your audience.
How do I know if my keyword research is actually good?
Evaluating the success of your keyword research primarily depends on tracking your content’s performance over time. Some key metrics to monitor in Google Analytics include:
- Organic CTR (organic traffic).
- The ranking of your targeted keywords.
- The number of backlinks your content receives.
Noticeable improvement in these areas typically signifies that your keyword research is providing a positive impact. Average monthly search volume, organic search results, and a lot of other data points, will also give you insight to your blog’s performance.
However, not every blogger has the time or expertise to delve into SEO and keyword research. It can be a complex field that requires a significant time investment to master, especially for those who’d rather focus on their passion for writing and creating. That’s where partnering with an SEO expert becomes a strategic move.
By entrusting your SEO to a professional, you can leverage their expertise to optimize your blog while freeing up your own time to focus on content creation. This collaboration can lead to improved blog performance, higher rankings, and, ultimately, more visibility for your work.
It’s like bringing a super cool friend with you to the party in hopes they’ll help you catch SEO’s eye, and then he’ll finally notice you!
Just kidding, of course. But in all seriousness, good keyword research is crucial for bloggers to reach their target audience and create content that resonates with them.
So don’t hesitate to invest the time and resources into learning how to conduct good keyword research or partnering with an SEO strategy expert who can help elevate your blog’s performance.
After all, what’s more satisfying than seeing your blog climb the ranks and gain recognition for its valuable content?
Learning from Your Competition’s Success with Keywords
Diving deep into the keyword strategy of higher-ranking competition can provide valuable insights to bolster your SEO efforts.
These competitors, after all, are ranking well for a reason – they’ve managed to tap into keywords that resonate with your shared target audience and are effectively drawing in traffic.
To learn from your competitors, start by taking a closer look, identifying who they are. Look for blogs or websites that consistently outperform yours in search engine rankings and cater to a similar audience.
Then, delve into their content. Is there a particular keyword that stands out? What similar keywords are they using? How are they incorporating this keyword data into their posts? Are there recurring themes or topics that they routinely cover?
Remember that the goal here is not to copy your competitors but to learn from their success. You can tap into their keyword ideas and use them as a springboard to create unique, engaging content of your own.
It’s like learning from the playbook of a successful team to create your own winning strategy. Utilizing this approach can give your blog a competitive edge and ensure your content is seen by the people you most want to reach.
In Conclusion
High-quality keyword research is the very cornerstone of successful blogging. It’s an ongoing process that demands time, attention, and expertise.
Creating high-ranking results is about finding your ‘Ember mug’ and harnessing its power to rise above the digital noise. It’s about optimizing your old content and constantly strategizing for the new.
But you don’t have to face this journey alone.
Sunrise Virtual Assistant Services is here to help you navigate the complex landscape of SEO and keyword research. We can refine your old content, aid in developing a potent digital marketing content strategy, and ensure your small business blog stands out in the vast digital landscape.
Why wait? Start your journey towards blogging success today. Contact us now, and let’s create content that truly resonates with your audience and climbs the search engine ranks.
