How to Do Keyword Research for Your Blog or Website

On February 25, 2026 By newsroom Topic: Online Business Success

A Beginner’s Guide to Finding the Best Keywords for SEO

Keyword research is a cornerstone of successful blogging and SEO strategies. By identifying the right keywords, you can boost organic traffic, improve search rankings, and attract a targeted audience. Here’s how to get started:

1. Why Do Keyword Research?

Boost Traffic: Helps rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Targeted Audience: Attracts visitors genuinely interested in your content.
Understand Search Intent: Provides insights into what users are looking for.

2. Initial Keyword Research

Step 1: Find Seed Keywords

Brainstorm: List topics related to your niche or passion.
Example: For a golf blog, seed keywords might include "golf tips," "golf clubs," or "golf swing."

Step 2: Expand on Seed Keywords

Use tools to generate related and long-tail keywords based on your seed list.

3. Tools for Keyword Research

Free Tools

Google Keyword Planner
Ideal for discovering new keywords and their search volumes.
Navigate to “Discover new keywords” and enter seed keywords to generate ideas.
Google Search Suggestions
Type a keyword in the search bar to see auto-suggestions.
Scroll to "Searches related to" at the bottom of search results.

Paid Tools

Ahrefs
Comprehensive tool with features like keyword difficulty analysis, competitor research, and search volume insights.
SEMrush
Helps find keywords, analyze competitors, and track rankings.
Moz Pro
Offers robust keyword analysis and ranking metrics.

Other Tools

KWFinder: Focused on high-volume, low-competition keywords.
Answer the Public: Generates keyword ideas based on common questions.

4. Finding Long-Tail Keywords

What Are Long-Tail Keywords?
Phrases with 3+ words that are specific and less competitive.
Example: Instead of "golf tips," use "best golf tips for beginners."
Why Use Them?
Lower competition.
Higher conversion rates.

How to Find Long-Tail Keywords

Use Google Suggestions for autocomplete queries.
Look at the "Searches related to" section at the bottom of SERPs.

5. Evaluating Keywords

Key Metrics

Search Volume: Number of monthly searches for a keyword.
High volume = popular, but often competitive.
Low volume = niche, but potentially easier to rank for.
Keyword Difficulty (KD): Indicates how hard it is to rank for a keyword.
Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush provide this metric.
Search Intent: Understand whether the keyword reflects:
Informational Intent: Users seek answers.
Navigational Intent: Users look for a specific site.
Transactional Intent: Users want to make a purchase.

Analyze Competitors

Use tools like Ahrefs Site Explorer to check which keywords competitors rank for.
Identify gaps where you can target unoptimized keywords.

6. Organizing Keywords

Group Keywords: By topics or intent (e.g., "Golf Clubs" vs. "Golf Techniques").
Create Content: Align keywords with blog topics to ensure relevancy.
Monitor Performance: Track keyword rankings and adjust as needed.

7. Search Volume Insights

Using Google Keyword Planner

Shows search volume ranges (e.g., 1k-10k searches/month).
Combine with tools like Ahrefs for a clearer picture.

8. Advanced Keyword Techniques

Competitor Analysis

Check what competitors rank for and create better content around those keywords.

Focus on "Buy Now" Keywords

Ideal for monetization. Examples include "best golf clubs to buy" or "discount golf gear."

Popular Keyword Research Tools

| Tool | Type | Key Features |
|--------------|-------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Ahrefs | Paid | Keyword difficulty, competitor analysis, backlinks|
| SEMrush | Paid | Competitive analysis, SERP tracking |
| Google Keyword Planner | Free | Seed keyword ideas, search volumes |
| KWFinder | Freemium | Long-tail keyword discovery |
| Answer the Public | Free | Finds questions people are asking |

Summing it up

Effective keyword research is the foundation of any successful blog or website. Use a mix of tools, focus on long-tail keywords, and understand searcher intent to create valuable, rankable content. Happy optimizing!