Keyword research

What is keyword research?

Keyword research is the process of finding the exact words and phrases people type into search engines, then choosing which to target based on search volume, competition, and intent. It is the foundation of SEO and content strategy — you can only rank for terms you have deliberately researched and written for.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you do keyword research for free?

Start with a seed topic, then use free sources: Google Autocomplete, the “People also ask” and “Related searches” boxes, Google Search Console’s query report, and free tools like rankseed. Group the results by intent and pick low-competition, long-tail phrases you can realistically rank for.

What makes a good keyword to target?

A good keyword has clear search intent you can satisfy, enough monthly volume to matter, and low enough competition for your site’s authority. For new sites, favour specific long-tail phrases of three or more words over broad head terms — they convert better and rank faster.

How many keywords should I target per page?

Target one primary keyword per page, plus a handful of closely related secondary and long-tail variations that share the same search intent. Trying to rank one page for unrelated keywords splits its focus and usually ranks it for none of them.

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