Introduction to Keyword Research
- What is keyword research?
- Importance of keywords in digital marketing (SEO and PPC).
- How keyword research impacts traffic, rankings, and conversions.
Types of Keywords
- Short-Tail Keywords: Definition, examples, and uses.
- Long-Tail Keywords: Why they matter for niche targeting.
- Branded vs. Non-Branded Keywords: When to use each.
- Transactional, Informational, and Navigational Keywords: Intent-based keyword categorization.
Tools for Keyword Research
- Free and Paid Tools Overview:
- Google Keyword Planner.
- Ubersuggest.
- Ahrefs.
- SEMrush.
- AnswerThePublic.
- Keywords Everywhere.
- Choosing the right tool for your needs.
Steps to Conduct Keyword Research
- Brainstorming seed keywords.
- Analyzing competitor keywords: How to find what’s working for others.
- Using keyword tools to expand your list.
- Filtering keywords based on relevance, search volume, and competition.
- Assessing user intent behind keywords.
Metrics That Matter
- Search Volume: How often a keyword is searched.
- Keyword Difficulty/Competition: Understanding how hard it is to rank.
- CPC (Cost-Per-Click): Evaluating profitability for paid campaigns.
- Trends: Seasonal and long-term shifts in keyword popularity.
Practical Exercise: Hands-On Keyword Research
- Choose a topic or niche.
- Use a keyword research tool to generate keyword ideas.
- Filter and prioritize keywords based on data.
- Share findings and discuss results.
Keyword Research for SEO vs. PPC
- Differences in approach and goals.
- Optimizing content for organic search.
- Selecting keywords for paid campaigns.
Common Mistakes in Keyword Research
- Over-focusing on high-volume keywords.
- Ignoring user intent.
- Neglecting long-tail opportunities.
- Failing to update keyword lists regularly.
Closing: Next Steps and Resources
- Recap of the day’s key points.
- Suggested tools and further reading.
- Q&A session.
- Homework: Conduct keyword research for your website or campaign and prepare a list of 10 target keywords.