How keywords are searched plays an important role in directing users to what they’re looking for. For businesses who want to optimize their website’s display on search engines, how to find keywords correctly for SEO is a task not to be missed. But how to find out which keywords are most searched and likely to bring traffic to your website? Discover how to check the most searched keywords to improve your SEO strategy right in this article.
How to search for keywords: Use keyword research tools
All keyword research tools such as: Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, KeywordTool.io, … all provide basic features that help users better understand keywords related to specific fields or topics. Here are the features that keyword research software can offer:
- Keyword suggestions: Provide a list of keywords related to the main keyword you provide, helping you find the right ones to optimize your content.
- Monthly search volume: This feature provides information about how often users search for keywords during a specific time period, usually monthly. This helps you measure the popularity and traffic potential for that keyword.
- Competition: This feature measures the competition in using that keyword. Through metrics or a score system, you can get an idea of whether competing for this keyword is difficult or not. This helps you identify keywords that are easy to rank for and which ones need to invest more to compete.
- SEO difficulty: Estimates how difficult it is to rank high for keywords on search results pages. This helps you assess your competitiveness and determine if you can rank high for that keyword.
- Related and longer keywords: Provide other keywords that users can use to search for information related to your niche.
- Competitor Analysis: Allows you to see the keywords your competitors are ranking for highly, helping you seize content optimization opportunities.
- Search trends: A tool that provides information about keyword search trends over time. You can clearly see the upward and downward trend in keyword searches, helping you predict the change in user interest.
When you step into using keyword research tools, you will notice that each software has its own unique features, bringing unique benefits to users. Here are the common tools and strengths of each software:
Google Keyword Planner
- Google Keyword Planner provides data directly from Google, helping you determine the number of monthly searches and keyword competition. This helps you determine the optimisability for each keyword.
- Pros: Free tool, live data from Google, easy to use.
- Price: Free for all users with a Google Ads account.
SEMrush
- SEMrush not only provides keyword data but also competitor analysis, providing information on competitor links and search trends. This helps you better understand the market and how to compete.
- Pros: Powerful competitor analysis, provides lots of relevant data, supports multiple media.
- Price: From $119.95/mo for Pro plan.
Ahrefs
- Ahrefs is famous for its link analysis feature, which helps you better understand your competitors’ link structure and build quality links.
- Pros: Good link analysis, providing comprehensive keyword information.
- Price: From $99/mo for Lite.
KeywordTool.io
- KeywordTool.io allows for keyword research on a variety of platforms, not just limited to Google.
- Pros: Multi-platform research, easy to use.
- Price: From $69/mo for Pro plan.
How to search for keywords based on a competitor’s website
Competitor keyword research is an effective way to find out which keywords they are using to optimize SEO for their website. This can help you understand their keyword strategy and find ways to compete more aggressively. Check out how to search for keywords based on your competitor’s website:
Identify competitors: First, identify the main competing sites in your niche. These could be businesses or websites that have similar content or offer similar products/services.
Use keyword research tools: Use keyword research tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest to analyze your competitors’ websites and figure out which keywords they are ranking for or targeting.
Enter your competitor’s website address: In keyword research tools, there is often a feature for you to enter your competitor’s website address to perform a keyword analysis.
See your competitors’ keyword lists: These tools will give you a list of keywords that your competitor’s website is ranking for or trying to rank for. You can see the search frequency, competition, and current position of that keyword.
Keyword analysis: Review the list of keywords you’ve collected. Focus on keywords that are relevant and can bring value to your website.
Find more relevant and longer keywords: Besides the main keywords, look for both related and longer keywords that your competitors may be using. This can help you discover other optimization opportunities.
Compare and choose keywords: Compare your keyword list to your competitors’ keyword lists. Pick out keywords that you feel align with your content and goals.
How to search for keywords leveraging from Google’s suggested keyword ideas
Google provides many suggested keyword ideas through its “Google Suggest” feature when you start typing keywords into the search box. Here’s how to search for keywords on Google:
Use Google search: Start typing primary keywords related to your content into the Google search box. Google will automatically suggest related keywords as you type.
Use longer and variation keywords: Each time you add a word in the search box, Google Suggest suggests more related keywords. Use variations of keywords, as well as try searching for longer questions or phrases.
Collect keyword ideas: Make a note of the suggested keywords that Google suggests. Collect and organize them according to your goals and context.
How to search for keywords: Use People Also Ask to search for keywords
The “People Also Ask” (PAA) feature of search engines like Google is a powerful resource for searching and researching related keywords. PAA displays common questions that users often search for related to the original keyword. Here’s how you can use PAA to search for keywords:
Find your original keyword: Start by typing the main keyword you want to research into the search engine’s search bar.
View PAA results: When you enter a keyword, PAA will show questions that users often search for related to that keyword. These questions are usually placed as expandable boxes that can be clicked to see the answers.
Collect related keywords: The questions in the PAA results often contain relevant keywords related to your field. Make a note of these keywords so you can later research them further and use them in your SEO or content marketing campaign.
Use keyword research tools: Once you’ve collected a list of keywords from PAA results, you can use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or others to learn more about search traffic, SEO difficulty, and competition for these keywords.
Using the “People Also Ask” feature is an effective way to search for and exploit keywords related to your niche, helping you create engaging content and increase your site’s ability to rank on search results.
Use “Searches related to” to expand your keyword range
“Searched related to” is the part of Google search results that shows what related keywords users typically search for after performing a particular search. Here’s how you can use “Searches related to” to expand your keyword range:
Primary keyword: First, do a search using the main keyword related to the content you’re interested in.
Check the “Searches related to” section: Your search will show a “Searches related to” section at the bottom of the search results page. This is where Google suggests related keywords that users often search for.
Record related keywords: Look through the list of keywords in the “Searches related to” section and make a note of which ones are relevant and relevant to your content.
How to search for keywords effectively is the key to achieving success in an SEO campaign. By mastering user search trends, using keyword research tools, focusing on both primary and longer keywords, and maintaining constant monitoring and adjustment, you can build a strong SEO strategy that enhances your site’s visibility and attracts visits from your target users.