You’ve built a great website, written some blog posts, and maybe even invested in ads—but where’s the traffic? If your website isn’t ranking on Google, chances are your keyword strategy is failing. Many businesses struggle to get found online because they aren’t using the right keywords or, worse, they aren’t doing keyword research at all.

A business owner in Denver recently approached us with this exact problem. They had an amazing service to offer but weren’t getting any organic traffic. After conducting a deep keyword research for SEO, we discovered they were targeting broad, highly competitive terms that big brands were already dominating. By shifting their focus to high-intent, long-tail keywords, their organic traffic increased by 187% in just four months—without spending extra on ads!

According to a study by Ahrefs, 90.63% of web pages get zero organic traffic from Google. This means that simply having a website isn’t enough—you need a solid keyword strategy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to do effective keyword research for SEO to help your website rank higher and drive more traffic.

What is Keyword Research for SEO?

Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing the words and phrases that people type into search engines. These keywords tell you what your audience is searching for, how competitive those terms are, and how you can optimize your website to appear in search results.

Without proper keyword research, you risk targeting the wrong audience, wasting time on irrelevant content, or failing to rank altogether. Effective keyword research helps you create content that ranks and ensures your website gets in front of the right people.

The Step-by-Step Keyword Research Process

Mastering keyword research isn’t about guessing what your audience wants—it’s about using data and strategic tools to find the best keywords for your business. Here’s how to do it step by step:

1. Understand Your Target Audience

Before diving into keyword tools, take a step back and think about your ideal customer. Who are they? What are they searching for? Understanding your audience helps you find relevant keywords that match their intent.

How to Define Your Audience:

• Identify common questions and pain points your audience has.
• Think about the services or products they’re looking for.
• Consider the words they use when describing their problems.
• Analyze competitor websites and customer reviews to discover trending topics.
• Use tools like Google Trends and Answer the Public to see what questions people are asking.

2. Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Seed keywords are the foundation of keyword research. These are broad terms related to your business that will help you discover more specific keyword opportunities.

Examples of Seed Keywords:

• If you own a local bakery: “bakery near me”, “fresh bread”, “birthday cakes”.
• If you run an SEO agency: “SEO services”, “keyword research”, “content optimization”.

Once you have a list of seed keywords, you can use keyword research tools to find related keywords and long-tail variations.

3. Use Keyword Research Tools

Keyword research tools help you find search volume, competition levels, and keyword difficulty. By leveraging these tools, you can identify high-impact keywords that will drive targeted traffic to your site.

Best Free & Paid Keyword Research Tools:

• Google Keyword Planner (Free) – Ideal for PPC and organic search insights.
• Ubersuggest (Freemium) – Great for keyword suggestions and competitor analysis.
• Ahrefs Keywords Explorer (Paid) – Comprehensive keyword and backlink analysis.
• SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool (Paid) – Advanced keyword clustering and SERP insights.
• Moz Keyword Explorer (Freemium) – User-friendly keyword analysis and SERP tracking.

4. Find Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that usually have less competition and higher conversion rates. These keywords help you target niche audiences and rank more easily in search results.

Example of Long-Tail Keywords:

• Instead of “SEO services”, use “affordable SEO services for small businesses”.
• Instead of “bakery”, try “best gluten-free bakery in Denver”.
• Instead of “running shoes”, go for “best running shoes for flat feet 2024”.

5. Analyze Keyword Difficulty & Search Volume

Not all keywords are worth targeting. You need to find the balance between search volume and competition.

Key Metrics to Consider:

• Search Volume – The number of times a keyword is searched per month.
• Keyword Difficulty (KD) – A score that indicates how hard it is to rank for a keyword.
• Cost-Per-Click (CPC) – Keywords with high CPC often indicate strong commercial intent.
• Click-Through Rate (CTR) – Determines how likely people are to click on a search result.

6. Check Competitor Keywords

A smart way to find keyword opportunities is by analyzing what your competitors are ranking for. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to spy on your competitors and see what keywords are driving traffic to their websites.

7. Prioritize Keywords by Search Intent

Understanding search intent is crucial in keyword research. There are four main types of search intent:

Types of Search Intent:

• Informational – “What is keyword research?”
• Navigational – “Ahrefs keyword tool”
• Transactional – “Buy SEO services online”
• Commercial Investigation – “Best SEO agency in Denver”

Targeting the right intent-based keywords helps you align your content with what users are looking for.

8. Optimize Your Content for SEO

Once you have your keywords, you need to strategically place them in your content.

Where to Include Keywords:

• Page Titles & Meta Descriptions
• Headings (H1, H2, H3)
• First 100 Words of Content
• Image Alt Text
• URLs
• Internal Links

9. Track & Update Keywords Regularly

SEO is always evolving. Keyword trends change, and so should your strategy. Use tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to monitor your keyword performance and make necessary updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How often should I update my keyword research?

Keyword trends change frequently, so it’s best to update your keyword research at least once every 6 months. However, if you’re in a highly competitive industry or experiencing shifts in search trends, reviewing keywords every 3 months is ideal.

2. Can I rank on Google without doing keyword research?

Technically, yes—but it’s extremely difficult. Without proper keyword research, you risk targeting the wrong audience or failing to appear in relevant search results. Keyword research helps you strategically create content that matches user intent and improves your chances of ranking.

3. What’s the difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords?

Short-tail keywords are broad, generic terms (e.g., "SEO services") that have high search volume but high competition. Long-tail keywords are more specific phrases (e.g., "affordable SEO services for small businesses") that have lower competition but higher conversion rates.

4. Does keyword research help with paid ads as well?

Yes! Keyword research is crucial for both organic SEO and paid advertising. Knowing the right keywords ensures that your ad campaigns target the right audience, leading to better click-through rates (CTR) and a higher return on investment (ROI).

How Lingows Media Can Help You

Keyword research is the foundation of a successful SEO strategy. If you’re struggling to find the right keywords or need help optimizing your website for higher rankings, we’ve got you covered at Lingows Media.

Visit us at: 1400 16th St Suite 400, Denver, CO 80202
Call us today: (720) 738-5548

Don’t let your website get lost in search results—contact us today for a free SEO consultation and start ranking higher!